# 119-hr-5739: Italian Heroes and Heritage Act

119-hr-5739, Italian Heroes and Heritage Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6] (R-OH); status introduced (as of 2026-10-22).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5739
- As of: 2026-10-22
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-5739
- Congress: 119
- Title: Italian Heroes and Heritage Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-10-10
- Sponsor: Rep. Rulli, Michael A. [R-OH-6] (R-OH)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-22

## Summary

**Withholds federal funds from places that replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.** The Italian Heroes and Heritage Act would use federal money to encourage continued celebration of Columbus Day and to highlight Italian‑American heritage and Christopher Columbus. - State and local governments: Would be barred from receiving federal funds on Columbus Day if they celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day. The prohibition applies during the 1-year period beginning after Oct. 13, 2025, and on each Columbus Day thereafter. - Italian-American communities: Directs nationwide recognition of Oct. 13 as Columbus Day to honor Italian-American heritage and Christopher Columbus and cites 11 Italian-Americans murdered in a New Orleans lynch mob in its findings. - Indigenous communities: Creates a federal funding disincentive for jurisdictions that adopt Indigenous Peoples Day in place of Columbus Day, tying holiday recognition to federal grants.

## Provisions PRIA read

- States and cities lose funds for replacing Columbus Day: cost, low. This bill would block federal funding to any state or city that celebrates Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day. The block would last for the 1-year period starting after October 13, 2025, and would apply again on each federal Columbus Day after that. It would apply despite any other law.…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act
- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-137: TCJA Permanency Act
- 119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025
- 119-hr-928: Railway Safety Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4706: Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-5739 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5739)

## Related
- [119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8870)
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-137: TCJA Permanency Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-137)
- [119-hr-1229: United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1229)
- [119-hr-928: Railway Safety Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-928)
- [119-hr-4706: Protecting Our Farms and Homes from China Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4706)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5739 (as of 2026-10-22).