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S. 5690Senate119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Renewing the Dream Act

A bill to provide for the replacement of the plaque at Lincoln Memorial commemorating the "I Have a Dream" speech of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sponsored by Raphael G. WarnockSen. Raphael G. Warnock (D-GA)
Introduced October 15, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated October 17, 2026 at 3:21 AM UTC

The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to replace the existing plaque at the Lincoln Memorial that honors Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech with a new plaque. It authorizes the use of federal money and private donations to cover the costs of removal, design, and installation. The change applies to the memorial and affects visitors who see the plaque.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of the Interior must remove the current plaque and install a new one commemorating the speech.
  • The design and placement of the new plaque must follow the requirements of the Commemorative Works Act.
  • The Secretary may accept private contributions to help pay for the plaque without needing a separate appropriation.
  • Federal funds can be used to remove the old plaque and to design, procure, and install the new plaque.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/30/2026.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

October 15, 2026

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

October 15, 2026

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources under authority of the order of the Senate of 09/30/2026.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

October 15, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued October 15, 2026

II

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 5690

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

October 15, 2026

Mr. Warnock (for himself and Mr. Scott of South Carolina), under authority of the order of the Senate of September 30, 2026, introduced the following bill; which was ordered read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

A BILL

To provide for the replacement of the plaque at Lincoln Memorial commemorating the I Have a Dream speech of Martin Luther King, Jr.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Renewing the Dream Act.

2.

Replacement of plaque at Lincoln Memorial

(a)

In general

The Secretary of the Interior shall remove the plaque at Lincoln Memorial placed pursuant to Public Law 106–365 and install a new plaque commemorating the speech of Martin Luther King, Jr., known as the I Have a Dream speech.

(b)

Relation to CWA

Chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the Commemorative Works Act), shall apply to the design and placement of the new plaque.

(c)

Acceptance of contributions

The Secretary of the Interior may accept contributions toward the cost of preparing and installing the new plaque without further appropriation.

(d)

Federal funds

Federal funds may be used to—

(1)

remove the plaque placed pursuant to Public Law 106–365; and

(2)

design, procure, and install the new plaque.