H.R. 7309 – To authorize the Every Word We Utter Monument to establish a commemorative work…

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H.R. 7309 authorizes the private group Every Word We Utter Monument to create a public memorial in Washington, D.C. that celebrates the seven‑decade fight for women’s voting rights and the passage of the 19th Amendment. The monument would feature portraits of key suffragists and symbols from the Declaration of Sentiments, and would be sited near the Belmont‑Paul National Monument. The bill requires the project to follow existing federal rules for commemorative works and prohibits the use of any federal funds, making the nonprofit solely responsible for financing the memorial.

Key Provisions

The bill lets the nonprofit "Every Word We Utter Monument" build a commemorative monument on federal land in Washington, D.C., honoring the women’s suffrage movement and the 19th Amendment.
The monument must follow the federal Commemorative Works Act and is intended to be placed in Area II near the Belmont‑Paul National Monument and the Supreme Court.
No federal money may be used; the nonprofit must raise all private contributions and cover all costs of construction, maintenance, and preservation.
If any money raised remains after all expenses are paid, the surplus must be turned over to the Secretary of the Interior for deposit in the designated commemorative‑works account, and any remaining balance after the authorization expires is to be placed in a separate National Park account for future use.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

December 13, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

December 13, 2018

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

December 13, 2018

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued December 13, 2018

I

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 7309

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 13, 2018

Mr. Polis (for himself, Mr. Tipton, Mr. Perlmutter, and Ms. DeGette) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To authorize the Every Word We Utter Monument to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes.

1.

Findings

Congress finds as follows:

(1)

A monument as a tribute to the magnitude of the suffragists' seven-decade effort to pass the 19th Amendment in a way that engages the viewer and serves as a call to action for present and future generations is appropriate on Federal land.

(2)

Such a monument should include—

(A)

a sculptural portrait to honor Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton with her daughter Harriot Stanton Blatch, Sojourner Truth, Alice Paul, and Ida B. Wells; and

(B)

a depiction of the Declaration of Sentiments and Ratification Flag with the names of other women instrumental in fighting for women's suffrage included in the depiction of the word WE of the Declaration of Sentiments with raised lettering on ripples radiating from the monument.

(3)

The preferred site location for the monument is Area II, near Belmont-Paul National Monument and the Supreme Court.

2.

Authorization to establish commemorative work

(a)

In General

The Every Word We Utter Monument may establish a commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia and its environs to commemorate the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote.

(b)

Compliance With Standards For Commemorative Works

The establishment of the commemorative work under this section shall be in accordance with chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the Commemorative Works Act).

(c)

Prohibition on the use of federal funds

(1)

In general

Federal funds may not be used to pay any expense of the establishment of the commemorative work under this section.

(2)

Responsibility of the Every Word We Utter Monument

The Every Word We Utter Monument shall be solely responsible for acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the establishment of the commemorative work under this section.

(d)

Deposit of excess funds

(1)

In general

If upon payment of all expenses for the establishment of the memorial (including the maintenance and preservation amount required by section 8906(b)(1) of title 40, United States Code), there remains a balance of funds received for the establishment of the commemorative work, the Every Word We Utter Monument shall transmit the amount of the balance to the Secretary of the Interior for deposit in the account provided for in section 8906(b)(3) of title 40, United States Code.

(2)

On expiration of authority

If upon expiration of the authority for the commemorative work under section 8903(e) of title 40, United States Code, there remains a balance of funds received for the establishment of the commemorative work, the Every Word We Utter Monument shall transmit the amount of the balance to a separate account with the National Park for memorials, to be available to the Secretary of the Interior or Administrator (as appropriate) following the process provided in section 8906(b)(4) of title 40, United States Code, for accounts established under 8906(b)(2) or (3) of title 40, United States Code.