Whereas the Declaration of Independence famously states that We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed;

Whereas the American Revolution was a turning point in world history that helped transform subjects into citizens and launched a new experiment in self-government based on natural rights and the rule of law, reminding future generations that democracy is not automatic, but rather the consequence of citizens willing to defend and renew those ideals;

Whereas George Washington, drawing on experience in earlier conflicts and enduring hardships alongside his troops, and learning from early military setbacks and failures, helped hold together the Continental Army and our fragile new Nation;

Whereas Washington set enduring essential precedents by resigning his commission as commander of the military and facilitated an historic and peaceful transfer of power as the first President of the United States;

Whereas historic places such as Mount Vernon, Independence Hall, and other sites across the United States remind United States citizens that the Nation’s founding ideals were forged not in abstraction but through the choices and sacrifices of real people and communities, including ordinary soldiers, families, and neighbors whose lives were upended by the violence and uncertainty of war;

Whereas strong instruction in United States history and civics in our Nation’s schools helps ensure that every student, regardless of background or zip code, learns how the United States was founded, how its institutions work, and what it means to be an informed and responsible citizen, recognizing that civic learning is a lifelong pursuit and a safeguard of the Republic;

Whereas high-quality education in United States history and civics helps students understand core principles of the Nation’s founding, including individual liberty, equality under the law, representative democracy, and the responsibilities of citizenship such as cultivating virtue, integrity, and a sense of duty to the common good;

Whereas learning about the founding era, including the American Revolution and the drafting of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, equips students and adults alike to place current events in historical context and to better appreciate the ongoing work of forming a more perfect Union, including the courage, conflicts, and sacrifices that marked the Nation’s earliest years;

Whereas historians, classroom teachers, museums, historic sites, and documentary filmmakers have all helped United States citizens see the Nation’s past more clearly by telling stories that combine well-known leaders with the experiences of everyday people who also shaped the course of events, including through major documentary series and educational programs that present first-person perspectives on the founding era;

Whereas the year 2026 will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, and the America 250 Caucus and other bipartisan efforts are working to ensure that this milestone strengthens civic knowledge, patriotism, and national unity; and

Whereas the semiquincentennial presents a unique opportunity to renew the Nation’s commitment to the founding ideals that, while not always perfectly realized, have inspired United States citizens and peoples around the world for nearly 250 years: Now, therefore, be it