WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representatives Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Jared Huffman (CA-02), founding members of the Congressional Freethought Caucus, introduced a resolution to establish May 4th as a “National Day of Reason” in the United States to emphasize science, common sense and logic as central to American constitutional democracy and essential preconditions for progress in our government and society at large.
“With our democracy under siege by authoritarians, theocrats and fraudsters—enemies of reason one and all—America needs a National Day of Reason to restore truth and facts to their central place in American democracy,” said Rep. Raskin. “Designating May 4 as our Day of Reason recognizes our nation’s commitment to empirical inquiry and science. I’m grateful to my Congressional Freethought colleague and close friend Jared Huffman for joining me in introducing this resolution to put reason back on the public agenda and on our calendar.”
“Designating a National Day of Reason to celebrate the importance of critical thinking and reason sends a message about our values as a country. The problems we face today are a test of our ability to reason through complex challenges including climate change, systemic inequalities and injustice, and extremism that is seeping into every facet of our government,” said Rep. Huffman. “Reason is central to our American identity – our Founders specifically protected the right of free inquiry, speech, and thought. We must continue to defend reason and rationality as the bedrock of our collective progress.”
“It’s more important than ever to protect our secular democracy, especially when it is increasingly under attack by those who wish to see the lines separating church and state blurred,” said Nicole Carr, Interim Executive Director for the American Humanist Association. “We are very grateful to Rep. Raskin for introducing this important resolution and proudly stand with him and the entirety of the Congressional Freethought Caucus in their efforts to elevate the National Day of Reason, and for continuing to be a voice of reason in our government.”
“‘Reason: The power of the mind to think, understand, and form judgments by a process of logic.’ This should be the foundation of every decision and every action taken by members of Congress, and by people across the nation. The Secular Coalition for America commends Congressman Raskin for urging us to take one day each year to focus on the value of reason, critical thought, the scientific method, and free inquiry in resolving social problems and promoting the welfare of humankind,” said Scott MacConomy, Director of Policy and Government Affairs of the Secular Coalition for America.
The text of the resolution can be found here.
The National Day of Reason Resolution is endorsed by a coalition of advocates, including American Atheists, American Humanist Association, Black Nonbelievers, Center for Freethought Equality, Center for Inquiry and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, Freedom from Religion Foundation Action Fund, Freethought Society, The Secular Coalition of America, and the Thomas Paine Memorial Association.
Original cosponsors include Representatives Julia Brownley (CA-26) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL).
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