New Bill Asks President to Designate Annual 'Anti-Communism Week,' Framing Observance Around 100 Million Deaths

The new Anti-Communism Week Act is straightforward: it establishes a new national observance called Anti-Communism Week. The bill amends Title 36 of the U.S. Code, which governs patriotic and national observances, to request that the President issue an annual proclamation designating a week for this purpose. The President would also be asked to call on the American people to observe the week with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

The Official Stance on History

What makes this bill notable isn't just the designation, but the findings Congress includes to justify it. These findings state clearly that the observance is meant to remember the devastation caused by communism, claiming it has taken more than 100,000,000 lives and suppressed freedom and faith. Essentially, the bill aims to formally enshrine a specific, highly charged ideological stance into the fabric of national observance, honoring victims and defending the values of freedom.

What Does 'Appropriate' Even Mean?

The biggest practical question here is what happens after the designation. The bill asks the President to encourage the public to engage in “appropriate ceremonies and activities.” This is where the policy gets vague—and potentially concerning. When the government encourages public participation in an ideologically driven observance, the lack of defined boundaries can lead to pressure or scrutiny. Think about it: if you’re running a small business or a local community group, what counts as an “appropriate” observance? Does it mean a moment of silence, a mandatory history lesson, or something more overtly political?

Because the bill’s language is so broad, it leaves the door open for any future administration to define what these 'appropriate activities' look like. For regular people, this means the observance could shift dramatically depending on who is in power. It sets a precedent where a national week is dedicated not to a non-partisan historical event, but to actively promoting a specific political ideology. This could create friction for groups or individuals whose activities might be perceived as not aligning with the prevailing anti-communist sentiment the week is meant to foster, potentially chilling speech or encouraging partisan political messaging in public spaces.