I 

108TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5038 

To permit each State to provide a statue of an individual representing that 

State to be displayed in the Capitol Visitor Center, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 9, 2004 

Mr. KIRK (for himself, Mr. YOUNG of Florida, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. BEAUPREZ, 

Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. PETRI, Mr. EMANUEL, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, 

Ms. HART, Mr. CULBERSON, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. PLATTS, 

Mr. KINGSTON, and Mr. RAMSTAD) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on House Administration 

A BILL 

To permit each State to provide a statue of an individual 

representing that State to be displayed in the Capitol 

Visitor Center, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Heroes Act’’. 

5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

6 Congress finds the following: 

7 (1) Each State has chosen statues of 2 local he8 roes to exhibit in the Capitol. 
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1 (2) Most of these heroes depict figures who 

2 lived during the early years of the Nation’s history. 

3 (3) The completion of the construction of the 

4 Capitol Visitor Center will increase the size of the 

5 public space inside the Capitol complex, making 

6 more space available in which statues of noteworthy 

7 Americans should be displayed. 

8 (4) On September 11, 2001, the passengers of 

9 United Airlines flight number 93 made a unique 

10 contribution which helped to protect the Capitol 

11 from attack. 

12 SEC. 3. STATE HERO DESIGNATION. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—Each State may provide 1 statue 

14 of an individual representing that State which shall be dis15 played in the Capitol Visitor Center. 

16 (b) CRITERIA FOR HEROES.—The statues displayed 

17 in the Capitol Visitor Center shall be depictions of individ18 uals who participated in the life of the State they rep19 resent in ways that will inspire young Americans to em20 brace the ideals of the United States as reflected in the 

21 Constitution. 

22 (c) SELECTION OF HEROES.—No statue shall be dis23 played in the Capitol Visitor Center unless the individual 

24 depicted in the statue was selected in the manner de25 scribed in section 4. 
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1 (d) AMERICAN HERO ADMINISTRATOR.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Clerk of the House of 

3 Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate 

4 shall jointly assign to 1 of their employees the post 

5 of the American Hero Administrator, with such term 

6 as agreed upon by the Clerk and the Secretary. 

7 (2) STATUE GUIDELINES.—The American Hero 

8 Administrator shall prepare guidelines establishing 

9 the size, weight, and other necessary restrictions to 

10 be placed on the statues to be displayed in the Cap11 itol Visitor Center under this Act. 

12 SEC. 4. STATE AMERICAN HERO COMMISSIONS. 

13 (a) IN GENERAL.—In order for a statue provided by 

14 a State to be placed in the Capitol Visitor Center under 

15 this Act, the State shall establish an American Hero Com16 mission to select the individual to represent that State. 

17 (b) DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.— 

18 (1) SELECTION OF HEROES.—Each American 

19 Hero Commission shall choose, by a majority vote, 

20 after considering any suggestions submitted under 

21 subsection (b), the individual whose statue will rep22 resent the State of that Commission. 

23 (2) COMMISSION AND DELIVERY OF STATUE.— 

24 Each American Hero Commission shall commission 

25 an artist to design and create the statue and shall 
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1 arrange for the delivery of the statue to the Capitol 

2 Visitor Center. 

3 (3) PROCUREMENT OF FUNDS.—Each Amer4 ican Hero Commission shall raise private or State 

5 funds to pay for the cost of commissioning the stat6 ue and delivering it to the Capitol Visitor Center. 

7 (c) COMMISSIONERS.— 

8 (1) APPOINTMENT.—Each American Hero 

9 Commission shall be comprised of commissioners 

10 who are appointed by Members of Congress. 

11 (2) NUMBER.—Each Member of Congress shall 

12 appoint 1 commissioner to the American Hero Com13 mission for that Member’s State so that the total 

14 number of commissioners shall be equal to the num15 ber of Senators plus the number of Members of the 

16 House of Representatives for the State. 

17 (3) QUALIFICATIONS.—Commissioners shall be 

18 individuals who are respected in their communities 

19 and who are residents in good standing of the State 

20 represented by the appointing Member. 

21 (4) COMPENSATION.—Commissioners shall 

22 serve on the American Hero Commission without 

23 compensation. 

24 (5) ADMINISTRATION.—The commissioners of 

25 each American Hero Commission shall establish the 
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1 rules, meeting schedules, and deadlines that they 

2 consider appropriate in carrying out their duties. 

3 (d) CONSULTATION OF ESSAYS.— 

4 (1) REQUEST FOR ESSAYS.—Each American 

5 Hero Commission shall ask that young people who 

6 are between the ages of 14 and 18 and who live in 

7 the State to write essays suggesting individuals to 

8 represent the State in a statue displayed in the Cap9 itol Visitor Center under this Act and to submit the 

10 essays to the Commission. 

11 (2) CONSULTATION.—In determining who will 

12 represent their State, the commissioners of each 

13 American Hero Commission shall consider any indi14 viduals suggested in the essays submitted under 

15 paragraph (1). 

16 SEC. 5. STATUE HONORING THE PASSENGERS OF FLIGHT 

17 93. 

18 (a) PROCUREMENT AND INSTALLATION OF STAT19 UE.—The Architect of the Capitol shall procure and install 

20 a statue honoring the passengers of United Airlines flight 

21 number 93 who died on September 11, 2001 for their he22 roic role in protecting Washington, DC from attack. 
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1 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

2 authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec3 essary to carry out this section. 

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