Although the square dance has not yet achieved official designation as the national folk dance, more than thirty bills have been introduced at the federal level proposing the square dance as the national (folk) dance of the United States (beginning in 1965).
22 states have recognized the square dance as an official state symbol (see state cultural symbols) and lobbying continues at the national level. These decisions can take a whlle - over forty bills and joint resolutions were introduced in Congress before The Star Spangled Banner was officially recognized as the national anthem of the United States.