Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in Government Expression (CHANGE) Act
1/11/2023, 1:43 PMSummary of Bill HR 457
The Bill 117 hr 457, also known as the Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in Government Expression (CHANGE) Act, aims to address the use of offensive and derogatory terms in government language. The bill seeks to remove language that is hurtful or alienating to certain groups of people from official government documents, forms, and communications.The CHANGE Act specifically targets terms that are considered outdated, discriminatory, or offensive towards marginalized communities. This includes terms that are racially insensitive, derogatory towards individuals with disabilities, or discriminatory towards LGBTQ+ individuals.
The bill requires all federal agencies to conduct a review of their existing language and make necessary changes to remove offensive terms. It also establishes a process for individuals to report instances of hurtful language in government communication. Overall, the CHANGE Act aims to promote inclusivity and respect in government language, ensuring that all individuals are treated with dignity and equality. The bill has received bipartisan support in Congress and is seen as a positive step towards creating a more inclusive and welcoming government environment.
Congressional Summary of HR 457
Correcting Hurtful and Alienating Names in Government Expression (CHANGE) Act
This bill prohibits any executive agency from using the term alien to refer to an individual who is not a U.S. citizen or national, or illegal alien to refer to such an individual who is unlawfully present in the United States or lacks lawful immigration status. This prohibition does not apply when quoting certain texts.
The bill (1) establishes a uniform definition for the term foreign national when used in acts of Congress and agencies; (2) replaces alien with foreign national in federal government documents, including statutes and regulations; and (3) replaces illegal alien with undocumented foreign national in such documents.
Under the bill, a foreign national is any individual other than an individual (1) who is a citizen of the United States; or (2) though not a citizen of the United States, who owes permanent allegiance to the United States.
