Adams Memorial-Great American Heroes Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. CRANK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2306) to reauthorize the Adams Memorial Commission, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2306
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Adams Memorial-Great American Heroes Act''. SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY; LOCATION OF MEMORIAL.
(a) Adams Memorial Commission.--
(1) Extension.--Section 2406(l) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116- 9) is amended by striking ``2025'' and inserting ``2032''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if enacted on December 1, 2025.
(b) Compliance With Standards for Commemorative Works.-- Section 1(c) of Public Law 107-62 (115 Stat. 411; 124 Stat. 1192; 127 Stat. 3880; 133 Stat. 750) is amended--
(1) by striking ``The establishment'' and inserting ``Notwithstanding section 8908(c) of title 40, United States Code, the establishment''; and
(2) by striking ``2025'' and inserting ``2032''.
(c) Location of Commemorative Work.--Section 1 of Public Law 107-315 (116 Stat. 2763) is amended to read as follows: ``SEC. 1. APPROVAL OF COMMEMORATIVE WORK.
``(a) Site.--Notwithstanding section 8908(c) of title 40, United States Code, and subject to subsection (b), the Adams Memorial shall be located within the area generally depicted as `Adams Memorial: Eligible Additional Area' on the map titled `Adams Memorial: Eligible Additional Area' prepared by the Adams Memorial Commission and dated February 25, 2025.
``(b) Additional Locations.--If the Commission determines that the location described in subsection (a) is not suitable or feasible due to physical or security constraints, the commemorative work shall be located within the Reserve.
``(c) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Adams memorial.--The term `Adams Memorial' means the commemorative work authorized to be established under section 1(b) of Public Law 107-62 (115 Stat. 411).
``(2) Commission.--The term `Commission' means the Adams Memorial Commission established under section 2406(a) of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (Public Law 116-9).
``(3) Reserve.--The term `Reserve' has the meaning given such term in section 8902(a)(3) of title 40, United States Code.''. SEC. 3. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
Section 2 and section 3 of Public Law 107-315 (116 Stat. 2763) are hereby repealed.
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Mr. CRANK. 2306, the bill now under consideration.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2306, the Adams Memorial-Great American Heroes Act, led by my colleague, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Moolenaar).
Mr. Speaker, although our Nation's Capital contains towering and iconic tributes to many of our Founding Fathers, we still have no memorial for President Adams and his family.
Their remarkable dynasty of public service gave America not one but two Presidents, a Secretary of State, an ambassador, an abolitionist, and one of our most accomplished first ladies.
John Adams was a chief architect of independence, our Vice President, and our second President, whose lifelong correspondence with his chief political rival, Thomas Jefferson, stands as a shining example of the power of speech and shared principles.
Abigail Adams was an early advocate for women's rights and shaped the second Presidency through her letters and advice to her husband. Their son, John Quincy Adams, served as our sixth President and later was a fierce opponent of slavery in this very body, as the only former President to be elected to the House of Representatives.
In 2001, Congress sought to finally cement the legacy of the Adams family in our Nation's rich history by approving the creation of a memorial to the Adams family in Washington, D.C. In 2019, Congress further authorized the Adams Memorial Commission, a bipartisan panel comprised of Members of Congress and Presidential appointees, tasked with spearheading planning, raising private funds, and educating the public on the Adams family legacy of patriotism and civic duty. With the majority of commission members approved as of last year, the commission has begun the site selection process for the memorial.
Representative Moolenaar's bill extends the authorization of the Adams Memorial Commission until 2032, allowing its members to continue their work to create the first memorial in Washington, D.C., dedicated to honoring the Adams family. The bill would authorize a new site for the memorial just south of the White House, where John and Abigail Adams were the first Presidential family to reside.
During a legislative hearing in the Federal Lands Subcommittee, Jackie Gingrich Cushman, the chair of the Adams Memorial Commission, testified: ``The Adamses exemplified strength of character, belief in God, and the importance of family, education, and public service. John Adams and his family demonstrated that ideas, hard work, and determination can change an entire nation for the better. This memorial will inspire new generations of Americans by reigniting pride in our shared American values and our constitutional Republic.''
This bipartisan bill will give our Nation the opportunity to honor John Adams and his family with the memorial they deserve. As America approaches its 250th birthday, there is no better time to honor a family whose ideas and sacrifices helped build our Nation and protect its principles for generations to come.
I commend Representative Moolenaar for his leadership in this effort and take a moment to recognize the late Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia, who we sadly lost earlier this year. Representative Connolly not only sat on the Adams Memorial Commission but also was the main Democratic sponsor of this legislation and a champion for the Adams Family Memorial.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R.
Just down the hall from this Chamber, we get to take our constituents many times on a tour through Statuary Hall and we see the desk location where John Quincy Adams served as President.
Some of our Founding Fathers tolerated slavery. John Quincy Adams knew it for what it was, a stain on our soul, and he worked so hard, dedicating his life to eliminating slavery. I can't help but think of the divine providence that allowed John Quincy Adams for one term to serve in the same Chamber as Abraham Lincoln. I think God smiled upon our Nation when he did that to pass the torch on to Abraham Lincoln and end that scourge for America and for mankind.
Mr. Speaker, by reauthorizing the Adams Memorial Commission, H.R. 2306 would provide the time needed to thoroughly design, locate, and construct a memorial truly worthy of the Adams family's commitment to America.
I, once again, recognize Representative Moolenaar for his bipartisan commitment to honoring one of America's most accomplished founding families ahead of our Nation's 250th birthday.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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