History and Tradition Protection Act of 2023

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 20, 2023

History and Tradition Protection Act of 2023 This bill limits the types of relief that may be awarded in civil suits that involve violations of the Constitution's Establishment Clause, which prohibits the government from establishing a religion.

Current law provides a statutory civil cause of action against state and local government actors for violations of constitutional rights, also known as Section 1983 lawsuits. The bill limits relief for Section 1983 lawsuits that involve violations of the Establishment Clause to injunctive and declaratory relief (i.e., nonmonetary relief) and prohibits the award of attorneys' fees in these cases, including those that involve monuments, public buildings, official seals, and government proceedings. The bill applies the same restrictions to similar lawsuits against federal agencies.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Johnson, Mike [R-LA-4] · R–LA

Committees

Judiciary Committee

4 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 20, 2023
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 20, 2023
Introduced in House
Jan 20, 2023
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 20, 2023 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 2224 · History and Tradition Protection Act of 2021

Source last updated: Jul 24, 2024. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Objective

Analyze H.R.425 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.425, 118th Congress: History and Tradition Protection Act of 2023

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/425

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2023-01-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hr425/BILLS-118hr425ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-07-24T15:24:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.425 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.425 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.425, 118th Congress: History and Tradition Protection Act of 2023

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/425

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2023-01-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hr425/BILLS-118hr425ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-07-24T15:24:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.425 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.425 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

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Discuss H.R.425, 118th Congress: History and Tradition Protection Act of 2023

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/425

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2023-01-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hr425/BILLS-118hr425ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-07-24T15:24:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.425 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.425 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.425, 118th Congress: History and Tradition Protection Act of 2023

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/425

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2023-01-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/hr425/BILLS-118hr425ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-07-24T15:24:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.425 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.