Bill Details
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This bill would stop the Department of Education from giving federal money to state or local school agencies that block students or others from taking part in voluntary prayer in public schools. It says schools cannot deny or effectively prevent prayer that is allowed under the Constitution. It also makes clear that no one can be forced to pray or be made to help decide what the prayer says. The bill is meant to protect voluntary prayer in schools while keeping it optional for everyone.
- Federal education funds could be withheld from school agencies that have rules or practices that stop constitutionally protected prayer.
- The prayer must be voluntary, meaning no student or other person can be required to join in.
- No one can be required to shape, lead, or influence the words or form of the prayer.
Official Summaries
Voluntary School Prayer Protection Act of 2025
This bill prohibits the Department of Education (ED) from providing funding for public schools that restrict voluntary school prayer.
Specifically, the bill prohibits ED from providing funds to state or local educational agencies with policies that deny, or effectively prevent, individuals from voluntarily participating in public school prayer that is constitutionally protected.
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 370 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 370
To prohibit the provision of Federal funds to any State or local
educational agency that denies or prevents participation in
constitutionally protected prayer in schools, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 13, 2025
Mr. Rouzer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit the provision of Federal funds to any State or local
educational agency that denies or prevents participation in
constitutionally protected prayer in schools, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Voluntary School Prayer Protection
Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. FUNDING CONTINGENT ON RESPECT FOR CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED
SCHOOL PRAYER.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no
funds made available through the Department of Education shall be
provided to any State or local educational agency that has a policy of
denying, or that effectively prevents participation in,
constitutionally protected prayer in public schools by individuals on a
voluntary basis.
(b) Limitation.--No person shall be required to participate in
prayer or influence the form or content of any constitutionally
protected prayer in public schools.
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