Honoring mothers, and recognizing the significance of motherhood and the impact mothers have on raising the next generation, on the occasion of Mother's Day.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 402
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Families
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-08: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-21T18:20:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 402) aims to honor mothers and recognize the importance of motherhood, particularly on the occasion of Mother's Day, celebrated on May 11, 2025. It emphasizes the role of mothers in raising the next generation and celebrates their sacrifices and contributions to families, communities, and the nation.
Key Provisions
- Historical Recognition: Acknowledges President Woodrow Wilson's 1914 proclamation establishing Mother's Day as a national holiday and notes its global celebration as a sign of respect for mothers.
- Celebration of Motherhood: Highlights the daily sacrifices of mothers, their unique ability to bring life into the world, and their nurturing and strong qualities essential for child development. It includes stepmothers, adopted mothers, and single mothers as vital to the nation's fabric.
- Critique of Terminology: Expresses concern over terms like "birthing person," "gestational parent," "chest feeder," "menstruating people," "pregnant people," and "people with a capacity for pregnancy," viewing them as diminishing the significance of motherhood. It criticizes a 117th Congress action that removed the term "mother" from House Rules as an attack on motherhood.
- Affirmation of Definition: States that mothers are women by basic logic and common sense, and that redefining motherhood ignores women's intrinsic capabilities.
- Resolved Clauses:
- Supports policies that recognize mothers as mothers.
- Affirms Mother's Day as a commemoration specifically for honoring mothers and motherhood.
- Recognizes the importance of motherhood, women's sacrifices in raising families, and its contributions to society.
- Encourages Americans to observe Mother's Day by celebrating women who bring life into the world and nurture the next generation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no legal changes or amendments to existing laws. It serves as a symbolic statement rather than enforceable legislation.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Encourages public observance of Mother's Day, potentially fostering greater appreciation for mothers and traditional family roles among families and communities.
- On Government Agencies: Minimal direct impact, as it was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce for consideration; it may influence future policy discussions on family and gender-related issues.
- On International Relations: None directly, though it notes the global celebration of Mother's Day, which could subtly reinforce cultural exchanges around family values.
- Overall, the resolution has symbolic rather than practical effects, promoting a specific view of motherhood without mandating actions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Mothers and Women: Directly honored, with emphasis on their biological and societal roles; includes diverse types like stepmothers and single mothers.
- Families and Communities: Beneficiaries of the recognition of motherhood's contributions to child-rearing and societal stability.
- Political and Advocacy Groups: Those involved in debates over gender terminology and family policies, including conservatives who may support its affirmations and progressives who might view it as regressive.
- Congressional Members: Sponsors (primarily Republican representatives) and the House as a body, signaling partisan positions on cultural issues.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a simple resolution, it has no force of law and does not require presidential approval or Senate concurrence. It cannot override or amend prior congressional rules (e.g., the 117th Congress changes mentioned).
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's broad authority to express sentiments on national observances under the First Amendment's free speech protections, but it raises no constitutional challenges.
- Political: Represents a partisan effort to counter perceived cultural shifts in gender and family definitions, potentially deepening divides in debates over inclusive language (e.g., in healthcare or policy contexts). It may energize supporters of traditional values while alienating those advocating for gender-neutral terms to include diverse family structures, such as LGBTQ+ or non-binary parents. The resolution's introduction in the 119th Congress highlights ongoing cultural polarization in U.S. politics.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14]
Cosponsors (20)
Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9], Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Crenshaw, Dan [R-TX-2], Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2], Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6], Rep. Moore, Riley M. [R-WV-2], Rep. Ellzey, Jake [R-TX-6], Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4], Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3], Rep. Babin, Brian [R-TX-36], Rep. Gonzales, Tony [R-TX-23], Rep. Hinson, Ashley [R-IA-2], Rep. Luna, Anna Paulina [R-FL-13]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-08: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-05-08: Submitted in House
- 2025-05-08: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Honoring mothers, and recognizing the significance of motherhood and the impact mothers have on raising the next generation, on the occasion of Mother’s Day. — issued 2025-05-08 — PDF (3 pages)