Overview

Title

To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the Capitol.

ELI5 AI

The H. R. 6969 bill says that the people in charge of the Library want to buy a Benjamin Franklin statue and put it in a nice spot inside the Capitol building where everyone can see it by the year 2026.

Summary AI

H. R. 6969 proposes that the Joint Committee on the Library should obtain and place a statue of Benjamin Franklin in the United States Capitol. The bill specifies that the statue should be acquired within two years of the bill's enactment and should be placed in a publicly accessible location inside the Capitol by January 1, 2026. The placement aims to ensure that visitors can see the statue during guided tours arranged by the Capitol Visitor Center.

Published

2024-01-11
Congress: 118
Session: 2
Chamber: HOUSE
Status: Introduced in House
Date: 2024-01-11
Package ID: BILLS-118hr6969ih

Keywords AI

benjamin franklin statue united states capitol joint committee on the library procurement placement bipartisan support tourism public art government expenditure

Sources

Bill Statistics

Size

Sections:
1
Words:
349
Pages:
2
Sentences:
11

Language

Nouns: 137
Verbs: 17
Adjectives: 8
Adverbs: 3
Numbers: 6
Entities: 57

Complexity

Average Token Length:
4.11
Average Sentence Length:
31.73
Token Entropy:
4.33
Readability (ARI):
17.21

AnalysisAI

The bill titled "To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to procure a statue of Benjamin Franklin for placement in the Capitol," introduced during the 118th Congress, outlines a plan to add a statue of one of America's Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, to the United States Capitol. Sponsored by multiple representatives, the bill mandates the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain and place the statue in a spot accessible to the public by January 1, 2026.

General Summary of the Bill

The proposed legislation directs the Joint Committee on the Library to secure a statue of Benjamin Franklin. This acquisition must occur within two years of the bill's enactment. The statue is intended for a permanent location within the U.S. Capitol to ensure that it is viewable during guided tours offered by the Capitol Visitor Center.

Summary of Significant Issues

The bill raises several issues, primarily revolving around its lack of specificity and financial transparency:

  1. Cost and Funding Source: The bill does not outline how the acquisition will be funded. Without specifying the financial plan, the bill leaves unanswered questions about whether taxpayers will bear this cost and if the expense is justified.

  2. Terms and Conditions: There is no clear definition of what "appropriate" terms and conditions should be when obtaining the statue. This vagueness may lead to favoritism or subjective interpretations of the law unless more detailed guidelines are provided.

  3. Permanent Location: The bill lacks clarity on where the statue should be permanently placed in the Capitol. Using the subjective phrase "suitable permanent location" could result in disputes or dissatisfaction regarding placement decisions.

Impact on the Public

Broadly, the bill aims to honor Benjamin Franklin's legacy, enhancing the Capitol's historical displays. For the public, this could mean enriched educational experiences during visits to the Capitol. However, without public insight into the costs involved, there may be public concerns about governmental spending and priorities.

Impact on Specific Stakeholders

  • Government and Oversight Committees: The lack of clear guidelines could increase the administrative burden, as committees may face challenges ensuring that procurement is fair and compliant with open bidding practices.

  • Taxpayers: If federal funds are used and cost-overruns occur, taxpayers might bear the financial burden, leading to potential public scrutiny or backlash.

  • Tourists and Educators: Enhanced Capitol displays could provide more comprehensive historical narratives, benefiting both leisure visitors and educational institutions.

A successful implementation will require addressing these issues to avoid potential legal and financial pitfalls. As the bill progresses, stakeholders might advocate for amendments to introduce specificity in terms of funding, procurement procedures, and statue placement within the Capitol to provide clarity and transparency to the public.

Issues

  • The bill does not specify the cost or funding source for procuring the statue, making it difficult to assess whether the expenditure could be considered wasteful or excessive. This is a potential financial issue that could concern taxpayers. (Section 1, (a))

  • The bill lacks specificity regarding what constitutes 'appropriate' terms and conditions for obtaining the statue, which may lead to ambiguous interpretations or allow for favoritism. This could raise ethical concerns regarding the procurement process. (Section 1, (a))

  • The phrase 'suitable permanent location' for the placement of the statue is subjective and could lead to differing interpretations, potentially leading to legal disputes over the placement decisions. (Section 1, (b))

Sections

Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.

1. Procurement and placement of statue of Benjamin Franklin in the United States Capitol Read Opens in new tab

Summary AI

The bill section requires the Joint Committee on the Library to make an agreement to get a statue of Benjamin Franklin within two years of the law being passed. The statue must then be placed in a permanent spot in the United States Capitol by January 1, 2026, where it can be viewed during guided tours.