H.R. 1248 – Confederate Monument Removal Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 7, 2026 at 11:05 PM UTC

The Confederate Monument Removal Act directs the removal of any statues in the United States Capitol that depict individuals who voluntarily served the Confederate States. It requires the Architect of the Capitol to identify and take down such statues within 120 days, with the option for states to reclaim them, and provides funding to cover the removal and related costs. The bill affects statues on display in the Capitol and the states that may have donated them.

Key Provisions

Amends 2 U.S.C. 2131 to exclude persons who voluntarily served the Confederate States from eligibility for display in the Capitol.
Requires the Architect of the Capitol, with Joint Committee on the Library approval, to identify and remove non‑compliant statues within 120 days of enactment.
Allows a state that provided a removed statue to take ownership back and cover transportation costs if it requests.
Permits states to replace removed statues following the existing requirements of 2 U.S.C. 2131 and related appropriations statutes.
Appropriates $2 million for the Architect of the Capitol to cover removal, transfer, security, storage, and display expenses.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

1 earlier action

HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

February 23, 2021

View full timeline

HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

February 23, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

February 23, 2021

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in HouseIssued February 23, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1248

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 23, 2021

Ms. Lee of California (for herself, Mrs. Demings, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Gomez, Ms. Pressley, Mrs. Watson Coleman, Mr. Raskin, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Danny K. Davis of Illinois, Ms. Meng, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Speier, Mr. Rush, Mr. Lowenthal, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, Mr. Evans, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Sean Patrick Maloney of New York, Ms. Norton, Mr. Payne, Mr. García of Illinois, Ms. Schakowsky, Mr. Welch, Mr. Horsford, Ms. Bass, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Cicilline, Mr. Thompson of California, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Brown) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration

A BILL

To remove all statues of individuals who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from display in the United States Capitol.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Confederate Monument Removal Act.

2.

Requirements and removal procedures

(a)

Requirements

Section 1814 of the Revised Statutes (2 U.S.C. 2131) is amended by inserting (other than persons who served voluntarily with the Confederate States of America) after military services.

(b)

Statue removal procedures

(1)

In general

The Architect of the Capitol shall—

(A)

identify all statues on display in the United States Capitol that do not meet the requirements of section 1814 of the Revised Statutes (2 U.S.C. 2131), as amended by subsection (a); and

(B)

subject to the approval of the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress, arrange for the removal of each such statue from the Capitol by not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

(2)

Removal and return of statues

In the case of a statue that is removed under this subsection which was provided for display by a State, the Architect of the Capitol shall arrange to transfer and deliver the statue and transfer ownership of the statue to the State if the State so requests and agrees to pay any costs related to the transportation of the statue to the State.

(3)

Replacement of statues

A State that has a statue removed under this subsection shall be able to replace such statue in accordance with the requirements and procedures of section 1814 of the Revised Statutes (2 U.S.C. 2131) and section 311 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001 (2 U.S.C. 2132).

(4)

Authorization and appropriations

(A)

In general

There are appropriated for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2021, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, $2,000,000 to the Architect of the Capitol to carry out this section, including the costs related to the removal, transfer, security, storage, and display of the statues described in paragraph (1)(A).

(B)

Availability

Amounts appropriated under subparagraph (A) shall remain available until expended.