To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the Capitol.
This bill directs the Joint Committee on the Library (JCL) to obtain a statue of Benjamin Franklin and to place it in the United States Capitol. Specifically, the JCL must enter into an agreement to obtain the statue by December 31, 2025, and must place the statue in a suitable permanent location in the Capitol by December 31, 2026, where it will be accessible to the public on guided Capitol tours operated by the Capitol Visitor Center. The bill specifies that the procurement and placement must follow terms the JCL deems appropriate and in accordance with applicable law. The measure reflects an intent to expand the Capitol’s statuary commemorating historical figures, with a clear timetable but no explicit funding authorization in the text. The bill status indicates it passed the House and has been introduced in the Senate, where it has been referred to committee.
Key Points
- 1Directs the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a statue of Benjamin Franklin by December 31, 2025.
- 2Requires placement of the statue in a permanent Capitol location accessible to the public during guided tours by the Capitol Visitor Center by December 31, 2026.
- 3Allocation and terms of the procurement are left to the JCL’s discretion, as long as they comply with applicable law.
- 4The statute does not specify a funding amount or source; funding would presumably follow existing legislative branch appropriations or future appropriations.
- 5Status: Passed by the House (February 26, 2025) and introduced in the Senate (February 27, 2025), referred to the Senate Rules and Administration Committee; not yet enacted into law.