Recognizing the week of September 30th as "National Orange Shirt Week" or "National Week of Remembrance", which aims to honor those who were forced to attend Indian boarding schools, and to recognize the experience of Indian boarding school victims and survivors.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 794
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Native Americans
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-08T13:08:04Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
H. Res. 794 is a symbolic House resolution that recognizes the week of September 30th as "National Orange Shirt Week" or "National Week of Remembrance." Its main goal is to honor individuals who were forced to attend Indian boarding schools and to acknowledge the experiences of victims and survivors of these schools, highlighting the historical trauma inflicted on American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Historical Context: The resolution includes extensive "Whereas" clauses detailing the U.S. government's assimilation policies, starting from the Indian Civilization Fund Act of 1819, which funded church-run boarding schools to strip Indigenous children of their cultures, languages, and identities. It covers the forced removal of hundreds of thousands of children (as young as 3) to at least 526 schools across 38 states from 1819 to the 1960s, including abuses like physical, sexual, psychological, and spiritual harm, unmarked graves, and intergenerational trauma.
- Specific Examples: It references key institutions like the Carlisle Indian Industrial School (founded 1879), Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School (1878), and schools in Hawaii and Alaska. It notes high enrollment rates (83% of Native school-age children by 1926), deaths (e.g., 180 burials at Carlisle), escapes, forced labor, and ongoing issues like missing records and health disparities.
- Modern Connections: The resolution links boarding school policies to current problems, such as high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide epidemics, substance abuse, and failures in the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE)-operated schools serving nearly 50,000 students. It also mentions related programs like the Indian Adoption Project (1958–1967) and disproportionate Native representation in foster care.
- Recognition Clause: The core "Resolved" section formally declares the designated week to honor survivors and victims, emphasizing the need for public awareness, accountability, and further investigation into these policies.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
This resolution introduces no changes to existing law. As a non-binding House resolution, it serves only as an expression of congressional sentiment and does not create enforceable obligations, amend statutes, or allocate funds.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: It may encourage agencies like the Department of the Interior (which issued a 2021 memorandum on the topic) and the BIE to address ongoing educational and health disparities in Native communities, potentially leading to increased focus on cultural preservation and trauma-informed services. However, without binding authority, impacts are limited to raising awareness.
- On Citizens: For American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian individuals and families, it promotes healing and recognition of intergenerational trauma, which could foster public education and reduce stigma around mental health issues like PTSD and suicide. Broader society may gain historical knowledge, aiding reconciliation efforts.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it aligns with global Indigenous rights discussions (e.g., similar recognitions in Canada for "Orange Shirt Day") and reinforces U.S. commitments under treaties with Tribal nations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries: Survivors and descendants of Indian boarding school victims, including American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities, who experience ongoing effects like health disparities and cultural loss.
- Government Entities: U.S. House of Representatives (via recognition), Department of the Interior, BIE (for current schools), and state education systems (especially in Alaska).
- Other Groups: Historical churches and organizations that ran the schools; advocacy groups like the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition; and broader Native advocacy organizations addressing foster care and adoption issues.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: The resolution underscores the federal government's "trust responsibility" (a legal duty under U.S. law and treaties to protect Tribal self-governance and cultural integrity), contrasting it with past assimilation policies that violated these obligations. It calls for further documentation but does not mandate a federal commission, leaving room for future legal actions like investigations into unmarked graves or reparations.
- Political: As an introduced resolution (referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on October 8, 2025), it signals bipartisan or cross-aisle support for Indigenous issues, potentially influencing future legislation on education, health, and historical accountability. It highlights the need for transparency on government-funded abuses, which could pressure policymakers to address systemic inequities without partisan bias.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2025-10-08: Submitted in House
- 2025-10-08: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Recognizing the week of September 30th as "National Orange Shirt Week" or "National Week of Remembrance", which aims to honor those who were forced to attend Indian boarding schools, and to recognize the experience of Indian boarding school victims and survivors. — issued 2025-10-08 — PDF (10 pages)