[House Report 117-680]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
117th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 117-680
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TO AUTHORIZE THE THOMAS PAINE MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION TO ESTABLISH A
COMMEMORATIVE WORK IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND ITS ENVIRONS, AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
_______
December 30, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 6720]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 6720) to authorize the Thomas Paine Memorial
Association to establish a commemorative work in the District
of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 6720 is to authorize the Thomas Paine
Memorial Association to establish a commemorative work in the
District of Columbia and its environs.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
H.R. 6720 authorizes the Thomas Paine Memorial Association
to establish a commemorative work on federal land in the
District of Columbia in honor of the philosopher and patriot,
Thomas Paine.
Thomas Paine was a luminary patriot of the Enlightenment
and the American Revolution who inspired people in the colonies
not only to overthrow the tyranny of faraway kings but to
launch a nation founded on principles of democratic self-
government, the rights of men and women, and reason and
science. Despite his catalytic role in founding America and our
constitutional republic, Paine remains largely neglected in
historical narratives. This memorial to Paine has already been
pre-funded with a flood of voluntary contributions and pledges
from private citizens. Almost uniquely among the Founding
Fathers, Paine opposed slavery and favored abolition, called
for a progressive income tax to pay for universal education
(including for both men and women), a welfare system for poor
relief, pensions, women's rights, and more.
Thomas Paine was one the greatest political writers and
philosophers of his time; his best-selling works, Common Sense,
The Crisis, Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason fundamentally
altered the political and social landscape of the 18th and 19th
centuries and helped forge the United States of America. He was
an eloquent advocate for equality and representative
government, writing, ``The true and only true basis of
representative government is equality of rights.'' He added,
``the danger arises from exclusions.''
On July 27, 2022, the National Capital Memorial Advisory
Commission agreed that the legacy of Thomas Paine rises to
``national historical significance'' and unanimously voted to
support H.R. 6720 without any changes.
H.R. 6720 was included in H.R. 2617, the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2023,\1\ which Congress passed on December
23, 2022. As of the writing of this report, President Biden is
expected to sign the bill into law.\2\
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\1\ Division DD, Title VII, Section 709.
\2\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/
2022/12/23/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-passage-of-the-
bipartisan-year-end-omnibus/.
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COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 6720 was introduced on February 11, 2022, by
Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD). The bill was referred
solely to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the
Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and
Public Lands. On July 14, 2022, the Subcommittee held a hearing
on the bill. On December 8, 2022, the Natural Resources
Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee was
discharged by unanimous consent. The bill was adopted and
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by
unanimous consent.
HEARINGS
For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure:
hearing by the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and
Public Lands held on July 14, 2022.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII
of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a)
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect to
requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) and clause 3(d) of rule XIII
of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has
requested but not received a cost estimate for this bill from
the Director of Congressional Budget Office. The Committee
adopts as its own cost estimate the forthcoming cost estimate
of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, should such
cost estimate be made available before House passage of the
bill. The Committee has requested but not received from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and
objectives of this bill are to authorize the Thomas Paine
Memorial Association to establish a commemorative work in the
District of Columbia and its environs.
EARMARK STATEMENT
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT
An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee, if such
estimate is not publicly available on the Congressional Budget
Office website.
EXISTING PROGRAMS
This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of
the federal government known to be duplicative of another
program.
APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing
law.
SUPPLEMENTAL, MINORITY, ADDITIONAL, OR DISSENTING VIEWS
None.
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