No Funding to Honor Crime Scenes Act
- Bill Number
- S. 4205
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-13T21:29:53Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill, titled the No Funding to Honor Crime Scenes Act, aims to eliminate the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument in California and redirect any remaining federal funds allocated to it toward reducing DNA analysis backlogs in criminal cases.
Key Provisions
- Abolishment: Fully abolishes the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, originally established by Presidential Proclamation 8884 on October 8, 2012.
- Defunding: Prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from using any unobligated (unspent) funds previously appropriated for the monument's operation or maintenance, except for actions needed to complete the abolishment.
- Fund Transfer: Redirects those unobligated funds to support Section 2 of the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 (34 U.S.C. 40701), which funds DNA testing to help solve crimes and exonerate the innocent.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Revokes the legal status of the monument created by presidential proclamation, effectively overriding executive action through congressional legislation.
- Alters federal funding priorities by prohibiting future support for the monument and mandating reallocation to criminal justice DNA programs.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior and National Park Service would no longer manage or fund the site, reducing their administrative workload but eliminating a preserved historical area. Funds would benefit the Department of Justice or related agencies handling DNA backlogs.
- Citizens: Ends federal recognition and protection of the site as a national monument, potentially affecting local tourism, education about Cesar Chavez (a labor rights leader), and public access. Benefits crime victims and law enforcement by speeding up DNA processing.
- No direct international relations impact.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Secretary of the Interior, National Park Service (lose oversight), and DNA backlog programs (gain funding).
- Local Communities: Residents and businesses near Keene, California (site of the monument), including supporters of Chavez's legacy.
- Public Interest Groups: Labor rights advocates (opposed to abolishment), criminal justice reformers and law enforcement (benefit from DNA funds).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Demonstrates Congress's authority to abolish national monuments created by presidential proclamation under the Antiquities Act of 1906, as monuments are not permanent without statutory protection.
- Constitutional: Aligns with separation of powers, as Congress controls federal spending and land use.
- Political: The provocative short title suggests intent to reframe the site's historical significance, potentially sparking debate over federal commemorations of historical figures. No explicit constitutional challenges noted in the bill.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-25: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2026-03-25: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- No Funding to Honor Crime Scenes Act — issued 2026-03-25 — PDF (2 pages)