Congress commissions Benjamin Franklin statue for Capitol.
H.R. 250 — To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the Capitol. · Filed by Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) · 34 cosponsors · Introduced Jan 9, 2025 · Passed chamber
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What it does
This bill directs Congress's Joint Committee on the Library to commission and install a statue of Benjamin Franklin in the U.S. Capitol by the end of 2026. The statue must be placed in a public-accessible location where Capitol visitors can see it during guided tours. No appropriation amount is specified in the text.
Why we flagged it
The bill's sole function is to direct procurement and placement of a historical statue. It is a routine congressional commemoration with no regulatory, fiscal, or policy mechanism beyond the directive itself.
What the text implies
- No appropriation is specified in the bill text; funding source and amount remain undefined, likely to be addressed through separate appropriations process or existing Capitol maintenance budgets.
- The bill does not specify artist, design, or aesthetic criteria, leaving full discretion to the Joint Committee on the Library — potential for design disputes or delays.
The full analysis lists 3 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
sculpture artists or studios commissioned to create the statue; Capitol construction/installation contractors