Sponsor
John Cornyn
Senator · R-TX
Senator · R-TX
The bill redirects Monument funds to reduce the national DNA backlog and eliminates future federal spending and designation for the César E. Chávez National Monument — trading modest federal fiscal and criminal‑justice benefits for immediate loss of public access, federal stewardship, and future preservation/education opportunities tied to the site.
Crime victims, law enforcement, and taxpayers: any unobligated Monument funds and sale proceeds are redirected to reduce the national DNA analysis backlog, potentially speeding forensic testing and prosecutions.
Taxpayers: the bill bars future federal appropriations for Monument operations, eliminating ongoing federal spending obligations for the site and reducing federal outlays related to the Monument.
Local residents, visitors, schools, and nonprofits: public access to the César E. Chávez National Monument and related memorial sites ends immediately on enactment, removing a community resource.
Local governments, nonprofits, and state governments: ending National Park Service stewardship removes federal historic-preservation protections, increasing the risk that the site's cultural and historical resources will not be preserved.
Taxpayers and local governments: the requirement to sell the site within 90 days risks a rushed sale at below-optimal value or limited public bidding, potentially losing public benefit and taxpayer value.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Closes and sells the César E. Chávez National Monument, bans further federal funding for it, and directs sale proceeds and unobligated funds to the DNA backlog program.
Official title: Close and dispose of Federal ownership of the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument in the State of California, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 14, 2026 by John Cornyn · Last progress April 14, 2026
Eliminates the César E. Chávez National Monument by voiding the presidential proclamation that created it, closing the site to public access, prohibiting further federal appropriations for the monument, and requiring the Department of the Interior to sell the federally owned land, buildings, and specified contents at fair market value within 90 days of enactment. Any unobligated monument funds and sale proceeds must be transferred to support the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act program.