Blumenauer, DeLauro Push for Historic Investment in Civics Education, Calling it “Democracy’s Best Defense”

"Our democracy's best defense is an informed, engaged public. I've spent my career working to build that, from organizing the campaign to lower the voting age to working with the Oregon State Legislature to ensure every highschooler completes a civics class before graduating," said Congressman Blumenauer. "This legislation brings us one step closer fulfilling our goal, and it could not come at a more critical time."

"Civics education is vital to a well-informed electorate and vibrant democracy," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "I am proud to join Congressman Blumenauer in introducing the Understanding and Studying American (USA) Civics Act which would establish a grant program to promote civics education in postsecondary education. I also included this legislation in my Civics Secures Democracy Act - comprehensive legislation to restore the importance placed on civics education in American classrooms. I am grateful for Congressman Blumenauer's leadership on this issue, and I am committed to bolstering federal investments that support civics education and implementing policies that strengthen civics learning for future generations."

Specifically, the USA Civics Act:

• Authorizes federal grants to establish or strengthen postsecondary academic centers or programs that promote and impart knowledge of American political thought and history and free institutions 
• Empowers centers and programs to focus on the achievements and impact of American representative democracy on constitutional democracies globally, as well as what it means to be an active participant in civic and political life. 
• Supports teacher preparation initiatives that stress content mastery of American political thought and history, free institutions, the impact of American democracy and constitutional democracies around the world, and successful means of participation in political and civic life. 
• Encourages centers to collaborate with local school districts to provide elementary and secondary teachers with resources to improve their own civics programs. 
• Allows funds to support collaboration with outside stakeholders, the development of open educational resources, or other activities to promote civics education. 

A one-page fact sheet can be found here. Bill text can be found here.

As a student at Lewis and Clark College, Blumenauer led the Go19 campaign to lower the state voting age from 21 to 19. The effort helped lead to the passage of the 26^th Amendment to lower the voting age nationally.

In 2021, Blumenauer was a staunch advocate in the effort to add civics as a graduation requirement for high schoolers in Oregon.

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