119-hres376

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 376 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

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119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
H. RES. 376

Expressing support for the designation of May 4, 2025, as a ``National 
Day of Reason'' and recognizing the central importance of reason in the 
 betterment of humanity.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 May 1, 2025

 Mr. Raskin (for himself, Mr. Huffman, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Johnson of 
Georgia, Ms. Tlaib, and Ms. Norton) submitted the following resolution; 
 which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the designation of May 4, 2025, as a ``National 
Day of Reason'' and recognizing the central importance of reason in the 
 betterment of humanity.

Whereas the application of reason has been the essential precondition for 
 humanity's extraordinary scientific, medical, technological, and social 
 progress since before the founding of the United States;
Whereas reason provides the necessary framework for confronting the crises of 
 today, including--

    (1) for cultivating our common defense of the rule of law, the 
separation of church and state, strong democratic institutions, justice, 
and peace among nations;

    (2) for providing an antidote to the fear and disinformation that have 
fed the rise of authoritarianism in the United States;

    (3) for advancing civil liberties and human rights for all; and

    (4) for confronting the civilizational emergency of climate change;

Whereas America's Founders insisted upon the primacy of reason and knowledge in 
 public life, and drafted the Constitution to prevent official 
 establishment of religion and to protect freedom of thought, speech, and 
 inquiry in civil society;
Whereas the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause, grounded in the 
 principle of reason, protect the rights of people of all religious 
 faiths and of none at all and ensure the United States remains a 
 pluralistic democracy capable of withstanding theocratic threats to 
 secular governance;
Whereas James Madison, author of the First Amendment and fourth President of the 
 United States, stated, ``The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is 
 the only guardian of true liberty'', and ``Knowledge will forever govern 
 ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm 
 themselves with the power knowledge gives'';
Whereas Thomas Paine, an American Founding Father and luminary patriot of the 
 Enlightenment and American Revolution, wrote that reason is ``the most 
 formidable weapon against errors of every kind'';
Whereas, today. some of our Nation's leaders would replace knowledge, facts, and 
 evidence with propaganda, disinformation, and superstition; and
Whereas May 4, 2025, would be an appropriate date to designate as a ``National 
 Day of Reason'': Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

    (1) supports the designation of a ``National Day of 
 Reason''; and

    (2) encourages all persons in the United States to observe 
 this day and uplift the central importance of reason, critical 
 thought, the scientific method, and free inquiry to resolving 
 social problems and promoting the welfare of humankind.
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