H.R. 700, titled the MACARTHUR Act, would require the United States Military Academy (USMA) to add the motto phrase “Duty, Honor, Country” to its official mission statement. The bill also states, as a sense-of Congress declaration, that these principles should be deeply embedded in the academy’s ethos and instilled in every cadet. If enacted, the Secretary of the Army would be obligated to amend the USMA mission statement to include the phrase within 30 days of enactment. The bill was introduced in the House on January 23, 2025 by Representative Mr. Self and referred to the Committee on Armed Services. In short, the bill codifies a formal change to USMA’s mission statement to explicitly incorporate the traditional motto, and it enshrines a congressional expectation that this ethos guides cadet development and the academy’s culture.
Key Points
- 1Short title: The act may be cited as the “Maintaining Academy Culture and Assuring Retention of Tradition, Honor, and Unity of the Republic Act,” or the MACARTHUR Act.
- 2Purpose: Requires the United States Military Academy’s mission statement to include the phrase “Duty, Honor, Country.”
- 3Sense of Congress: Declares that the principles of “Duty, Honor, Country” should be deeply embedded in the academy’s ethos and instilled in each cadet.
- 4Enforcement mechanism: Not later than 30 days after enactment, the Secretary of the Army must amend the USMA mission statement to include the phrase.
- 5Status and sponsor: Introduced in the House on January 23, 2025 by Representative Mr. Self; referred to the Committee on Armed Services.