I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3619 
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 
JULY 29, 2005 
Mr. KIRK (for himself, Mr. DUNCAN, Mr. RAMSTAD, and Mr. GARRETT of 
New Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Heroes Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Each State has chosen statues of 2 local he-
roes to exhibit in the Capitol.
(2) Most of these heroes depict figures who 
lived during the early years of the Nation’s history. 
(3) The completion of the construction of the 
Capitol Visitor Center will increase the size of the 
public space inside the Capitol complex, making 
more space available in which statues of noteworthy 
Americans should be displayed. 
(4) On September 11, 2001, the passengers of 
United Airlines flight number 93 made a unique 
contribution which helped to protect the Capitol 
from attack. 
SEC. 3. STATE HERO DESIGNATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Each State may provide 1 statue 
of an individual representing that State which shall be dis-
played in the Capitol Visitor Center. 
(b) CRITERIA FOR HEROES.—The statues displayed 
in the Capitol Visitor Center shall be depictions of individ-
uals who participated in the life of the State they rep-
resent in ways that will inspire young Americans to em-
brace the ideals of the United States as reflected in the 
Constitution. 
(c) SELECTION OF HEROES.—No statue shall be dis-
played in the Capitol Visitor Center unless the individual 
depicted in the statue was selected in the manner de-
scribed in section 4.
(d) AMERICAN HERO ADMINISTRATOR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Clerk of the House of 
Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate 
shall jointly assign to 1 of their employees the post 
of the American Hero Administrator, with such term 
as agreed upon by the Clerk and the Secretary. 
(2) STATUE GUIDELINES.—The American Hero 
Administrator shall prepare guidelines establishing 
the size, weight, and other necessary restrictions to 
be placed on the statues to be displayed in the Cap-
itol Visitor Center under this Act. 
SEC. 4. STATE AMERICAN HERO COMMISSIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order for a statue provided by 
a State to be placed in the Capitol Visitor Center under 
this Act, the State shall establish an American Hero Com-
mission to select the individual to represent that State. 
(b) DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.— 
(1) SELECTION OF HEROES.—Each American 
Hero Commission shall choose, by a majority vote, 
after considering any suggestions submitted under 
subsection (b), the individual whose statue will rep-
resent the State of that Commission. 
(2) COMMISSION AND DELIVERY OF STATUE.— 
Each American Hero Commission shall commission 
an artist to design and create the statue and shall
arrange for the delivery of the statue to the Capitol 
Visitor Center. 
(3) PROCUREMENT
OF
FUNDS.—Each Amer-
ican Hero Commission shall raise private or State 
funds to pay for the cost of commissioning the stat-
ue and delivering it to the Capitol Visitor Center. 
(c) COMMISSIONERS.— 
(1) 
APPOINTMENT.—Each 
American 
Hero 
Commission shall be comprised of commissioners 
who are appointed by Members of Congress. 
(2) NUMBER.—Each Member of Congress shall 
appoint 1 commissioner to the American Hero Com-
mission for that Member’s State so that the total 
number of commissioners shall be equal to the num-
ber of Senators plus the number of Members of the 
House of Representatives for the State. 
(3) QUALIFICATIONS.—Commissioners shall be 
individuals who are respected in their communities 
and who are residents in good standing of the State 
represented by the appointing Member. 
(4) 
COMPENSATION.—Commissioners 
shall 
serve on the American Hero Commission without 
compensation. 
(5) ADMINISTRATION.—The commissioners of 
each American Hero Commission shall establish the
rules, meeting schedules, and deadlines that they 
consider appropriate in carrying out their duties. 
(d) CONSULTATION OF ESSAYS.— 
(1) REQUEST
FOR
ESSAYS.—Each American 
Hero Commission shall ask that young people who 
are between the ages of 14 and 18 and who live in 
the State to write essays suggesting individuals to 
represent the State in a statue displayed in the Cap-
itol Visitor Center under this Act and to submit the 
essays to the Commission. 
(2) CONSULTATION.—In determining who will 
represent their State, the commissioners of each 
American Hero Commission shall consider any indi-
viduals suggested in the essays submitted under 
paragraph (1). 
SEC. 5. STATUE HONORING THE PASSENGERS OF FLIGHT 
93. 
(a) PROCUREMENT
AND INSTALLATION
OF STAT-
UE.—The Architect of the Capitol shall procure and install 
a statue honoring the passengers of United Airlines flight 
number 93 who died on September 11, 2001 for their he-
roic role in protecting Washington, DC from attack.