American Civics Renewal Act
Sponsored By: Senator Andy Kim
Introduced
Summary
A temporary federal Commission on American Civics Renewal would review and strengthen civics education for K–12, postsecondary, and adult learners and develop a national, age‑appropriate civics curriculum and implementation strategy.
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- Students and families: Students would get a model, age‑appropriate civics curriculum for elementary, secondary, and postsecondary levels that covers political thought, U.S. history, constitutional government, individual rights, market economics, religious freedom, tolerance, and civic engagement. The Commission must publish the curriculum and a national strategy within 2 years after its first meeting.
- Teachers: The Commission would assess teacher preparation and ongoing professional development and collect best practices and cross‑disciplinary teaching examples to support civics instruction.
- State and local education agencies: The Secretary of Education would be required to inform State educational agencies within 30 days of receiving the curriculum and strategy and provide accessible ways to access the materials, such as a website.
- Federal agencies and nonprofits: The Commission would engage named Federal entities and nonpartisan civic organizations to streamline and coordinate Federal civics programs and funding.
- Commission operations and funding: The Commission would be authorized to hold hearings, hire staff, accept gifts, and receive $2.0 million in appropriations available until expended to carry out its work.
*Appropriates $2.0 million to establish and operate the Commission, increasing federal spending by that amount.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
National civics curriculum and strategy
If enacted, the Commission would review civics education from elementary school through adult learning. It would evaluate federal civics programs and funding, assess teacher preparation and professional development, and collect best practices. The Commission would develop an age-appropriate civics curriculum covering U.S. political thought, history, how government works, representative democracy, constitutional government, individual rights, market economics, religious freedom, tolerance, and civic engagement. The Commission would send the proposed curriculum and a national strategy to Congress, the Education Secretary, and the Archivist within 15 months of its first meeting and publish a national strategy within 2 years. The Secretary of Education would have 30 days to tell State education agencies the materials are available and provide an accessible way (for example, a website) to access them.
Funding, powers, and staff pay
If enacted, the government would provide $2,000,000 to carry out the Commission, available starting on the date of enactment until spent. The Commission would be able to hold hearings, take testimony, and require information from Federal agencies when requested by the Chair. It could use the U.S. mail and accept gifts or donations. Non-federal members would be paid the daily equivalent of Executive Schedule level IV while working, and they could receive travel pay. The Chair could hire an executive director and staff and set pay up to Executive Schedule level V, and Federal employees could be detailed to the Commission without losing their civil service status.
New national civics commission
If enacted, this would create an eight-member Commission on American Civics Renewal. Congressional leaders and committee chairs would each appoint one member within 60 days after enactment. The Commission must pick a Chair and Vice Chair at its first meeting, which must occur within 30 days after all members are appointed. A majority of members would be a quorum, and vacancies would be filled the same way as original appointments.
Commission ends after delivery
If enacted, the Commission would terminate 60 days after it submits the proposed civics curriculum and national strategy to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. This would end the Commission soon after it delivers its required materials.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Andy Kim
NJ • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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