Peter J. McGuire Labor Day Landmark Act

Bill Number

H.R. 5069

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-08-29: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2026-04-07T13:03:04Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Peter J. McGuire Labor Day Landmark Act (H.R. 5069) aims to honor Peter J. McGuire, a key figure in U.S. labor history who co-founded major labor organizations and proposed the creation of Labor Day, by designating his memorial and gravesite in Pennsauken, New Jersey, as a national commemorative site. This recognition highlights his contributions to workers' rights and union movements without imposing federal control over the property.

Key Provisions

• Short Title: The bill is titled the "Peter J. McGuire Labor Day Landmark Act."
• Findings: Congress outlines McGuire's achievements, including:
• Founding the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners (now United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America) in 1881.
• Co-founding the American Federation of Labor with Samuel Gompers in 1886.
• Leading the push for the 8-hour workday in 1890.
• Proposing Labor Day in 1882, which became a federal holiday in 1894.
• Details on the site's history, including the 1906 gravesite headstone and the 1952 memorial sculpture and colonnade, both made of Georgia marble.
• Annual Labor Day tributes since 1906 and the site's eligibility for historic registers, certified by New Jersey in 2017 and added to national and state registers in 2018–2019.
• Designation: The Peter J. McGuire Memorial and Gravesite is designated as the "Peter J. McGuire Memorial National Commemorative Site."
• Administration:
• The site is not part of the National Park System (a network of federally managed parks and historic areas).
• The Secretary of the Interior may form cooperative agreements with public or private groups to develop educational programs and visitor facilities.
• The Secretary can offer technical advice and limited funding to support these efforts.
• Property Rights: The designation does not restrict what property owners can do with the site, preserving their full control.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill creates a new, specific national commemorative designation for the site, building on its existing listings on the National Register of Historic Places (a list of significant U.S. historic sites eligible for certain protections and benefits) and New Jersey's state register. Unlike National Historic Landmarks (properties deemed nationally significant with potential federal support), this commemorative status explicitly avoids making it a federal park unit, focusing instead on voluntary partnerships without altering broader historic preservation laws like the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior (via the National Park Service) may provide non-binding assistance, such as expertise or small grants, increasing administrative workload but without ownership or maintenance costs. No direct funding is mandated.
• Citizens: Enhances public access to labor history education through potential interpretive programs, boosting awareness of workers' rights and McGuire's legacy. Local communities in Pennsauken, New Jersey, could see increased tourism and events on Labor Day, benefiting residents and visitors.
• International Relations: No impacts, as the bill is focused on domestic U.S. history.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Labor Organizations: Groups like the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), which McGuire helped found, as the designation celebrates their origins.
• Local Community and Property Owners: Residents, cemetery officials, and memorial maintainers in Pennsauken, New Jersey, who retain full property rights but may gain support for preservation.
• Historians and Educators: Benefit from formalized recognition, enabling easier development of programs on U.S. labor movements.
• McGuire's Descendants and Labor Advocates: Honored through continued annual tributes and national spotlight.
• Federal Government: Primarily the Department of the Interior, involved in optional cooperative efforts.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces historic preservation criteria under the National Register by emphasizing the site's "integrity" (its unchanged historical features) and commemorative value, without triggering eminent domain (government seizure of private property) or new regulatory burdens on owners.
• Constitutional: Aligns with First Amendment protections for free speech and assembly, as it supports ongoing Labor Day gatherings without interference; no property rights takings under the Fifth Amendment, given the explicit non-restrictive language.
• Political: Symbolically elevates labor history in federal policy, potentially appealing to pro-union lawmakers (sponsored by Democrats like Rep. Norcross), but remains non-partisan in honoring a bipartisan-recognized figure (e.g., past tributes by Presidents Eisenhower and others). Could inspire similar designations for other labor sites, fostering national unity around workers' contributions.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]

Cosponsors (6)

Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

Recent Actions

• 2025-08-29: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2025-08-29: Introduced in House
• 2025-08-29: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Peter J. McGuire Labor Day Landmark Act — issued 2025-08-29 — PDF (9 pages)