Legis Daily

Civics Secures Democracy Act

USA117th CongressS-879| Senate 
| Updated: 3/22/2021
Christopher A. Coons

Christopher A. Coons

Democratic Senator

Delaware

Cosponsors (1)
John Cornyn (Republican)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Civics Secures Democracy Act This bill provides resources to expand educational programs in American civics and history, including by establishing grant and fellowship programs and reauthorizing various programs. First, the bill authorizes the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to states, qualified nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education (IHEs), and qualified researchers to support and expand access to civics and history education. Next, the bill establishes a fellowship program to diversify the civics and history education workforce. In addition, the bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and revises the American History for Freedom grant program. The bill renames the program as the American Civics Education Program. The bill revises the grant program to authorize ED to award grants to IHEs once every three years to establish or strengthen academic programs to promote American political thought and history; the history, achievements, and impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally; and the means of participation in political and civic life. IHEs may use grants to support additional activities, such as collaborating with federal or state humanities programs and using open educational resources. Further, the bill reauthorizes through FY2022 and revises the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund and the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Trust Fund. Finally, the bill requires the National Assessment of Educational Progress in civics and history to be administered every two years to certain grade levels.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 11, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-1814
Introduced in House
Mar 22, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Mar 22, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • March 11, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-1814
    Introduced in House


  • March 22, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 22, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Education

Related Bills

  • S 117-4403: USA Civics Act of 2022
  • S 117-4384: Civics Secures Democracy Act
  • HR 117-3242: USA Civics Act of 2021
  • HR 117-1814: Civics Secures Democracy Act of 2021
Academic performance and assessmentsCivics educationEducation of the disadvantagedEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationEmployment and training programsForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment trust fundsHigher educationMinority educationPolitical movements and philosophiesResearch administration and fundingRural conditions and developmentSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusState and local government operationsStudent aid and college costsTax-exempt organizationsTeaching, teachers, curriculaUrban and suburban affairs and developmentU.S. historyWomen's education

Civics Secures Democracy Act

USA117th CongressS-879| Senate 
| Updated: 3/22/2021
Civics Secures Democracy Act This bill provides resources to expand educational programs in American civics and history, including by establishing grant and fellowship programs and reauthorizing various programs. First, the bill authorizes the Department of Education (ED) to award grants to states, qualified nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education (IHEs), and qualified researchers to support and expand access to civics and history education. Next, the bill establishes a fellowship program to diversify the civics and history education workforce. In addition, the bill reauthorizes through FY2027 and revises the American History for Freedom grant program. The bill renames the program as the American Civics Education Program. The bill revises the grant program to authorize ED to award grants to IHEs once every three years to establish or strengthen academic programs to promote American political thought and history; the history, achievements, and impact of American representative democracy and constitutional democracies globally; and the means of participation in political and civic life. IHEs may use grants to support additional activities, such as collaborating with federal or state humanities programs and using open educational resources. Further, the bill reauthorizes through FY2022 and revises the Harry S. Truman Memorial Scholarship Trust Fund and the James Madison Memorial Fellowship Trust Fund. Finally, the bill requires the National Assessment of Educational Progress in civics and history to be administered every two years to certain grade levels.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 11, 2021

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 117-1814
Introduced in House
Mar 22, 2021
Introduced in Senate
Mar 22, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • March 11, 2021

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 117-1814
    Introduced in House


  • March 22, 2021
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 22, 2021
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Christopher A. Coons

Christopher A. Coons

Democratic Senator

Delaware

Cosponsors (1)
John Cornyn (Republican)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Education

Related Bills

  • S 117-4403: USA Civics Act of 2022
  • S 117-4384: Civics Secures Democracy Act
  • HR 117-3242: USA Civics Act of 2021
  • HR 117-1814: Civics Secures Democracy Act of 2021
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Academic performance and assessmentsCivics educationEducation of the disadvantagedEducation programs fundingElementary and secondary educationEmployment and training programsForeign language and bilingual programsGovernment trust fundsHigher educationMinority educationPolitical movements and philosophiesResearch administration and fundingRural conditions and developmentSocial work, volunteer service, charitable organizationsSovereignty, recognition, national governance and statusState and local government operationsStudent aid and college costsTax-exempt organizationsTeaching, teachers, curriculaUrban and suburban affairs and developmentU.S. historyWomen's education