[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5755 Introduced in House (IH)]






107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5755

To authorize the establishment of a commemorative work on Federal land 
in the District of Columbia and its environs to honor James Madison in 
       recognition of his distinguished career in public service.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 14, 2002

  Mr. Roemer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize the establishment of a commemorative work on Federal land 
in the District of Columbia and its environs to honor James Madison in 
       recognition of his distinguished career in public service.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. COMMEMORATIVE WORK TO HONOR JAMES MADISON.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Few public servants have contributed more to the 
        formation and continuance of the United States than former 
        President James Madison, a patriot who served his country as a 
        member of the Virginia Assembly, the United States Congress, 
        and the executive branch of the Federal Government as Secretary 
        of State and President.
            (2) James Madison's contributions to the drafting of the 
        United States Constitution, despite his modest assertion that 
        the document was ``not the offspring of a single brain,'' were 
        unmatched by any single individual and appropriately earned him 
        the moniker, ``Father of the Constitution''.
            (3) As a Member of Congress, James Madison was the primary 
        champion of the Bill of Rights, which remains the most 
        cherished and important declaration of individual and group 
        liberties.
            (4) As Secretary of State, Madison was uniquely 
        instrumental in securing the Louisiana Purchase and presenting 
        America's protest against the seizure of American ships and 
        sailors by England and France.
            (5) As President, Madison presided over the perilous War of 
        1812, demonstrating to the international community the strength 
        and resolve of our young republic.
            (6) While Washington, D.C., is host to numerous 
        commemorative works honoring some of the United States' most 
        cherished heroes, there is no fitting memorial in Washington, 
        D.C., to acknowledge James Madison's distinguished career in 
        public service.
    (b) Congressional Authorization of Commemorative Work.--Consistent 
with chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code, a commemorative work 
may be established on Federal land in the District of Columbia and its 
environs to honor former President James Madison in recognition of his 
distinguished career in public service.
    (c) Use of Federal Funds.--Federal funds may be used to establish 
the commemorative work authorized by subsection (b).
    (d) Deposit of Excess Funds.--If, upon payment of all expenses of 
the establishment of the commemorative work (including the maintenance 
and preservation amount provided for in section 8906(b) of title 40, 
United States Code) authorized by subsection (b), or upon expiration of 
the authority for the commemorative work under section 8903(e) of such 
title, there remains a balance of funds received for the establishment 
of the commemorative work, the amount of the balance shall be 
transferred to the Secretary of the Treasury for deposit in the account 
provided for in section 8906(b)(1) of such title.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section, the terms ``commemorative work'' 
and ``the District of Columbia and its environs'' have the meanings 
given to such terms in section 8902 of title 40, United States Code.
                                 <all>