[House Report 118-690]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
118th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 118-690
======================================================================
TO DIRECT THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY TO PROCURE A
STATUE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FOR PLACEMENT IN THE CAPITOL
_______
September 18, 2024.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Steil, from the Committee on House Administration, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 6969]
The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 6969) to direct the Joint Committee on the
Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement
in the Capitol, having considered the same, reports favorably
thereon without amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Purpose and Summary.............................................. 1
Background and Need for Legislation.............................. 2
Committee Action................................................. 2
Committee Consideration.......................................... 2
Committee Votes.................................................. 2
Statement of Constitutional Authority............................ 3
Committee Oversight Findings..................................... 3
Statement of Budget Authority and Related Items.................. 3
Congressional Budget Office Estimate............................. 3
Performance Goals and Objectives................................. 3
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 3
Advisory on Earmarks............................................. 3
Federal Mandates Statement....................................... 3
Advisory Committee Statement..................................... 4
Applicability to Legislative Branch.............................. 4
Section-by-Section Analysis...................................... 4
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H.R. 6969, a bill to direct the Joint Committee on the
Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement
in the Capitol, introduced by Representatives Chrissy Houlahan,
Brian Fitzpatrick, Brendan Boyle, Daniel Meuser, Madeleine
Dean, Mike Kelly, Susan Wild, Dwight Evans, Debbie Dingell,
Dina Titus, Lisa McClain, Joe Wilson, Bill Johnson, Glenn
Thompson, Nancy Mace, Chris Pappas, Veronica Escobar, William
Keating, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Michael Lawler, Robert Wittman,
Robert Latta, Daniel Kildee, and Stephanie Bice, would direct
the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue of
Founding Father Benjamin Franklin for permanent public
placement in the United States Capitol.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
BACKGROUND
There is no statue of Benjamin Franklin on the House side
of the United States Capitol. There is one statue of Benjamin
Franklin on the Senate side of the Capitol in the East Senate
Stairway off the floor of the United States Senate chamber.
NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Representatives Chrissy Houlahan, Brian Fitzpatrick,
Brendan Boyle, Daniel Meuser, Madeleine Dean, Mike Kelly, Susan
Wild, Dwight Evans, Debbie Dingell, Dina Titus, Lisa McClain,
Joe Wilson, Bill Johnson, Glenn Thompson, Nancy Mace, Chris
Pappas, Veronica Escobar, William Keating, Bonnie Watson
Coleman, Michael Lawler, Robert Wittman, Robert Latta, Daniel
Kildee, and Stephanie Bice introduced H.R. 6969, a bill to
direct the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue
of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the Capitol, would direct
the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue of
Founding Father Benjamin Franklin for permanent public
placement in the United States Capitol.
Under this legislation, the committee would secure a statue
of Benjamin Franklin and place in a publicly accessible
location in the United States Capitol.
COMMITTEE ACTION
INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL
On January 11, 2024, Representatives Chrissy Houlahan,
Brian Fitzpatrick, Brendan Boyle, Daniel Meuser, Madeleine
Dean, Mike Kelly, Susan Wild, Dwight Evans, Debbie Dingell,
Dina Titus, Lisa McClain, Joe Wilson, Bill Johnson, Glenn
Thompson, Nancy Mace, Chris Pappas, Veronica Escobar, William
Keating, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Michael Lawler, Robert Wittman,
Robert Latta, Daniel Kildee, and Stephanie Bice introduced H.R.
6969, a bill to direct the Joint Committee on the Library to
procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the
Capitol. The bill was referred to the U.S. House of
Representatives Committee on House Administration.
COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
On September 11, 2024, the Committee on House
Administration met in open session and ordered the bill, H.R.
6969, a bill to direct the Joint Committee on the Library to
procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the
Capitol, favorably reported, with a quorum being present.
COMMITTEE VOTES
In compliance with clause 3(b) of House rule XIII, the
following vote occurred during the Committee's consideration of
H.R. 3229:
Vote to report H.R. 6969 favorably, to the House of
Representatives, passed by voice vote.
STATEMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
Congress has the power to enact this legislation pursuant
to the following: Article I of the United States Constitution.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of House rule XIII, the
Committee advises that the findings and recommendations of the
Committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1)
of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, are
incorporated in the descriptive portions of this report.
STATEMENT OF BUDGET AUTHORITY AND RELATED ITEMS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives and section 308(a)(I) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the
following opinion and estimate with respect to new budget
authority, entitlement authority, and tax expenditures. The
Committee believes that there will be no additional costs
attributable to H.R. 6969.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE
With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, a cost
estimate provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant
to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 was not
made available to the Committee in time for the filing of this
report. The Chairman of the Committee shall cause such an
estimate to be printed in the Congressional Record if it is
received by the Committee.
PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Joint Committee on the Library shall enter into
an agreement to obtain a statue of Benjamin Franklin. Not later
than January 1, 2026, the Joint Committee shall place the
statue.
DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of House rule XIII, no provision
of H.R. 6969 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the
federal government known to be duplicative of another federal
program.
ADVISORY ON EARMARKS
In accordance with clause 9 of House rule XXI, H.R. 6969
does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited tax
benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clauses
9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of House rule XXI.
FEDERAL MANDATES 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 Chairman
of the Committee shall cause such an estimate to be printed in
the Congressional Record if it is received by the Committee.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT
H.R. 6969 does not establish or authorize any new advisory
committees.
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.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1
This section regards the procurement and placement of the
statue of Benjamin Franklin.
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