Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History Act
Summary
H.R. 4730 would convert an executive order into permanent law governing how federal museums, monuments, and historic sites present American history. If enacted, the bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior and Smithsonian Institution to remove or defund exhibits, programs, and signage that officials determine divide Americans based on race, degrade shared American values, or recognize transgender women as women. The bill would also require reinstatement of monuments, memorials, statues, and markers removed or changed since January 2020 that officials believe perpetuate false history. Additionally, it would direct funding for infrastructure improvements to Independence Hall in Philadelphia by July 4, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
The bill's core provisions rely on subjective terms like dividing Americans based on race and degrading shared values, which would give significant discretion to executive officials in determining what content remains in federal museums and historic sites. This means the practical impact would depend heavily on how these terms are interpreted and applied by the agencies responsible for implementing the law. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House of Representatives.