US Codex
Bill
Notes

To amend titles 5, 10, and 32, United States Code, to require congressional approval before any change may be made to the oaths required for enlistment in the Armed Forces, appointment to an office in the civil service or uniformed services, or appointment as a cadet or midshipman at a military service academy, and for other purposes.

H.R. 3416 · 113th Congress · Oct 30, 2013 · Lineage

A BILL

Section 1 Congressional approval of changes to certain military and civil service oaths

(a)
Oath of office— Section 3331 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: “The text of the oath required by this section may not be changed except by Act of Congress.”.
(b)
Enlistment oath—
(1)
In general— Section 502 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(c) Text of oath—The text of the oath required by this section may not be changed except by Act of Congress.”

(2)
National guard— Section 304 of title 32, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: “The text of the oath required by this section may not be changed except by Act of Congress.”.
(c)
Military service academy oaths—
(1)
United States Military Academy— Section 4346(d) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: “The text of the oath required by this subsection, and the text of any honor oath required of a cadet, may not be changed except by Act of Congress.”.
(2)
United States Naval Academy— Section 6958(d) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: “On and after January 1, 2014, the Secretary may not change the text of the oath required by this subsection, and the text of any honor oath required of a midshipman, without specific authorization in an Act of Congress.”.
(3)
United States Air Force Academy— Section 9346(d) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new sentence: “On and after January 1, 2014, the Secretary may not change the text of the oath required by this subsection, and the text of any honor oath required of a cadet, without specific authorization in an Act of Congress.”.