To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the Capitol.
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Would direct the Joint Committee on the Library to commission and place a statue of Benjamin Franklin in a permanent, publicly accessible location in the United States Capitol by the end of 2026.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would require the Joint Committee on the Library to enter into a contract to obtain a statue of Benjamin Franklin no later than December 31, 2025, and to place that statue in a permanent location inside the United States Capitol no later than December 31, 2026. The placement must be in a publicly accessible spot reachable during a guided tour provided by the Capitol Visitor Center. The committee would have discretion over the specific terms and conditions of the procurement contract, subject to applicable law.
Key provisions
- 1Would require the Joint Committee on the Library to enter into an agreement to obtain a statue of Benjamin Franklin no later than December 31, 2025.
- 2Would require the statue to be placed in a permanent, publicly accessible location in the Capitol accessible during Capitol Visitor Center guided tours, no later than December 31, 2026.
Who would be affected
The Joint Committee on the Library, which would be responsible for contracting and overseeing the project, and members of the public who visit the U.S. Capitol through Capitol Visitor Center guided tours and would be able to view the statue once installed.
Why it matters
The bill would add a permanent statue of one of the nation's founders to the Capitol's public spaces. Its practical impact is limited to the commemorative addition; it imposes a concrete procurement deadline and places the administrative burden on the Joint Committee on the Library.
What would change
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- Deadline for the Joint Committee to enter into a procurement agreement for the statue
- Deadline for the statue to be placed in its permanent Capitol location
How implementation would work
The Joint Committee on the Library would negotiate and execute a procurement agreement for the statue under terms it deems appropriate and consistent with applicable law, with a hard deadline of December 31, 2025. The committee would then arrange for installation in a suitable permanent Capitol location accessible on Capitol Visitor Center guided tours, completing placement by December 31, 2026. No reporting requirements or additional oversight mechanisms are specified.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Official CRS summary
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This bill requires the Joint Committee on the Library to contract for and place a statue of Benjamin Franklin in the Capitol.
The committee shall place the statue in a permanent public location where it is accessible during a guided tour provided by the Capitol Visitor Center.
The contract must be executed by December 31, 2025, and the statue must be placed by December 31, 2026.
Legislative subjects
Congress; Joint Committee on the Library; Monuments and memorials; U.S. Capitol; U.S. history