Albert Pike Statue Removal Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4934
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-08-08: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-09T13:48:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation, titled the "Albert Pike Statue Removal Act," aims to remove a statue honoring Albert Pike, a historical figure, from its location near Judiciary Square in Washington, D.C., due to its association with controversial history. It seeks to preserve the statue in an appropriate indoor setting rather than in a public outdoor space.
Key Provisions
- Mandated Removal: The Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the National Park Service (NPS), must remove the statue erected under a 1898 congressional resolution (30 Stat. 737) that originally permitted its placement.
- Relocation and Preservation: The Secretary may donate the statue to a museum or similar entity for indoor storage, display, or exhibition to ensure its historical interpretation and protection. Outdoor display or storage by the recipient is prohibited; if it occurs, ownership automatically reverts to the federal government.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill effectively overrides the 1898 joint resolution by requiring the statue's removal from federal land in the District of Columbia, shifting it from a permanent public monument to a preserved artifact in a controlled environment.
- It introduces new conditions for the statue's future handling, emphasizing indoor preservation to prevent public outdoor veneration.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The NPS will bear the direct responsibility and costs for removal and potential donation, potentially straining resources for monument management on federal lands.
- On Citizens: Residents and visitors in the District of Columbia may see changes to the urban landscape near Judiciary Square, affecting public spaces and historical narratives in the area. It could influence local discussions on public monuments.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill is focused on a domestic historical site.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: The Department of the Interior and NPS, responsible for execution.
- Historical and Cultural Entities: Museums or similar organizations that may receive the statue for preservation and educational purposes.
- Public and Advocacy Groups: Citizens, historians, and groups interested in Civil War-era monuments, particularly those advocating for or against symbols tied to Confederate history (Albert Pike served as a Confederate general).
- District of Columbia Residents: Indirectly affected through changes to local public spaces managed by federal authorities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Congress exercises its constitutional authority (Article I, Section 8) over federal property in the District of Columbia to alter monument placements, potentially setting a precedent for future removals of similar statues without needing new permissions.
- Constitutional: No major challenges anticipated, as it involves federal land management rather than free speech issues, though it could spark debates on government control over historical symbols.
- Political: The bill reflects ongoing national conversations about reckoning with historical figures linked to the Confederacy, but it remains neutral in the text, focusing solely on administrative action without broader policy mandates.
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 (6)
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
Recent Actions
- 2025-08-08: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-08-08: Introduced in House
- 2025-08-08: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Albert Pike Statue Removal Act — issued 2025-08-08 — PDF (2 pages)