DAV21482 HCF S.L.C. 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. ll To prohibit the United States Armed Forces from promoting anti-American and racist theories. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES llllllllll Mr. COTTON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on llllllllll A BILL To prohibit the United States Armed Forces from promoting anti-American and racist theories. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combatting Racist 5 Training in the Military Act of 2021’’. 6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 7 Congress makes the following findings: 8 (1) The founding principles of the United 9 States include the belief, enshrined in the Declara10 tion of Independence, that ‘‘all men are created 2 DAV21482 HCF S.L.C. 1 equal’’ and ‘‘are endowed by their Creator with cer2 tain unalienable Rights’’. 3 (2) The United States’ commitment to the 4 equal dignity and natural rights of all mankind is 5 the strongest possible defense against racism and 6 oppression of all kinds. 7 (3) The mission of the United States Armed 8 Forces is to ‘‘support and defend the Constitution of 9 the United States against all enemies, foreign and 10 domestic’’ and ‘‘bear true faith and allegiance to the 11 same’’. 12 (4) To carry out this mission, the Armed 13 Forces must train leaders who love the United 14 States, its citizens, and the aforementioned founding 15 principles. 16 (5) Anti-American and racist theories, such as 17 ‘‘Critical Race Theory’’, teach that the United 18 States is a fundamentally racist Nation, that the 19 Constitution is a fundamentally racist document, 20 and that certain races are fundamentally oppressive 21 or oppressed. 22 (6) Such theories encourage people to judge 23 and treat others differently on the basis of their 24 race, rather than treating them as equal citizens and 3 DAV21482 HCF S.L.C. 1 human beings with equal dignity and protection 2 under the law. 3 (7) Anti-American and racist theories, such as 4 Critical Race Theory, teach students to distrust and 5 even hate their country and fellow citizens. 6 (8) The United States Armed Forces should not 7 promote or otherwise encourage anti-American and 8 racist theories that demoralize and divide its mem9 bers while undermining its mission to ‘‘bear truth 10 faith and allegiance’’ to the Constitution. 11 SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON PROMOTION OF ANTI-AMERICAN 12 AND RACIST THEORIES. 13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The United States Armed Forces 14 and academic institutions operated or controlled by the 15 Department of Defense shall not promote the following 16 anti-American and racist theories: 17 (1) Any race is inherently superior or inferior 18 to any other race. 19 (2) The United States of America is a fun20 damentally racist country. 21 (3) The Declaration of Independence or the 22 United States Constitution are fundamentally racist 23 documents. 24 (4) An individual’s moral character or worth is 25 determined by his or her race. 4 DAV21482 HCF S.L.C. 1 (5) An individual, by virtue of his or her race, 2 is inherently racist or oppressive, whether con3 sciously or unconsciously. 4 (6) An individual, because of his or her race, 5 bears responsibility for the actions committed by 6 other members of his or her race. 7 (b) PROMOTE DEFINED.—In this section, the term 8 ‘‘promote’’ means the following: 9 (1) Including theories described under sub10 section (a) or materials that advocate such theories 11 in curricula, reading lists, seminars, workshops, 12 trainings, or other educational or professional set13 tings in a manner that could reasonably give rise to 14 the appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or 15 endorsement. 16 (2) Contracting with, hiring, or otherwise en17 gaging speakers, consultants, diversity trainers, and 18 other persons for the purpose of advocating theories 19 described under subsection (a). 20 (3) Compelling members of the Armed Forces 21 to affirm or profess belief in theories described 22 under subsection (a). 23 (4) Segregating members of the Armed Forces 24 or other individuals by race in any setting, including 25 educational and training sessions. 5 DAV21482 HCF S.L.C. 1 (c) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.— 2 (1) PROTECTED SPEECH NOT RESTRICTED.— 3 Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict 4 the protected speech of members of the Armed 5 Forces or any individual. 6 (2) ACCESS TO MATERIALS FOR THE PURPOSE 7 OF RESEARCH OR INDEPENDENT STUDY.—Nothing 8 in this section shall be construed to prevent individ9 uals from accessing materials that advocate theories 10 described under subsection (a) for the purpose of re11 search or independent study. 12 (3) CONTEXTUAL EDUCATION.—Nothing in this 13 section shall be construed to prevent the United 14 States Armed Forces and academic institutions op15 erated or controlled by the Department of Defense 16 from stating theories described under subsection (a) 17 or assigning materials that advocate such theories 18 for educational purposes in contexts that make clear 19 the United States Armed Forces and Department of 20 Defense does not sponsor, approve, or endorse such 21 theories or works.
DAV21482 HCF S.L.C.
117TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION S. ll
To prohibit the United States Armed Forces from promoting anti-American
and racist theories.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
llllllllll
Mr. COTTON introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred
to the Committee on llllllllll
A BILL
To prohibit the United States Armed Forces from promoting
anti-American and racist theories.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Combatting Racist
5 Training in the Military Act of 2021’’.
6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
7 Congress makes the following findings:
8 (1) The founding principles of the United
9 States include the belief, enshrined in the Declara10 tion of Independence, that ‘‘all men are created
2
DAV21482 HCF S.L.C.
1 equal’’ and ‘‘are endowed by their Creator with cer2 tain unalienable Rights’’.
3 (2) The United States’ commitment to the
4 equal dignity and natural rights of all mankind is
5 the strongest possible defense against racism and
6 oppression of all kinds.
7 (3) The mission of the United States Armed
8 Forces is to ‘‘support and defend the Constitution of
9 the United States against all enemies, foreign and
10 domestic’’ and ‘‘bear true faith and allegiance to the
11 same’’.
12 (4) To carry out this mission, the Armed
13 Forces must train leaders who love the United
14 States, its citizens, and the aforementioned founding
15 principles.
16 (5) Anti-American and racist theories, such as
17 ‘‘Critical Race Theory’’, teach that the United
18 States is a fundamentally racist Nation, that the
19 Constitution is a fundamentally racist document,
20 and that certain races are fundamentally oppressive
21 or oppressed.
22 (6) Such theories encourage people to judge
23 and treat others differently on the basis of their
24 race, rather than treating them as equal citizens and
3
DAV21482 HCF S.L.C.
1 human beings with equal dignity and protection
2 under the law.
3 (7) Anti-American and racist theories, such as
4 Critical Race Theory, teach students to distrust and
5 even hate their country and fellow citizens.
6 (8) The United States Armed Forces should not
7 promote or otherwise encourage anti-American and
8 racist theories that demoralize and divide its mem9 bers while undermining its mission to ‘‘bear truth
10 faith and allegiance’’ to the Constitution.
11 SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON PROMOTION OF ANTI-AMERICAN
12 AND RACIST THEORIES.
13 (a) IN GENERAL.—The United States Armed Forces
14 and academic institutions operated or controlled by the
15 Department of Defense shall not promote the following
16 anti-American and racist theories:
17 (1) Any race is inherently superior or inferior
18 to any other race.
19 (2) The United States of America is a fun20 damentally racist country.
21 (3) The Declaration of Independence or the
22 United States Constitution are fundamentally racist
23 documents.
24 (4) An individual’s moral character or worth is
25 determined by his or her race.
4
DAV21482 HCF S.L.C.
1 (5) An individual, by virtue of his or her race,
2 is inherently racist or oppressive, whether con3 sciously or unconsciously.
4 (6) An individual, because of his or her race,
5 bears responsibility for the actions committed by
6 other members of his or her race.
7 (b) PROMOTE DEFINED.—In this section, the term
8 ‘‘promote’’ means the following:
9 (1) Including theories described under sub10 section (a) or materials that advocate such theories
11 in curricula, reading lists, seminars, workshops,
12 trainings, or other educational or professional set13 tings in a manner that could reasonably give rise to
14 the appearance of official sponsorship, approval, or
15 endorsement.
16 (2) Contracting with, hiring, or otherwise en17 gaging speakers, consultants, diversity trainers, and
18 other persons for the purpose of advocating theories
19 described under subsection (a).
20 (3) Compelling members of the Armed Forces
21 to affirm or profess belief in theories described
22 under subsection (a).
23 (4) Segregating members of the Armed Forces
24 or other individuals by race in any setting, including
25 educational and training sessions.
5
DAV21482 HCF S.L.C.
1 (c) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—
2 (1) PROTECTED SPEECH NOT RESTRICTED.—
3 Nothing in this section shall be construed to restrict
4 the protected speech of members of the Armed
5 Forces or any individual.
6 (2) ACCESS TO MATERIALS FOR THE PURPOSE
7 OF RESEARCH OR INDEPENDENT STUDY.—Nothing
8 in this section shall be construed to prevent individ9 uals from accessing materials that advocate theories
10 described under subsection (a) for the purpose of re11 search or independent study.
12 (3) CONTEXTUAL EDUCATION.—Nothing in this
13 section shall be construed to prevent the United
14 States Armed Forces and academic institutions op15 erated or controlled by the Department of Defense
16 from stating theories described under subsection (a)
17 or assigning materials that advocate such theories
18 for educational purposes in contexts that make clear
19 the United States Armed Forces and Department of
20 Defense does not sponsor, approve, or endorse such
21 theories or works.