CHARLIE Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8705
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-21: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 15.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-09T15:20:40Z
AI-Generated Summary
H.R. 8705: Civics and History Advancement to Restore Learning, Integrity, and Education Act (CHARLIE Act)
Purpose
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to block federal funds from the American History and Civics program from supporting "radical indoctrination," specifically by prohibiting funding for certain ideologies related to equity and gender.
Key Provisions
- Funding Prohibition: No funds from this program can be used for:
- Discriminatory equity ideology (defined in Executive Order 14190 as promoting unequal treatment based on equity principles).
- Gender ideology (defined in Executive Order 14168 as beliefs denying biological sex differences).
- Grant Awarding Rules: The Secretary of Education cannot prioritize grant applicants based on:
- Race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status of the applicant organization, its leaders, employees, or beneficiaries.
- The organization's identity, purpose, or planned activities.
- Definitions: Incorporated directly from the referenced executive orders for clarity on prohibited concepts.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds new subsections (c) "Prohibitions" and (d) "Definitions" to Section 2231 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 6661).
- Introduces explicit restrictions on fund use and grant priorities that did not previously exist in this program, shifting from general education funding to targeted limitations.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of Education must enforce these rules in grant reviews, potentially increasing administrative scrutiny and compliance costs.
- Citizens and Education: Limits federal funding for civics and history programs promoting certain viewpoints, affecting schools, teachers, and students reliant on these grants for curriculum development.
- No Direct International Relations Impact: Focuses solely on domestic K-12 education funding.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Department of Education: Responsible for implementing prohibitions and adjusting grant processes.
- Grant Applicants: Schools, nonprofits, and educational organizations seeking American History and Civics funds.
- Educators and Students: Teachers and K-12 students in history/civics programs, as funding availability may narrow based on content alignment.
- Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on equity, gender issues, or traditional education may face restricted access to federal support.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: References executive orders for definitions, which could lead to challenges if those orders are altered or invalidated; enforceable via grant conditions but risks lawsuits over viewpoint discrimination.
- Constitutional: Potential First Amendment concerns if restrictions are seen as limiting speech or academic freedom in public education funding.
- Political: Targets specific ideologies labeled as "radical indoctrination," which may spark debates on curriculum control and federal overreach in local education.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-21: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 15.
- 2026-05-21: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-05-07: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-05-07: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-07: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Civics and History Advancement to Restore Learning, Integrity, and Education Act — issued 2026-05-07 — PDF (3 pages)