H.Res. 1493

IV
  119TH CONGRESS
  2D SESSION
  H. RES. 1493
  Declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious discrimination and pro-
  viding for the establishment of a Cabinet-level Department of Reconcili-
  ation charged with eliminating racism and invidious discrimination.
  IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
  AUGUST 27, 2026
  Mr. GREEN of Texas submitted the following resolution; which was referred
  to the Committee on the Judiciary
  RESOLUTION
  Declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious dis-
  crimination and providing for the establishment of a
  Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation charged with
  eliminating racism and invidious discrimination.
  Whereas this resolution may be cited as the original resolu-
  tion declaring unconditional war on racism and invidious
  discrimination and providing for the establishment of a
  Cabinet-level Department of Reconciliation;
  Whereas this resolution is presented in the spirit of President
  Lyndon B. Johnson, who—on January 8, 1964, after the
  assassination of President John F. Kennedy, during a
  time of great turmoil—proclaimed, ‘‘This administration
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  today, here and now, declares unconditional war on pov-
  erty in America . . . Our aim is not only to relieve the
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  2
  symptoms of poverty, but to cure it and, above all, to
  prevent it.’’;
  Whereas President Barack Obama indicated, ‘‘In fact, if we
  hadn’t declared ‘unconditional war on poverty in Amer-
  ica,’ millions more Americans would be living in poverty
  today.’’;
  Whereas some of the programs produced by the War on Pov-
  erty include Medicaid, Medicare, expanded Social Secu-
  rity, and Head Start—all of which are still needed today;
  Whereas racism and invidious discrimination—like poverty in
  1964—remain pervasive in our country;
  Whereas history is replete with examples of victims of racism
  and invidious discrimination being denied life, liberty,
  and the pursuit of happiness;
  Whereas systemic and institutionalized racism and invidious
  discrimination exist in virtually all areas of American life,
  including policing, criminal justice, housing, banking, vot-
  ing, employment, education, the environment, and health
  care; and
  Whereas the protestations in the aftermath of the tragic
  death of George Floyd are a clear indication that it has
  become necessary for Congress to take decisive, imme-
  diate and long-term legislative action to address the
  elimination of racism and invidious discrimination: Now,
  therefore, be it
  1  Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
  2  (1) condemns racism and invidious discrimina-
  3  tion as evil and antithetical to the United States
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  4  Constitution;
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  1  (2) declares unconditional war on racism and
  2  invidious discrimination in America and will provide
  3  the resources and funding for their defeat; and
  4  (3) shall pass legislation establishing a Cabinet-
  5  level Department of Reconciliation charged with end-
  6  ing racism and invidious discrimination, developing
  7  and coordinating the implementation of a com-
  8  prehensive national strategy to eliminate racism and
  9  invidious discrimination, with a budget that shall be
  10  the equivalent of not less than 10 percent of the De-
  11  fense Department’s budget, and headed by a Sec-
  12  retary of Reconciliation appointed by the President
  13  with the advice and consent of the Senate who shall
  14  make semi-annual progress reports to Congress.
  Æ
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