As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday next year, one freshman congressman is calling on lawmakers to reaffirm the nation’s founding principles. Rep. Matt Van Epps says the effort is intended to remind future generations of the enduring truths expressed in the Declaration of Independence at a time when many Americans are questioning the country’s founding ideals.

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From Fox News:

Rep. Matt Van Epps, R-Tenn., unveiled legislation reaffirming the Declaration of Independence — a move he said follows a congressional tradition of marking major national anniversaries with the founding document.

“Congress did this in America 100 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary,” Van Epps told Fox News Digital in an interview. “We felt like this was the right time to do it so that generations forward understand that we love our country at America 250.”

The Tennessee Republican, who was elected in a December 2025 special election, said he filed the bill in response to socialism’s rise in the Democratic Party, with the far-left attempting a major power grab ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Van Epps argued that the Declaration of Independence remains the foundation of America’s system of government and its understanding of God-given rights. He specifically pointed to the growing influence of self-described democratic socialists within the Democratic Party, warning that many of their policies and philosophies stand in direct opposition to the principles of liberty, limited government, and individual rights articulated by the Founders. He described socialist and Marxist ideas as repeatedly failing wherever they have been implemented and said Congress should reaffirm the nation’s commitment to its original ideals.

The resolution follows similar action in the Senate, where Sen. Eric Schmitt successfully introduced a companion measure earlier this month. Schmitt has expressed concern over declining patriotism, citing polling that shows far fewer Americans today say they are proud of their country than in previous generations. He has argued that the Declaration is not merely a historical document but an inheritance that each generation has a responsibility to preserve and pass on.

The House has not yet scheduled a vote on Van Epps’ resolution after lawmakers departed Washington early for the Independence Day recess amid disputes over other legislative priorities. If adopted, the resolution would continue a longstanding congressional tradition of recognizing major national anniversaries by formally reaffirming the principles that gave birth to the United States.

As our nation approaches its semiquincentennial, debates over America’s identity and future have become increasingly prominent. The Declaration’s recognition that our rights come from our Creator—not from government—remains especially significant. While America has never been perfect, the biblical understanding that human dignity and liberty are rooted in God has shaped our nation from its founding. This anniversary offers us an opportunity to pray not only for renewed patriotism, but for a genuine return to the truths upon which true freedom depends.

Share your prayers for America below.

(Excerpt from Fox News. Photo Credit: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)