Sponsors (15)
The bill honors Clarence Mitchell Jr. and preserves his historical record while enabling faster delivery of a Capitol statue, but it authorizes open‑ended spending and imposes placement/deadline obligations that could strain Capitol program resources and provide only symbolic benefits to affected communities.
The Joint Committee and Architect of the Capitol can contract and use funds until expended to procure and install the statue, which should speed delivery and reduce administrative delays for the project.
Visitors to the U.S. Capitol and the public will gain a permanent statue honoring Clarence Mitchell Jr., increasing public recognition of his civil-rights contributions and enriching the Capitol's historical displays.
Congressional findings document Mitchell's testimony and advocacy (including ~180 testimonies), preserving a historical record useful for education, scholarship, and public understanding of civil-rights policymaking.
The bill authorizes "such sums as may be necessary," creating an open-ended federal spending authorization that could increase costs borne by taxpayers.
Mandating Capitol placement within two years and using appropriated funds that are available until expended could strain Capitol maintenance/art program budgets and pressure procurement schedules, potentially diverting resources or causing rushed decisions.
The bill's commemorative findings are largely symbolic and do not create direct programs or services, so communities still affected by discrimination may receive no concrete benefit from the recognition alone.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain and place a statue of Clarence Mitchell Jr. in the U.S. Capitol, authorizing needed funds and allowing the Architect of the Capitol to carry out contracts.
Requires the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain and place a statue honoring Clarence Mitchell Jr. in a permanent public location in the U.S. Capitol. The Committee must enter an agreement to obtain the statue within two years of enactment, may have the Architect of the Capitol carry out contracts, and authorizes whatever funding is necessary to complete the work.
Introduced March 12, 2026 by Kweisi Mfume · Last progress March 12, 2026