A resolution designating the week of October 5, 2025, through October 11, 2025, as "Religious Education Week" to celebrate religious education in the United States.
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 426
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2025-10-07T10:56:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This Senate resolution (S. Res. 426) aims to recognize and promote the value of religious education in the United States by designating the week of October 5 through October 11, 2025, as "Religious Education Week." It highlights religious education's role in personal, moral, and civic development while affirming constitutional protections for religious freedom.
Key Provisions
- Affirmation of Importance: The resolution states that religious education contributes to the intellectual, ethical, moral, and civic growth of individuals, drawing on historical views from U.S. Founders like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.
- Benefits Highlighted: It notes that religious education helps students explore life's meaning, morality, and values; improves mental health (citing a 2019 study); reduces risky behaviors; builds community connections; and fosters respect for others by recognizing human dignity.
- Recognition of Programs: It acknowledges various forms of religious instruction, including sectarian (faith-based) schools (attended by about 4.35 million students in 2015) and "released time" programs, where public school students are allowed to leave school temporarily for off-site religious classes (used by an estimated 540,000 students annually).
- Calls to Action:
- Celebrates schools and organizations providing religious instruction.
- Urges all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia to accommodate students who want to participate in released time for religious classes.
- Designation: Officially names the specified week as "Religious Education Week."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws or statutes. It reaffirms prior Supreme Court rulings, such as Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925), which protects parental rights to choose religious schooling, and Zorach v. Clauson (1952), which upheld released time programs as constitutional under the First Amendment (which guarantees free exercise of religion).
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: May increase public awareness of religious education's benefits, encouraging more families to seek such programs. It could promote mental health and community building among youth but has no direct enforcement, so participation remains voluntary.
- On Government Agencies and Schools: Encourages state and local education authorities to support released time accommodations, potentially leading to more flexible policies in public schools without requiring federal funding or mandates.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the resolution focuses solely on domestic U.S. education and religious freedoms.
- Overall, the effects are largely symbolic, fostering dialogue on religious liberty rather than imposing new requirements.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Students and Parents: Particularly those in public schools interested in religious instruction, benefiting from potential easier access to released time.
- Religious Schools and Organizations: Faith-based elementary/secondary schools and groups offering religious classes, recognized and celebrated for their contributions.
- Public School Administrators and State Governments: Urged to facilitate released time programs, which could involve minor administrative adjustments.
- Broader Society: U.S. citizens generally, as it promotes values like morality and civic development tied to religious education.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: Reinforces First Amendment protections for religious exercise in education, citing landmark Supreme Court cases to underscore that the government cannot force uniform public schooling and must respect parental rights. No new legal obligations are created, avoiding potential church-state separation challenges.
- Political: Introduced by a bipartisan group of 27 senators (mostly Republicans), it signals congressional support for religious freedoms amid ongoing debates on education and secularism. As a simple resolution, it requires only Senate approval and carries symbolic weight rather than legislative force, potentially influencing future policy discussions on school choice and religious accommodations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (30)
Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL], Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL], Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN], Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC], Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN], Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT], Sen. Moody, Ashley [R-FL], Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO], Sen. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE]
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-09-30: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Designating the week of October 5, 2025, through October 11, 2025, as Religious Education Week to celebrate religious education in the United States. — issued 2025-09-30 — PDF (4 pages)