To direct the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to obtain a statue of Shirley Chisholm for placement in the United States Capitol.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8098
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-26: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-02T18:22:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill directs the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to obtain and place a statue of Shirley Chisholm—a pioneering U.S. Congresswoman—in the United States Capitol to honor her legacy.
Key Provisions
- Obtaining the Statue: Within 2 years of the bill's enactment, the Joint Committee must enter into an agreement to acquire a statue of Shirley Chisholm under terms consistent with existing laws. The Committee may allow the Architect of the Capitol to handle the agreement and contracts.
- Placement: The statue must be placed in a public, permanent location in the U.S. Capitol.
- Funding: Authorizes Congress to appropriate necessary funds, which remain available until spent.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a specific mandate for a Shirley Chisholm statue, adding to the Capitol's collection of statues (which typically honors notable Americans under established procedures for the National Statuary Hall Collection or similar displays).
- No explicit repeals or amendments to prior laws; operates within current frameworks for Capitol artworks.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires action by the Joint Committee on the Library and Architect of the Capitol, involving procurement, installation, and funding allocation with minimal administrative burden.
- Citizens: Symbolic recognition that promotes awareness of Shirley Chisholm's contributions (e.g., first Black woman elected to Congress in 1968), potentially inspiring public education on U.S. history.
- International Relations: None directly affected.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Joint Committee of Congress on the Library: Primary responsibility for execution.
- Architect of the Capitol: Handles contracts and logistics if authorized.
- Congress: Provides funding and oversight.
- Supporters of Shirley Chisholm: Benefits from the commemoration, including her legacy organizations, New York constituents, and advocates for diversity in representation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on Congress's authority over the Capitol (under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution for federal buildings); funding via appropriations is standard congressional power.
- Constitutional: No conflicts; aligns with precedents for honoring figures through statues.
- Political: Represents bipartisan potential for commemorating trailblazing figures, emphasizing representation of women and minorities in U.S. history, though subject to committee approval and funding debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-26: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2026-03-26: Introduced in House
- 2026-03-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To direct the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to obtain a statue of Shirley Chisholm for placement in the United States Capitol. — issued 2026-03-26 — PDF (2 pages)