I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5510 
To co-designate the Arlington Memorial Bridge as the ‘‘United States-Mexican 
War Memorial’’, to authorize limited interpretive enhancements, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 
Mr. BAUMGARTNER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To co-designate the Arlington Memorial Bridge as the 
‘‘United States-Mexican War Memorial’’, to authorize 
limited interpretive enhancements, and for other pur-
poses. 
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 ‘‘United States–Mexican 
War Memorial Act of 2025’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) The United States–Mexican War (1846– 
1848) concluded with the signing of Treaty of Gua-
dalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848, reshaping the 
territorial contours of the United States and Mexico 
and establishing a durable peace through treaty. 
(2) The war profoundly influenced American 
military, political, and civic life and is a significant 
chapter in the Nation’s history that merits national- 
level recognition. 
(3) Administered by the National Park Service, 
Arlington Memorial Bridge spans the Potomac River 
to connect the Lincoln Memorial with Arlington 
House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, making it an 
appropriate site for a co-designation that reflects na-
tional reunion after the Civil War and the United 
States east-west expansion to a continental, indus-
trial power. 
(4) As the Nation approaches the 250th anni-
versary of its independence in 2026, Congress seeks 
to elevate under-recognized chapters of American 
history and advance historical literacy through pru-
dent, low-cost commemorative actions on existing 
Federal sites. 
(5) There is no national memorial established 
by Congress on Federal land in the National Capital 
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region dedicated to the United States–Mexican War; 
a co-designation of an existing federally owned com-
memorative setting provides a practical means to es-
tablish a national focus for commemoration without 
affecting transportation operations. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to estab-
lish a national commemorative focus on the United 
States–Mexican War through a co-designation of an exist-
ing federally owned commemorative setting, with minimal 
physical alterations and no effect on transportation func-
tions. 
SEC. 
3. 
CO-DESIGNATION 
OF 
ARLINGTON 
MEMORIAL 
BRIDGE. 
(a) CO-DESIGNATION.—Arlington Memorial Bridge, 
spanning the Potomac River between the District of Co-
lumbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia, is hereby co- 
designated as the ‘‘United States–Mexican War Memo-
rial’’ (in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Memorial’’). 
(b) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary of the Interior 
(in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’), acting 
through the National Park Service, shall administer the 
co-designation established by subsection (a). 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 
shall be construed to— 
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(1) change the official name of Arlington Me-
morial Bridge; 
(2) alter or impede the bridge’s transportation 
or safety functions; 
(3) modify existing jurisdictional responsibilities 
regarding the operation, maintenance, or repair of 
the bridge; or 
(4) create any right or cause of action. 
SEC. 4. CEREMONIES AND PUBLIC OBSERVANCES. 
The Secretary may plan, develop, and execute cere-
monies and public observances to recognize the co-designa-
tion made by section 3. 
SEC. 5. LIMITED COMMEMORATIVE ENHANCEMENTS. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—To further honor the service and 
sacrifice of participants in the United States–Mexican 
War and to interpret the war’s causes, course, and con-
sequences (including the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo), 
the Secretary may install at, on, or immediately adjacent 
to Arlington Memorial Bridge appropriate commemorative 
elements limited to interpretive signage, plaques, and 
landscaping. 
(b) LIMITATIONS.—Commemorative elements author-
ized under subsection (a)— 
(1) shall be consistent with division A of sub-
title III of title 54, United States Code (commonly 
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known as the ‘‘National Historic Preservation Act’’) 
and the National Environmental Policy Act; 
(2) shall not materially alter the historic char-
acter, architectural features, or structural integrity 
of Arlington Memorial Bridge; and 
(3) shall not interfere with or encroach upon 
any existing commemorative work. 
SEC. 6. APPLICABILITY OF THE COMMEMORATIVE WORKS 
ACT; WAIVERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in subsection 
(b), chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly 
known as the ‘‘Commemorative Works Act’’), applies to 
commemorative enhancements authorized by section 5. 
(b) WAIVERS.— 
(1) SITE SELECTION.—Section 8905 of title 40, 
United States Code, shall not apply with respect to 
the selection of the site for the Memorial by reason 
of the co-designation effected by section 3. 
(2) CERTAIN CONDITIONS.—Section 8908(b) of 
title 40, United States Code, shall not apply to the 
designations or commemorative enhancements au-
thorized by this Act. 
SEC. 7. FUNDING; DONATIONS; EXCESS FUNDS. 
(a) NO FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ENHANCEMENTS.—No 
Federal funds may be obligated or expended for the de-
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sign, procurement, preparation, installation, or mainte-
nance of commemorative elements authorized under sec-
tion 5. 
(b) DONATIONS.—The Secretary may accept and ex-
pend contributions of non-Federal funds and in-kind dona-
tions for the purposes of this Act. 
(c) MAINTENANCE AMOUNT.—Amounts received for 
commemorative elements shall include the maintenance 
and preservation amount required by section 8906(b)(1) 
of title 40, United States Code. 
(d) EXCESS FUNDS.—If, after payment of all ex-
penses (including the amount required by section 
8906(b)(1) of such title), there remains a balance of funds 
received for the purposes of this Act, the Secretary shall 
deposit such balance with the National Park Foundation 
in a separate account to be available to the Secretary in 
accordance with section 8906(b)(4) of such title. 
(e) NO EFFECT ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.— 
Nothing in this Act prohibits the use of Federal-aid high-
way, National Park Service, or other Federal funds for 
the operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, repair, safety 
improvements, or replacement of Arlington Memorial 
Bridge or its approaches, except with respect to the com-
memorative elements authorized by section 5. 
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SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) COMMEMORATIVE WORK.—The term ‘‘com-
memorative work’’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 8902 of title 40, United States Code. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
Æ 
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