Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4608
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-22: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:54:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act," aims to remove or permanently conceal references to Francis G. Newlands—a former U.S. Senator—from a memorial fountain in Washington, D.C., due to his historical associations (though the bill itself does not specify reasons).
Key Provisions
- Removal Actions: The Secretary of the Interior must:
- Remove a brass plaque inscribed with "Senator Francis G. Newlands" from the fountain grounds.
- Remove a stone projection at the south end of the fountain bearing "Francis Griffith Newlands" and a related inscription.
- Remove or permanently conceal the name "Newlands" carved into the upper face of the fountain's coping stones (coping stones are the top edges of the structure).
- Handling of Removed Items: The removed plaque, stone, and carvings must be offered to Newlands' descendants for 60 days. If unclaimed, they become federal property, maintained by the National Park Service (NPS) and added to the Rock Creek Park museum collection.
- Definition: The "memorial fountain" refers specifically to the one at Chevy Chase Circle, at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and Western Avenue NW, in the District of Columbia.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces a new federal mandate to alter a public memorial on National Park Service land, which was previously unchanged. It does not amend prior laws but creates a targeted requirement for the Secretary of the Interior to execute these modifications, potentially establishing a process for handling historical artifacts during such removals.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior and NPS will incur costs and administrative efforts for removal, storage, and potential museum accessioning. This could set a procedural template for future memorial alterations on federal property.
- Citizens: Residents of Washington, D.C., and visitors to the site may see a change in the historical landscape, removing visible tributes to Newlands while preserving the fountain's structure. Descendants of Newlands have a limited window to claim artifacts, affecting family heritage.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill is confined to a domestic historical site.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Government: Primarily the Secretary of the Interior and National Park Service, responsible for implementation.
- Newlands' Descendants: Eligible to claim removed items, influencing personal or familial historical preservation.
- Local Community: Washington, D.C., residents and park users, who interact with the site as a public space.
- Historical and Cultural Groups: Organizations involved in preserving or critiquing U.S. history may be indirectly affected through precedent for memorial changes.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes clear federal authority over modifications to public memorials on NPS-managed land, with provisions for artifact disposition to avoid waste or loss. It could serve as a model for similar bills targeting other historical figures.
- Constitutional: Involves government control of public property, raising no direct free speech issues since the site is federally owned and not private expression; however, it may spark debates on historical preservation versus addressing past injustices.
- Political: Reflects congressional interest in reevaluating public honors for figures linked to controversial histories, potentially influencing broader discussions on cultural heritage without mandating wider policy shifts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-22: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-07-22: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-22: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E706)
- 2025-07-22: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act — issued 2025-07-22 — PDF (3 pages)