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S 5488118th CongressFailed / ExpiredSenate

A bill to direct the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the United States Capitol.

Policy Area: Congress
View on Congress.gov
Origin Chamber
Senate
Last Updated
Aug 22, 2025
Latest Action Date
Dec 11, 2024

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Official Summary

Official summary has not been imported yet.

GovScope Watchdog™

AI Government Intelligence™
Executive Summary

This Senate bill, introduced in the 118th Congress, proposes directing the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the United States Capitol. The bill aims to authorize the acquisition and installation of a commemorative statue honoring Benjamin Franklin within the Capitol building. As of the latest update, the bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration but ultimately failed or expired without further legislative action. No detailed text or summary of provisions is available.

Bottom Line

The bill sought to authorize the placement of a Benjamin Franklin statue in the U.S. Capitol but did not advance beyond committee referral and expired without enactment.

Policy Risk Level
🟢 Low
Neutral Risk Assessment
Key Points
  • The bill directs the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin.
  • The statue is intended for placement within the United States Capitol.
  • The bill was read twice in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration but did not progress further.
Who Benefits?

['The Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, responsible for Capitol art and furnishings.', 'Visitors and the general public who access the United States Capitol.', 'Cultural and historical organizations interested in commemorating Benjamin Franklin.']

Potential Concerns

['The bill does not specify funding sources or cost estimates for the statue procurement and installation.', 'No details are provided regarding the selection process, design approval, or maintenance responsibilities.', "Oversight and authority for the statue's procurement and placement rest with the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, but procedural specifics are not outlined."]

Political Context

The bill was introduced in the Senate during the 118th Congress and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration, which oversees matters related to the operations of the Senate and the Capitol. The placement of statues in the Capitol is governed by congressional committees and reflects historical and cultural commemorations. The bill did not advance beyond committee referral and expired, indicating limited legislative momentum.

Hidden Impact Review

Hidden impact flags detected: 2

GovScope reviewed 2 policy-risk categories. Hover for a quick definition. Click detected flags for bill-specific details.

2 Detected
Detected Flags
Indirect Effects

['The installation of a Benjamin Franklin statue in the Capitol may influence future decisions about commemorative art and historical representation within federal buildings.', "The bill's failure to advance could delay or defer recognition efforts for Benjamin Franklin in this specific context."]

GovScope Watchdog Notes

Transparency is limited by the absence of a full bill text and official summary, restricting detailed analysis. The lack of funding and procedural details highlights common oversight considerations for commemorative projects in federal spaces. Monitoring future related proposals or committee reports may provide additional clarity on implementation plans.

Passage Likelihood: LowConfidence: 85%Model: gpt-4.1-mini

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