Sponsors (2)
The bill secures a prominent Thomas Paine memorial that boosts public access and education but does so by using limited Area I space and overriding statutory placement rules, trading site availability and regulatory predictability for a specific commemorative placement.
Students, tourists, and history enthusiasts will gain a dedicated Thomas Paine commemorative work in a prominent Area I location in Washington, D.C., increasing public access and educational opportunities.
Future memorial applicants, federal planners, and the public face reduced predictability in memorial siting because the bill overrides 40 U.S.C. § 8908(b)(1), setting a precedent for waiving placement restrictions.
National observance events, other memorial projects, and the general public could see fewer options for new monuments because placing this memorial in Area I uses scarce federal site availability near core national monuments.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Allows the Thomas Paine commemorative work to be sited within Area I of Washington, D.C., at the NCPC map-designated location despite a statutory restriction.
Official title: To approve the location of a commemorative work for Thomas Paine, America's indispensable and unsung Founding Father.
Introduced July 6, 2026 by Jamie Ben Raskin · Last progress July 6, 2026
Approves the specific location for the previously authorized Thomas Paine commemorative work to be placed within Area I of the District of Columbia, notwithstanding a statutory location restriction. The law identifies the approved site by NCPC map number 869/86501 B (dated June 24, 2003) and requires the commemorative work to be located within that Area I boundary.