HR-10456-119
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Sponsored by Jamie Raskin (D-MD)
What it does
This bill would direct the Secretary of the Interior to remove the existing plaque at the Lincoln Memorial that marks where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his "I Have a Dream" speech, which was placed under Public Law 106-365, and to install a new commemorative plaque. The Commemorative Works Act would apply to the design and placement of the new plaque. The Secretary could accept private contributions without further appropriation, and federal funds could also be used for removal, design, purchase, and installation.
Who benefits
Visitors to the Lincoln Memorial and the National Park Service, which would gain a refreshed commemorative marker. Civil rights history organizations and descendants of the movement may also benefit from renewed attention to the site. Private donors who wish to fund the commemoration would have a clear way to contribute.
Who is hurt
No group is meaningfully affected. Taxpayers would bear a small, unspecified cost if federal funds are used, and the National Park Service would take on a minor administrative task. The bill does not state why the current plaque needs replacement.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that the speech is one of the most significant moments in American history and that its marker at the Lincoln Memorial should be maintained and renewed. They contend that the bipartisan list of sponsors shows broad agreement, and that allowing private contributions limits the cost to taxpayers while the Commemorative Works Act ensures a careful design process.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that the existing plaque, placed by Congress in 2000, already marks the spot and that replacing it spends federal money on a task that may not be necessary. They contend that the bill does not explain what is wrong with the current plaque or estimate the cost, and that the Interior Department could handle site maintenance without a new act of Congress.
Constitutional context
This bill raises no constitutional question beyond Congress's Article I power to appropriate funds and its authority under the Property Clause (Art. IV, §3, cl. 2) to manage federal land such as the National Mall. The plaque is government speech, which the Free Speech Clause does not restrict.
Checks and balances
Congress directs the action and the Interior Department carries it out, with design review under the Commemorative Works Act; no branch gains new authority.
Historical precedent
Public Law 106-365 (2000) directed the original plaque at the site of the speech, and Congress has often directed commemorative markers on federal land.