InsideGov
Congress · Laws

A bill to govern the establishment of commemorative works within the National Capital Region of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

Public Law 99-652 · H.R. 4378 · 99th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Nov 14, 1986 · Commemorations

Sponsor: Rep. Morris Udall (D-AZ-2)

Cosponsors (3): Rep. Bruce Vento,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

(House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment)

Prohibits the establishment of any commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia and its environs, except by an Act of Congress.

Redesignates the National Capital Memorial Advisory Committee as the National Capital Memorial Commission to advise the Secretary of the Interior and the Administrator of the General Services Administration on the establishment of such works.

Permits only commemorative works of preeminent historical and lasting significance to the Nation in the area designated as Area I. Requires congressional approval before such a work may go forward.

Permits military commemorative works honoring a major conflict (war) or military branch in Area II. Permits nonmilitary commemorative works in such area if the individual(s) commemorated have been dead at least 25 years. Permits subjects of lasting historical significance to be commemorated in such area.

Sets forth the requirements which must be met by any person authorized by law to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia, including consultation with the National Capital Memorial Commission and submission of site and design proposals to the Commission of Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the Secretary or Administrator (as appropriate) for approval. Requires a work to be sited in appropriate and noninterfering surroundings.

Sets forth construction permit criteria, including the requisite Federal approvals and sufficient funds. Requires a payment to offset maintenance.

Authorizes the Secretary to permit the temporary location of a commemorative work in certain areas of the District of Columbia after giving the Congress sufficient notice of a plan for such site. Requires the person installing the work to indemnify the United States for any liability arising from such work's display.

Terminates authority to construct a commemorative work if a construction permit has not been issued within five years.

Requires the Secretary or the Administrator, as appropriate, to maintain any commemorative work in the District of Columbia or its environs.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.

  1. Nov 14, 1986Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 99-652.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 5, 1986PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 16, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments to Senate amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Sep 29, 1986Resolving differencesResolving differences · House Concurred, in Senate Amendments , with Amendments by Voice Vote.
  6. Sep 10, 1986FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
  7. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  8. Aug 15, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  9. Aug 14, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  10. Jun 24, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Public Lands, Reserved Water and Resource Conservation Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  11. May 7, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  12. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Public Lands, Reserved Water and Resource Conservation Subcommittee of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  13. May 5, 1986FloorFloor · Passed House (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  14. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Natural Resources Committee
  15. Apr 23, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Natural Resources Committee
  16. Apr 17, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Reported by National Parks and Recreation Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  17. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by National Parks and Recreation Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  18. Apr 15, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by National Parks and Recreation Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  19. Apr 14, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Recreation Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  20. Mar 11, 1986CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  21. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.