PEACE Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 227
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-27T14:12:50Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Protect Equality And Civics Education Act of 2025 (PEACE Act of 2025) aims to prevent the use of federal funds allocated for American History and Civics Education programs from supporting educational materials or practices that promote or require certain ideas about race, which the bill labels as "divisive concepts." These concepts are drawn from a 2021 proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Education.
Key Provisions
- Funding Prohibition: No funds from the relevant education programs can be used for curriculum, teaching, or counseling that promotes or compels a "divisive concept."
- Definition of Divisive Concepts: The bill defines "promotes or compels a divisive concept" to include:
- Race stereotyping (assigning traits, values, or beliefs to individuals based solely on their race).
- Race scapegoating (blaming or assigning fault to a race or its members because of their race).
- Specific prohibited ideas, such as:
- Claiming one race is inherently superior to another.
- Stating that the United States is fundamentally racist.
- Asserting that individuals are inherently racist or oppressive due to their race (consciously or unconsciously).
- Suggesting discrimination or adverse treatment based on race.
- Claiming members of one race cannot treat others without regard to race.
- Determining an individual's moral character by their race.
- Holding individuals responsible for past actions of others of the same race.
- Causing psychological distress (e.g., guilt or anguish) based on race.
- Labeling meritocracy or hard work as racist or oppressive tools created by one race against another.
- The prohibition references priorities from the Department of Education's proposed rule on American History and Civics Education (published in the Federal Register on April 19, 2021).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 2231 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6661), which governs grants for innovative history and civics education programs.
- Adds a new subsection (c) that explicitly bans the use of these funds for the defined divisive concepts, introducing restrictions not previously specified in the law.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Department of Education would need to enforce the funding restrictions, potentially requiring audits or reviews of grant applications and program activities to ensure compliance.
- On Citizens: Students and educators in K-12 schools receiving these federal funds may face limitations on classroom discussions or materials related to race, history, and civics, possibly altering how sensitive topics like systemic racism or historical inequities are taught.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned; the bill focuses solely on domestic education funding.
- Broader effects could include reduced flexibility in curriculum design, leading to more standardized or cautious approaches in history and civics education.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Educators and Schools: Teachers, school administrators, and districts relying on federal grants for history and civics programs must avoid the prohibited concepts to maintain funding eligibility.
- Students: Primarily K-12 students in public schools, who may experience changes in how race and U.S. history are presented in their education.
- Federal Government: The Department of Education and Congress, as the bill imposes new oversight and compliance requirements on funded programs.
- Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on civil rights, education reform, or curriculum standards, which may support or challenge the bill's restrictions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: The bill could lead to disputes over enforcement, such as what constitutes "promoting" a concept, potentially resulting in lawsuits against schools or the Department of Education for fund misuse.
- Constitutional Implications: Raises questions about free speech and academic freedom under the First Amendment, as it limits certain viewpoints in publicly funded education without broadly censoring private or non-funded activities.
- Political Implications: Reflects ongoing debates over education content, particularly around teaching race and equity; it may polarize discussions on "critical race theory" or similar frameworks, influencing future education policy and elections.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Sheehy, Tim [R-MT], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-01-23: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Protect Equality And Civics Education Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (4 pages)