H.R. 8705
CHARLIE Act
Sponsor: Burgess Owens
1 cosponsor
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Civics and History Advancement to Restore Learning, Integrity, and Education Act or the CHARLIE Act
This bill prohibits the use of federal funding made available for the American History and Civics Education program to fund discriminatory equity ideology or gender ideology, as defined in certain executive orders. Further, in awarding grants under this program, the Department of Education may not give priority to an eligible entity on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status.
The bill defines discriminatory equity ideology in accordance with Executive Order 14190, which was published on January 29, 2025. This definition refers to ideology that treats individuals as members of preferred or disfavored groups rather than as individuals, including listed ideologies (e.g., an ideology that members of one race, color, sex, or national origin are morally or inherently superior to members of another race, color, sex, or national origin, or that an individual is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive by virtue of the individual's race, color, sex, or national origin).
The bill defines gender ideology in accordance with Executive Order 14168, which was published on January 20, 2025. This definition refers to an ideology that replaces categories of biological sex with gender identity.
Text of the bill
This Act may be cited as the Civics and History Advancement to Restore Learning, Integrity, and Education Act or the CHARLIE Act.
Section 2231 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6661) is amended by adding at the end the following:
(c) Prohibitions
(1) In general. Of the amount made available to carry out this subpart, no funds may be used for discriminatory equity ideology or gender ideology.
(2) Priority. In awarding grants under this subpart, the Secretary may not give priority to an eligible entity on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status, including with respect to—
(A) the identity or purpose of the eligible entity;
(B) the identity of the individuals who control, are employed by, or are served by the eligible entity; or
(C) the proposed activities to be carried out under such a grant.
(d) Definitions. In this section:
(1) Discriminatory equity ideology. The term discriminatory equity ideology has the meaning given the term in section 2 of Executive Order 14190 (90 Fed. Reg. 8853; relating to ending radical indoctrination in K–12 schooling).
(2) Gender ideology. The term gender ideology has the meaning given the term in section 2 of Executive Order 14168 (90 Fed. Reg. 8615; relating to defending women from gender ideology extremism and restoring biological truth to the Federal Government).