[House Report 117-680]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                      {    Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                      {    117-680

======================================================================

 
   TO AUTHORIZE THE THOMAS PAINE MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION TO ESTABLISH A 
 COMMEMORATIVE WORK IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND ITS ENVIRONS, AND 
                           FOR OTHER PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

 December 30, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 6720]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 6720) to authorize the Thomas Paine Memorial 
Association to establish a commemorative work in the District 
of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes, having 
considered the same, reports favorably thereon without 
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 6720 is to authorize the Thomas Paine 
Memorial Association to establish a commemorative work in the 
District of Columbia and its environs.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    H.R. 6720 authorizes the Thomas Paine Memorial Association 
to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the 
District of Columbia in honor of the philosopher and patriot, 
Thomas Paine.
    Thomas Paine was a luminary patriot of the Enlightenment 
and the American Revolution who inspired people in the colonies 
not only to overthrow the tyranny of faraway kings but to 
launch a nation founded on principles of democratic self-
government, the rights of men and women, and reason and 
science. Despite his catalytic role in founding America and our 
constitutional republic, Paine remains largely neglected in 
historical narratives. This memorial to Paine has already been 
pre-funded with a flood of voluntary contributions and pledges 
from private citizens. Almost uniquely among the Founding 
Fathers, Paine opposed slavery and favored abolition, called 
for a progressive income tax to pay for universal education 
(including for both men and women), a welfare system for poor 
relief, pensions, women's rights, and more.
    Thomas Paine was one the greatest political writers and 
philosophers of his time; his best-selling works, Common Sense, 
The Crisis, Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason fundamentally 
altered the political and social landscape of the 18th and 19th 
centuries and helped forge the United States of America. He was 
an eloquent advocate for equality and representative 
government, writing, ``The true and only true basis of 
representative government is equality of rights.'' He added, 
``the danger arises from exclusions.''
    On July 27, 2022, the National Capital Memorial Advisory 
Commission agreed that the legacy of Thomas Paine rises to 
``national historical significance'' and unanimously voted to 
support H.R. 6720 without any changes.
    H.R. 6720 was included in H.R. 2617, the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2023,\1\ which Congress passed on December 
23, 2022. As of the writing of this report, President Biden is 
expected to sign the bill into law.\2\
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    \1\ Division DD, Title VII, Section 709.
    \2\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/
2022/12/23/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-passage-of-the-
bipartisan-year-end-omnibus/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 6720 was introduced on February 11, 2022, by 
Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD). The bill was referred 
solely to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the 
Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and 
Public Lands. On July 14, 2022, the Subcommittee held a hearing 
on the bill. On December 8, 2022, the Natural Resources 
Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee was 
discharged by unanimous consent. The bill was adopted and 
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by 
unanimous consent.

                                HEARINGS

    For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the 
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure: 
hearing by the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and 
Public Lands held on July 14, 2022.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

      COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT

    1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. 
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) 
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect to 
requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) and clause 3(d) of rule XIII 
of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of 
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has 
requested but not received a cost estimate for this bill from 
the Director of Congressional Budget Office. The Committee 
adopts as its own cost estimate the forthcoming cost estimate 
of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, should such 
cost estimate be made available before House passage of the 
bill. The Committee has requested but not received from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to 
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and 
objectives of this bill are to authorize the Thomas Paine 
Memorial Association to establish a commemorative work in the 
District of Columbia and its environs.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                 UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT

    An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of 
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee, if such 
estimate is not publicly available on the Congressional Budget 
Office website.

                           EXISTING PROGRAMS

    This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the federal government known to be duplicative of another 
program.

                  APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

               PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

    Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or 
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's 
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the 
U.S. Constitution.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing 
law.

        SUPPLEMENTAL, MINORITY, ADDITIONAL, OR DISSENTING VIEWS

    None.

                                 [all]