S. 2369 · In committee · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act

What it does

Directs the Department of the Interior to remove the brass plaque bearing Senator Francis G. Newlands's name from the memorial fountain at Chevy Chase Circle in Washington, D.C.
Requires removal of the stone tablet-like projection bearing Newlands's name and related inscription from the south end of the memorial fountain's face.
Directs removal or permanent concealment of the name Newlands carved into the memorial fountain's upper coping stones.
Offers removed items to descendants of Francis Griffith Newlands for 60 days, then directs the National Park Service to maintain unclaimed items as federal property in the Rock Creek Park museum collection.

Official summary

Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act This bill directs the Department of the Interior to remove or permanently conceal the name of Francis Newlands on the grounds of the memorial fountain located at Chevy Chase Circle in the District of Columbia and take other specified actions. Specifically, Interior must remove the brass plaque bearing the name Senator Francis G. Newlands from the grounds of the memorial fountain located at Chevy Chase Circle in the District; remove from the south end of the memorial fountain's face, the stone, tablet-like projection bearing the name of Francis Griffith Newlands and a related inscription; remove or permanently conceal the name Newlands carved into the upper face of the memorial fountain's coping stones; and offer the items removed to the descendants of Francis Griffith Newlands for a 60-day period, and if not claimed within that period, direct the removed items to be maintained by the National Park Service as federal property and accessioned into the Rock Creek Park museum collection.

Latest action

Dec 9, 2025: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 119-238.

Committee: Senate National Parks Subcommittee