H. Con. Res. 13 (119th)Bill Overview

Providing that George Washington's "Farewell Address" shall be read at the beginning of each Congress.

Concurrent ResolutionCongress|Congress
Sponsor
Cosponsors
Support
Republican
Introduced
Feb 14, 2025
Discussions
Bill Text
Current stageCommittee

Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

Introduced
Committee
Floor
President
Law
Congressional Activities
01 · The brief
Plain-English summaryWhat this bill actually does

This concurrent resolution requires that George Washington’s Farewell Address be read aloud on the first day of the first regular session of each Congress. A Senator (designated by the Senate majority leader) and a Representative (designated by the House Speaker) shall read it in their respective Chambers.

Why people may split

Progressives stress historical context and inclusivity requirements

Watch point

Ceremonial rule changes typically pass quickly in the House unless opposed on other grounds.

This concurrent resolution requires that George Washington’s Farewell Address be read aloud on the first day of the first regular session of each Congress.

A Senator (designated by the Senate majority leader) and a Representative (designated by the House Speaker) shall read it in their respective Chambers.

The resolution is adopted as an exercise of each House’s rulemaking power and is intended to become part of each House’s rules, subject to change by that House at any time.

Passage85/100

Narrow, noncontroversial, low-cost chamber rule; historically similar ceremonial resolutions are usually adopted.

CredibilityPartial

How solid the drafting looks.

Contention40/100

Progressives stress historical context and inclusivity requirements

02 · What it does

Who stands to gain, and who may push back.

Likely benefits vs burdens50% / 50%
Likely helpedLikely burdened

These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.

Likely helped
  • Potential benefitCreates a recurring ceremonial practice that may reinforce civic education about founding principles.
  • Potential benefitPromotes institutional continuity and a uniform opening tradition for each new Congress.
  • Potential benefitRequires minimal administrative effort compared with potential symbolic and educational benefits.
Likely burdened
  • Potential burdenConsumes floor time that could otherwise be used for legislative business or votes.
  • Potential burdenIs largely symbolic and unlikely to produce substantive policy changes or material benefits.
  • Potential burdenCould set a precedent enabling future mandated readings or ceremonial obligations.
03 · Why people split

Why the argument around this bill splits.

Progressives stress historical context and inclusivity requirements
Progressive65%

Likely cautiously supportive of civic education and nonpartisan historical tradition, but concerned about uncritical reverence for founding figures.

Wants contextualization of the Farewell Address and attention to historical injustices associated with Washington.

Split reaction
Centrist80%

Sees the measure as a low-cost, symbolic tradition that can be a unifying ritual if kept nonpartisan.

Cautious about precedent and floor time, and wants clarity that it remains internal rulemaking without major policy implications.

Leans supportive
Conservative90%

Generally favorable, viewing the resolution as a modest restoration of patriotic tradition and respect for the nation’s founders.

Appreciates the leadership-designated readers and the internal-rule nature of the change.

Leans supportive
04 · Can it pass?

The path through Congress.

Introduced

Reached or meaningfully advanced

Committee

Reached or meaningfully advanced

Floor

Still ahead

President

Still ahead

Law

Still ahead

Passage likelihood85/100

Narrow, noncontroversial, low-cost chamber rule; historically similar ceremonial resolutions are usually adopted.

Scope and complexity
24%
Scopenarrow
24%
Complexitylow
Why this could stall
  • Whether either chamber schedules the measure for consideration promptly
  • Potential isolated objections delaying unanimous-consent adoption
05 · Recent votes

Recent votes on the bill.

No vote history yet

The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.

06 · Go deeper

Go deeper than the headline read.

Included on this page

Progressives stress historical context and inclusivity requirements

Narrow, noncontroversial, low-cost chamber rule; historically similar ceremonial resolutions are usually adopted.

Unlocked analysis

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