In God We Trust Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8826
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-05T08:07:47Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation requires the Administrator of General Services to display or inscribe the national motto of the United States on all federal public buildings.
Key Provisions
- Short title: The Act is named the "In God We Trust Act."
- Definition: "Public building" follows the existing definition in section 3301(a) of title 40, United States Code.
- Requirement: Within one year of enactment, the Administrator must inscribe or display the national motto (as stated in section 302 of title 36, United States Code) in a place of prominence on every public building.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces a new mandatory display requirement for the national motto on federal buildings. It does not amend or repeal any prior statutes but adds an affirmative obligation on the General Services Administration.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The General Services Administration must plan, fund, and execute the inscriptions or displays across its inventory of public buildings within the one-year deadline.
- Citizens: Individuals visiting or working in federal buildings would encounter the motto in prominent locations.
- International relations: The bill contains no provisions addressing foreign policy or international matters.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Administrator of General Services and the General Services Administration.
- Owners and operators of federal public buildings.
- Members of Congress who sponsored the measure.
- Members of the public who use federal facilities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill ties the requirement directly to the existing statutory national motto without creating new definitions or exceptions. Implementation falls solely on the executive branch through the General Services Administration, with no additional enforcement mechanisms or penalties specified in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15]
Cosponsors (17)
Rep. Harshbarger, Diana [R-TN-1], Rep. Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck" [R-TN-3], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Rose, John W. [R-TN-6], Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Allen, Rick W. [R-GA-12], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Hageman, Harriet M. [R-WY-At Large], Rep. Cline, Ben [R-VA-6], Rep. Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5], Rep. McGuire, John J. [R-VA-5], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5], Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-14: Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
- 2026-05-14: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-14: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- In God We Trust Act — issued 2026-05-14 — PDF (2 pages)