What This Bill Does
This bill prevents federal agencies from spending money on materials or training about gender neutral language, inclusive language, or inclusive communication principles. The bill stops agencies from using federal funds to provide resources, guidelines, or advice designed to make their programs more inclusive in how they communicate.
Who It Affects
Federal agencies in the Executive Branch (the part of government that carries out laws). Any program, project, or activity run by these agencies that receives federal money is affected.
Key Provisions
• Federal agencies cannot spend or plan to spend any federal money to provide principles, resources, or suggestions for gender neutral or inclusive language or inclusive communication. (Sec. 2(a))
• The bill defines "gender neutral or inclusive language" to include eight specific types of communication practices, including avoiding words that stereotype or exclude people, avoiding bias toward a particular sex or gender, and classifying people by pronouns. (Sec. 2(b))
• An "agency" is defined using the meaning from federal law in title 5, United States Code, section 551(1). (Sec. 2(c))
What Changes
Federal agencies must stop providing or funding any training, guidelines, resources, or advice about gender neutral language or inclusive communication practices.
Important Definitions
The bill defines "gender neutral or inclusive language and inclusive communication principles" with eight examples, including communication that avoids stereotyping or excluding people and language that avoids bias toward a particular sex or gender.
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