A recently elected Republican member of Congress is seeking to bring renewed focus to America's foundational principles before the nation's 250th anniversary, contending that the country must recommit to these ideals as certain political ideologies gain prominence.
Representative Matt Van Epps, a Republican from Tennessee, has introduced legislation designed to reaffirm the Declaration of Independence. He described this action as consistent with a long-standing congressional practice of commemorating significant national milestones by referencing this pivotal founding document.
Van Epps, who secured his seat in a special election in December 2025, indicated that his bill was a direct response to what he perceives as a growing influence of socialist ideas within the Democratic Party. He specifically highlighted efforts by what he termed the far-left to consolidate power in the period leading up to the November midterm elections.
The Tennessee lawmaker pointed to a group of socialist candidates who are expected to enter Congress after securing primary victories in heavily Democratic districts, particularly those centered in New York City.
Among these candidates is Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old activist and Democratic congressional nominee who achieved an unexpected win against an established Democrat. Chevalier has publicly stated that the deportation of any undocumented migrant is unjust, expressed support for the prison abolition movement, and questioned Israel's right to exist. She also co-founded a pro-Palestinian organization at Columbia University that advocated for "the total eradication of Western civilization."
"Socialism, Marxist, leftist ideas have failed every time they've been tried in the history of the world," Van Epps stated, adding that such concepts are "not America at its core."
"What the founders set out to do 250 years ago … We've got to continue so that the next generations know about that freedom and liberty and pursuing that greatness."
Legislative Path and Senate Companion Bill
The timeline for the House to consider this resolution remains uncertain. Lawmakers recently departed Washington early for the July 4 recess, a departure prompted by a group of conservative Republicans who effectively stalled floor proceedings in protest over the SAVE America Act and other border security priorities.
Earlier in the current month, Senator Eric Schmitt, a Republican from Missouri, also presented a resolution affirming the Declaration of Independence in the Senate, where it passed with broad support in the upper chamber.
Both Senator Schmitt and Representative Van Epps agreed to advance parallel legislation after participating in the annual Congressional baseball game, recognizing the approaching 250th anniversary of the nation's founding.
Rekindling National Pride
For Senator Schmitt, the impetus behind his resolution was to revitalize a sense of national pride among Americans, which he argued has steadily diminished over the years.
"A generation ago, American pride was nearly universal," Schmitt remarked on the Senate floor at the time. "After 9/11, more than 90% of Americans said they were proud to be an American. Today, Gallup puts that number at 58%."
He characterized the profound ideas embedded within the Declaration of Independence as an enduring inheritance passed down through generations. This inheritance, he explained, serves to remind Americans of the fundamental reasons why the founding fathers chose to sever ties with England and forge an independent path as a new nation.
"That inheritance now rests in our hands, and too many powerful voices in this country teach the next generation to receive it with suspicion instead of gratitude," Schmitt asserted. "We are done being ashamed of America. We love our country. We honor the men who built it. We give thanks for the inheritance they placed in our hand, and we intend to keep it."