Text of US HB 985 (2023)

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 985 To prohibit the use of Federal funds in any program, project, or activity of any agency in the Executive Branch to provide principles, resources, or specific suggestions for gender neutral or inclusive language or inclu- sive communication principles to help inform an inclusive approach to carrying out any such program, project, and activity. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 10, 2023 Mr. NEHLS (for himself, Mr. GAETZ, and Mrs. BOEBERT) introduced the fol- lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Ac- countability A BILL To prohibit the use of Federal funds in any program, project, or activity of any agency in the Executive Branch to provide principles, resources, or specific suggestions for gender neutral or inclusive language or inclusive commu- nication principles to help inform an inclusive approach to carrying out any such program, project, and activity. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Productivity Over Pro- 4 nouns Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:14 Mar 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H985.IH H985 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 985 IH SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR 1 GENDER NEUTRAL OR INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE 2 OR INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION PRINCIPLES 3 TO HELP INFORM AN INCLUSIVE APPROACH 4 TO CARRYING OUT ANY SUCH PROGRAM, 5 PROJECT, AND ACTIVITY. 6 (a) IN GENERAL.—Amounts may not be appropriated 7 for use in any program, project, or activity of any agency, 8 and funds made available for any program, project, or ac- 9 tivity of any agency may not be obligated or expended, 10 to provide principles, resources, or specific suggestions for 11 gender neutral or inclusive language or inclusive commu- 12 nication principles to help inform an inclusive approach 13 to carrying out any such program, project, and activity. 14 (b) GENDER NEUTRAL OR INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE 15 AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNICATION PRINCIPLES.—For pur- 16 poses of this section, the term ‘‘gender neutral or inclusive 17 language and inclusive communication principles’’ in- 18 cludes— 19 (1) any form of communication that avoids 20 using words, expressions or assumptions that would 21 stereotype, demean or exclude people; 22 (2) language that avoids bias towards a par- 23 ticular sex or gender; 24 (3) preferred terms that attempt to represent 25 an ongoing shift toward non-stigmatizing language; 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:14 Mar 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H985.IH H985 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 985 IH (4) language that emphasizes the importance of 1 addressing all people inclusively and respectfully; 2 (5) using an equity lens when framing informa- 3 tion about disparities among populations; 4 (6) any form of communication that classifies 5 people by pronouns; 6 (7) using preferred terms for select population 7 groups while recognizing that there isn’t always 8 agreement on these terms; and 9 (8) considering how communications are devel- 10 oped and looking for ways to develop more inclusive 11 communications products. 12 (c) AGENCY.—For purposes of this section, the term 13 ‘‘agency’’ has the meaning given such term by section 14 551(1) of title 5, United States Code. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:14 Mar 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H985.IH H985 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS