H.R. 8705 · In committee · Education

CHARLIE Act

Sponsor: Burgess Owens (R-UT)

What it does

• Prohibits federal funding under the American History and Civics Education program from supporting discriminatory equity ideology or gender ideology as defined in executive orders.
• Bars the Department of Education from prioritizing grant awards to eligible entities based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or immigration status.
• Defines discriminatory equity ideology per Executive Order 14190, referencing ideologies that categorize individuals by group membership or assign inherent moral status by race, sex, color, or national origin.
• Defines gender ideology per Executive Order 14168, referring to ideology replacing biological sex categories with gender identity.

Official summary

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…

Latest action

May 21, 2026: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 15.

Committee: House Education and Workforce