[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1266 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1266

Expressing support for the designation of May 4, 2026, as a ``National 
Day of Reason'' and recognizing the central importance of reason in the 
                        betterment of humanity.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 7, 2026

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing support for the designation of May 4, 2026, 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 250 years ago;
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 during the American Revolution 250 years ago, and drafted 
        the Constitution to prevent official establishment of religion and to 
        protect freedom of thought, conscience, 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 ``the most formidable 
        weapon against errors of every kind is Reason'';
Whereas today some of our nation's leaders would replace knowledge, facts and 
        evidence with propaganda, disinformation and superstition;
Whereas May 4, 2026, 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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