Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the House should recognize Robert Aitken's Bible as a historical document of the United States Congress.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 365
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Arts, Culture, Religion
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-20T12:22:07Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 365) aims to formally express the House of Representatives' view that Robert Aitken's Bible should be recognized as a key historical document linked to the early United States Congress. It highlights the Bible's role in American history, particularly its printing and endorsement during the Revolutionary War era.
Key Provisions
- Historical Background: The resolution includes "Whereas" clauses outlining facts about Robert Aitken's Bible:
- It was the first known English-language Bible printed in North America.
- In 1781, Aitken petitioned Congress to print an edition for use in schools.
- In 1782, a congressional committee approved the project, praising it as beneficial to religion and a sign of progress in the arts, and recommended it to the public.
- Charles Thomson, Secretary of the Continental Congress, signed the approval resolution.
- Core Statement: The "Resolved" clause declares it is the sense of the House that Aitken's Bible should be acknowledged as a historical document of the United States Congress.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This resolution introduces no changes to existing laws or statutes. As a non-binding House Resolution, it serves only as an expression of opinion and does not create enforceable legal obligations or amend any prior legislation.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Minimal direct impact; it may encourage the House Administration Committee (to which it was referred) to consider preservation or display efforts for historical documents, but no funding or mandates are involved.
- On Citizens: Symbolic recognition could foster greater public awareness of early American history, potentially influencing educational curricula or museum exhibits related to the Revolutionary period. No direct effects on individual rights or daily life.
- On International Relations: None apparent, as the resolution focuses on domestic historical events.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- House of Representatives: Primary stakeholder, as it expresses the chamber's collective sense and was introduced by Representatives Ogles, Cloud, Steube, and Moore of Alabama.
- Historians and Educators: Those studying or teaching early American history, religious printing, or congressional traditions may reference this for context.
- Religious and Cultural Groups: Organizations interested in the Bible's historical role in the U.S., such as historical societies or faith-based groups, could view it as an affirmation of cultural heritage.
- General Public: Indirectly affected through potential increased visibility of this artifact in national narratives.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: As a symbolic measure, it raises no direct legal challenges but could spark discussions on the historical interplay between government and religion (e.g., the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which prohibits government endorsement of religion). However, recognizing a 1782 artifact as historical is unlikely to violate modern constitutional standards, given its non-binding nature and focus on past events rather than current policy.
- Political: It may signal support among certain members for emphasizing religious elements in U.S. founding history, potentially appealing to conservative or faith-oriented constituencies. Referred to the House Administration Committee on April 30, 2025, its passage could influence future resolutions on cultural heritage without broader policy shifts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Cloud, Michael [R-TX-27], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2025-04-30: Submitted in House
- 2025-04-30: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the House should recognize Robert Aitken’s Bible as a historical document of the United States Congress. — issued 2025-04-30 — PDF (2 pages)