This bill directs the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a statue of Clarence Mitchell, Jr. and place it in a permanent public location in the United States Capitol. The committee must enter into an agreement to obtain the statue within 2 years of the bill becoming law. The Joint Committee may authorize the Architect of the Capitol to make the agreement and related contracts on its behalf. The bill also authorizes appropriations "such sums as may be necessary" to carry out the work, and those amounts would remain available until spent. The bill text includes findings about Mr. Mitchell’s life and career, including his work with the NAACP, his role in civil rights legislation, his service on a U.S. delegation to the United Nations, and his receipt of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
If enacted, a statue of Clarence Mitchell, Jr. would be added to the public displays in the U.S. Capitol. The Joint Committee on the Library would arrange for the statue and decide placement. The Architect of the Capitol could be authorized to handle contracts for creating or acquiring the statue. The bill does not state direct changes to services or programs that the general public uses.
The bill authorizes "such sums as may be necessary" to carry out the act and says appropriated amounts would remain available until expended. The bill text does not provide an estimated dollar cost or a funding schedule. No publicly available information on the total expected expense is included in the bill text or metadata provided.
The bill’s findings describe Clarence Mitchell, Jr.’s long work defending civil rights, his leadership of the NAACP Washington Bureau from 1950 to 1978, his role in efforts tied to major civil rights laws, his many congressional testimonies, bipartisan relationships, service on a U.S. delegation to the U.N., and his 1980 Presidential Medal of Freedom. Supporters would say these facts justify honoring him with a permanent statue in the Capitol to recognize his contributions.
No publicly available information on opposition or specific criticisms is included in the bill text or metadata provided.