H. R. 1668
One Hundred Seventh Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE FIRST SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
the third day of January, two thousand and one
An Act
To authorize the Adams Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work
on Federal land in the District of Columbia and its environs to honor former
President John Adams and his legacy.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. COMMEMORATIVE WORK TO HONOR JOHN ADAMS AND
HIS LEGACY.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) Few families have contributed as profoundly to the
United States as the family that gave the Nation its second
president, John Adams; its sixth president, John Quincy Adams;
first ladies Abigail Smith Adams and Louisa Catherine Johnson
Adams; and succeeding generations of statesmen, diplomats,
advocates, and authors.
(2) John Adams (1735–1826), a lawyer, a statesman, and
a patriot, was the author of the Constitution of the Common-
wealth of Massachusetts (the oldest written constitution still
in force), the leader of the Second Continental Congress, a
driving force for independence, a negotiator of the Treaty of
Paris (which brought the Revolutionary War to an end), the
first Vice President, the second President, and an unwavering
exponent of freedom of conscience and the rule of law.
(3) Abigail Smith Adams (1744–1818) was one of the most
remarkable women of her time. Wife of former President John
Adams and mother of former President John Quincy Adams,
she was an early advocate for the rights of women and served
the cause of liberty as a prolific writer, fierce patriot, and
staunch abolitionist.
(4) John Quincy Adams (1767–1848), the son of John and
Abigail Adams, was a distinguished lawyer, legislator, and
diplomat and a master of 7 languages, who served as Senator,
Minister to the Netherlands under President George Wash-
ington, Minister to Prussia under the first President Adams,
Minister to Great Britain under President James Madison,
chief negotiator of the Treaty of Ghent (which ended the War
of 1812), Secretary of State under President James Monroe,
author of the Monroe Doctrine (which declared the Western
Hemisphere off limits to European imperial expansion), sixth
President, and the only former President to be elected to the
House of Representatives, where he was known as ‘‘Old Man
Eloquent’’ and served with great distinction as a leader in
the fight against slavery and a champion of unpopular causes.
H. R. 1668—2
(5) Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams (1775–1852), the wife
of former President John Quincy Adams, was an educated,
accomplished woman and the only first lady born outside the
United States. Like Abigail Adams, she wrote eloquently on
behalf of the rights of women and in opposition to slavery.
(6) Charles Francis Adams (1807–1886), the son of John
Quincy and Louisa Adams, served 6 years in the Massachusetts
legislature, was a steadfast abolitionist who received the Free
Soil Party’s vice-presidential nomination in 1848, was elected
to his father’s seat in the House of Representatives in 1856,
and served as ambassador to Great Britain during the Civil
War, where his efforts were decisive in preventing the British
Government from recognizing the independence of the Confed-
eracy.
(7) Henry Adams (1838–1918), the son of Charles Francis
Adams, was an eminent writer, scholar, historian, and public
intellectual, and was the author of many celebrated works,
including ‘‘Democracy’’, ‘‘The Education of Henry Adams’’, and
his 9-volume ‘‘History of the United States during the Adminis-
trations of Jefferson and Madison’’.
(8) Both individually and collectively, the members of this
illustrious family have enriched the Nation through their pro-
found civic consciousness, abiding belief in the perfectibility
of the Nation’s democracy, and commitment to service and
sacrifice for the common good.
(9) Although the Congress has authorized the establish-
ment of commemorative works on Federal lands in the District
of Columbia honoring such celebrated former Presidents as
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Abraham Lincoln,
the National Capital has no comparable memorial to former
President John Adams.
(10) In recognition of the 200th anniversary of the end
of the presidency of John Adams, the time has come to correct
this oversight so that future generations of Americans will
know and understand the preeminent historical and lasting
significance to the Nation of his contributions and those of
his family.
(b) AUTHORITY
TO ESTABLISH COMMEMORATIVE WORK.—The
Adams Memorial Foundation may establish a commemorative work
on Federal land in the District of Columbia and its environs to
honor former President John Adams, along with his wife Abigail
Adams and former President John Quincy Adams, and the family’s
legacy of public service.
(c) 
COMPLIANCE
WITH
STANDARDS
FOR
COMMEMORATIVE
WORKS.—The establishment of the commemorative work shall be
in accordance with the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1001,
et seq.).
(d) USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS PROHIBITED.—Federal funds may
not be used to pay any expense of the establishment of the
commemorative work. The Adams Memorial Foundation shall be
solely responsible for acceptance of contributions for, and payment
of the expenses of, the establishment of the commemorative work.
(e) DEPOSIT
OF EXCESS FUNDS.—If, upon payment of all
expenses of the establishment of the commemorative work
(including the maintenance and preservation amount provided for
in section 8(b) of the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. 1001,
et seq.)), or upon expiration of the authority for the commemorative
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work under section 10(b) of such Act, there remains a balance
of funds received for the establishment of the commemorative work,
the Adams Memorial Foundation shall transmit the amount of
the balance to the Secretary of the Treasury for deposit in the
account provided for in section 8(b)(1) of such Act.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act, the terms ‘‘commemorative work’’
and ‘‘the District of Columbia and its environs’’ have the meanings
given to such terms in section 2 of the Commemorative Works
Act (40 U.S.C. 1002).
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.