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.
PL 107-62 (H.R.1668), enacted 11/05/2001

PUBLIC LAW 107-62—NOV. 5, 2001 
115 STAT. 411 
Public Law 107-62 
107th Congress 
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 
Nov. 5, 2001 
President John Adams and his legacy. 
[H.R. 1668] 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
40 USC 1003 
note. 
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. 
.115 STAT. 412 
PUBLIC LAW 107-62—NOV. 5, 2001 
(5) Louisa Catherine Johnson Adams (1775-1852), the wife 
of former President John Quincy Adams, was an educated, 
accompHshed 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 "IDemocracy", "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 
PUBLIC LAW 107-62—NOV. 5, 2001 
115 STAT. 413 
work under section 10(b) of such Act, there remains a balance 
of funds received for the estabUshment 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). 
Approved November 5, 2001. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1668: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 107-77 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resovirces). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 147 (2001): 
June 25, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 17, considered and passed Senate.