Texas Rep. Keith Self Introduces Bills to Codify Trump Policies

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Texas Republican Rep. Keith Self has a big day today on Capitol Hill, introducing four bills to codify President Donald Trump’s executive orders.

“These executive orders by President Trump reflect commonsense governance and clear priorities. Now more than ever, public accountability, educational integrity, and national security are vital,” Self said in a statement. “To preserve the integrity of these accomplishments, we must protect them from being reversed by the radical left and cement these wins into law.”

Here are the bills Self is putting in the hopper.

“Reinstating Common Sense School Discipline Policies”

Per a press release, this bill “returns authority to teachers and school administrators, empowering them to maintain order in classrooms without fear of federal overreach.”

In April, Trump signed an executive order supporting school discipline measures such as expulsion, suspension, and detention. 

Under the Biden administration, the Department of Education warned schools against such disciplinary policies, arguing that they have a disproportionate effect on minority students and are thus discriminatory by nature.

The Trump administration believes this ironically led to schools adopting racially discriminatory discipline policies in their efforts to equalize the discipline rate for students of all races.

Trump’s April executive order was meant to grant teachers the authority to equitably discipline their students without the fear of losing funding from the federal government or being prosecuted.

“Improving the Safety and Security of Biological Research”

This bill, likely inspired by increased discussion of viral lab leaks in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, “establishes strict oversight for high-risk biological experiments, enhancing transparency and risk mitigation in federally funded research labs and institutions.”

In May, Trump signed an executive order ending much of overseas gain-of-function biological research and cutting off funding “to foreign research likely to cause another pandemic.”

“Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness”

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program was set up under President George W. Bush to forgive the loans of Americans in sectors such as health care, education, and the military.

With this bill, Self says the government would ensure “clear and consistent eligibility for borrowers who commit to careers in public service—delivering on the federal government’s promises.”

In March, Trump signed an executive order to refine the focus of the program to end “federal support for organizations that harm American values and the public interest.”

“Restoring Truth in American History”

On the campaign trail, Trump promised to end what he sees as an anti-American approach to teaching history.

With this bill, Self—a retired Army officer—intends to promote “a factual approach to U.S. history instruction, focusing on foundational principles, civic virtue, and the unifying aspects of the American experience.”

In March, Trump moved to end funding to projects “that degrade shared American values, divide Americans based on race, or promote programs or ideologies inconsistent with Federal law and policy.”