Honoring the foundational principle of separation of church and state, opposing extreme right-wing Christian nationalism, and recognizing the 65th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association and 150th anniversary of President Ulysses S. Grant's speech to the Society of the Army of the Tennessee.

Bill Number

H.Res. 773

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-09-30: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2025-12-16T09:05:48Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 773) aims to honor the principle of separation of church and state as a foundational aspect of U.S. democracy, explicitly oppose extreme right-wing Christian nationalism (defined as efforts to impose a specific religious viewpoint through government power), and commemorate the 65th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's 1960 speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association and the 150th anniversary of President Ulysses S. Grant's 1875 speech to the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. These speeches emphasized religious freedom and the non-involvement of government in religious matters.

Key Provisions

The resolution includes a series of "Whereas" clauses providing historical context and then outlines six main actions for the House of Representatives:

• Honor foundational principles: Affirms the separation of church and state, rooted in the First Amendment's Establishment Clause (which prevents government from establishing or favoring any religion) and Free Exercise Clause (which protects individuals' right to practice their religion freely).
• Recognize anniversaries: Marks the 65th anniversary of Kennedy's speech, where he stressed that a president's religious beliefs should remain private and not influence governance, and the 150th anniversary of Grant's speech, which advocated keeping religious matters out of government funding and influence.
• Acknowledge historical significance: Highlights Kennedy's address as a key defense of these principles during his presidential campaign amid concerns about his Catholic faith.
• Reaffirm commitment: Declares ongoing support for protecting religious freedom for all individuals, including those who are religious, nonreligious, or agnostic.
• Encourage reflection: Urges Americans to consider the importance of keeping government and religious institutions separate to safeguard everyone's rights.
• Oppose extremism: Rejects extreme right-wing Christian nationalism and other forms of religious extremism that could undermine constitutional protections for religious diversity and pluralism.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This is a non-binding resolution, meaning it expresses the House's opinion but does not create, amend, or repeal any laws. It introduces no legal changes to existing statutes, the Constitution, or court precedents. Instead, it references and reinforces longstanding interpretations of the First Amendment, such as Supreme Court cases like Everson v. Board of Education (1947), which extended the Establishment Clause to state governments, and Engel v. Vitale (1962), which banned government-sponsored prayer in public schools.

Potential Impacts

• On government agencies: Minimal direct impact, as it is symbolic; however, it could guide congressional discussions on policies involving religion, such as funding for religious organizations or public school curricula, by signaling House opposition to blending religion with government.
• On citizens: Promotes public awareness of religious freedom and pluralism, potentially encouraging civic engagement on issues like discrimination based on faith (or lack thereof). It highlights that nearly one-third of Americans identify as religiously unaffiliated ("nones") and that most support keeping religion separate from government, which may foster inclusive dialogue in a diverse society.
• On international relations: Negligible, as the resolution focuses on domestic constitutional principles without addressing foreign policy or global religious dynamics.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Religious and nonreligious communities: Includes diverse faith groups, agnostics, atheists, and those opposing government favoritism toward any religion; many religious leaders are noted as supporters of separation to protect their independence from state interference.
• Political figures and lawmakers: Sponsors (e.g., Representatives Ansari, Huffman, Raskin) and the House Judiciary Committee, which received the resolution; it positions Congress as a defender of constitutional values amid debates on religion in politics.
• The general public and educators: Encourages reflection on U.S. history and values, potentially influencing public opinion, school teachings on civics, and cultural discussions about religious diversity.
• Advocacy groups: Organizations promoting religious liberty or opposing nationalism, such as those advocating for church-state separation, may use it to bolster their efforts.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal and constitutional: Reinforces the First Amendment's role in maintaining a "wall of separation" between church and state, as articulated by Founding Fathers like Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. It cites Supreme Court precedents to affirm that government must remain neutral on religion, avoiding favoritism or coercion, which could indirectly support future litigation challenging policies seen as violating these clauses.
• Political: As a partisan-leaning statement (introduced by Democratic members), it serves as a symbolic rebuke to certain conservative ideologies, potentially heightening partisan divides on cultural issues like prayer in schools or religious displays on public property. It underscores the U.S. as a religiously pluralistic nation, countering narratives of Christian dominance, but risks criticism for targeting specific viewpoints without binding enforcement. Overall, it promotes democratic values without altering legal frameworks.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

Cosponsors (17)

Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

Recent Actions

• 2025-09-30: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2025-09-30: Submitted in House
• 2025-09-30: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Honoring the foundational principle of separation of church and state, opposing extreme right-wing Christian nationalism, and recognizing the 65th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s address to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association and 150th anniversary of President Ulysses S. Grant’s speech to the Society of the Army of the Tennessee. — issued 2025-09-30 — PDF (5 pages)