Sponsors (15)
Requires the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain and place a statue of Clarence Mitchell, Jr. in the U.S. Capitol and authorizes necessary funding.
Official title: To direct the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to obtain a statue of Clarence Mitchell, Jr. for placement in the United States Capitol.
Introduced March 12, 2026 by Kweisi Mfume · Last progress March 12, 2026
The bill funds and authorizes installation of a permanent Capitol statue honoring Clarence Mitchell Jr., improving public recognition and preserving historical record, but it uses federal resources for a symbolic commemoration that increases taxpayer costs and could divert Capitol program funds or legislative time without creating direct policy benefits.
Joint Committee on the Library and the Architect of the Capitol will be able to contract and keep funds available until spent, allowing the statue project to be completed more quickly and with fewer annual-appropriations interruptions.
Visitors to the Capitol and the public will gain a new permanent statue of Clarence Mitchell Jr., increasing public recognition of his civil-rights leadership and providing a visible commemorative site.
Racial and ethnic minority communities and civil-rights advocates are explicitly recognized for Mitchell's role, reinforcing a bipartisan narrative of civil-rights progress that can support contemporary cross‑party cooperation on related issues.
Taxpayers may bear the cost since the bill authorizes 'such sums as may be necessary' to create the statue, increasing federal spending for a commemorative art project.
The Architect's and Committee's use of appropriated funds for this statue could divert limited Capitol maintenance or art-program resources away from other priorities if not separately budgeted.
The bill's formal findings and commemorative recognition are largely symbolic and have no direct policy effect, meaning communities still facing discrimination may see recognition but no concrete programmatic benefits; the findings also occupy floor or legislative time without producing binding change.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Directs the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain and place a statue of civil rights leader Clarence Mitchell, Jr. in a permanent public location in the United States Capitol. The Committee must enter into an agreement to acquire the statue within two years, may authorize the Architect of the Capitol to execute contracts on its behalf, and the bill authorizes whatever funds are necessary, available until expended, to carry out the placement. Also lists Congressional findings summarizing Mitchell's life and public service, including his NAACP leadership, civil rights advocacy, extensive congressional testimony, diplomatic service, and receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.