Bill Summary
This piece of legislation, known as the "Benjamin Franklin Statue Act", directs the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the United States Capitol. The Committee is required to enter into an agreement to obtain the statue by December 31, 2025, and must place it in a suitable permanent location in the Capitol by December 31, 2026. The statue must be accessible to the public during guided tours of the Capitol provided by the Capitol Visitor Center. The legislation was passed by the House of Representatives on February 26, 2025.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could affect the budget and resources of the Joint Committee on the Library, as they are directed to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin and find a suitable permanent location for it in the Capitol. This could impact their ability to fund other projects or initiatives.
2. The legislation could impact the accessibility of the statue for the public, as it must be placed in a location that is accessible to visitors during a guided tour. This could affect the experience of those visiting the Capitol, as they may have limited or restricted access to the statue.
3. The legislation could also affect the historical and cultural significance of the Capitol, as the statue of Benjamin Franklin will become a permanent fixture in the building. This could spark debate or controversy over the representation and significance of the figure, potentially affecting how people view and interpret the history and values of the United States.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 250 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 250
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 27, 2025
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and
Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue of
Benjamin Franklin for placement in the Capitol.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PROCUREMENT AND PLACEMENT OF STATUE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN IN
THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL.
(a) Obtaining of Statue.--Not later than December 31, 2025, the
Joint Committee on the Library shall enter into an agreement to obtain
a statue of Benjamin Franklin, under such terms and conditions as the
Joint Committee considers appropriate consistent with applicable law.
(b) Placement.--Not later than December 31, 2026, the Joint
Committee shall place the statue obtained under subsection (a) in a
suitable permanent location in the United States Capitol where the
statue is accessible to the public during a guided tour of the Capitol
provided by the Capitol Visitor Center.
Passed the House of Representatives February 26, 2025.
Attest:
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,
Clerk.