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H.R. 4216House117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to replace the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol with a bust of Clarence Thomas to be obtained by the Joint Committee on the Library.

Sponsored by Bryan SteilRep. Bryan Steil (R-WI)
Introduced June 29, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 5:00 AM UTC

The bill orders the Joint Committee on the Library to take down the bust of former Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney from the Old Supreme Court Chamber in the U.S. Capitol and replace it with a bust of current Justice Clarence Thomas. It sets deadlines for removal and for acquiring the new bust, affecting the artwork displayed in the Capitol’s historic courtroom.

Key Provisions

  • The Committee must remove the Taney bust within 45 days of the law’s enactment.
  • Within two years, the Committee must arrange to obtain a bust of Justice Clarence Thomas under appropriate terms.
  • The new Thomas bust must be placed in the same location where the Taney bust stood, after removal by the Architect of the Capitol.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

June 29, 2021

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 29, 2021

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Committee on House Administration

June 29, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 29, 2021

I

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 4216

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 29, 2021

Mr. Steil (for himself, Mr. Rodney Davis of Illinois, Mr. Loudermilk, Mr. Grothman, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Ms. Stefanik, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, Ms. Tenney, Mrs. Wagner, Mr. Donalds, Mr. Tiffany, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Gallagher, and Mr. Armstrong) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration

A BILL

To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to replace the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol with a bust of Clarence Thomas to be obtained by the Joint Committee on the Library.

1.

Replacement of bust of Roger Brooke Taney with bust of Clarence Thomas

(a)

Removal of bust of Roger Brooke Taney

Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Joint Committee on the Library shall remove the bust of Roger Brooke Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol.

(b)

Replacement with bust of Clarence Thomas

(1)

Obtaining bust

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 bust of Clarence Thomas, under such terms and conditions as the Joint Committee considers appropriate, consistent with applicable law.

(2)

Placement

The Joint Committee on the Library shall place the bust obtained under paragraph (1) in the location in the Old Supreme Court Chamber of the United States Capitol where the bust of Roger Brooke Taney was located prior to removal by the Architect of the Capitol under subsection (a).