Booker, Lee, Thompson Reintroduce Bicameral Bill to Remove Confederate Statues from Capitol

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Bennie Thompson (D-MS) reintroduced a bicameral bill to remove Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol. The Confederate Monument Removal Act would remove all statues of people who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from the National Statuary Hall Collection within 120 days of the bill being signed into law.

Booker and Lee first introduced the bill in 2017.

“Monuments in the National Statuary Hall Collection are meant to honor American patriots who made tremendous contributions to better our nation,” said Senator Booker. “We should not be honoring those who committed treason against the United States of America and led our nation into a bloody civil war to preserve the vile institution of slavery. They are not patriots and should not be afforded such honor in this sacred space. That is why I am proud to join Representative Lee in reintroducing this bill that would remove Confederate statues from our Capitol.”

“The removal of Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol is an important step in dismantling the systems that hold us back. It is past time for Congress to face the truth of our history and what these statues represent,” said Representative Lee. “As long as these hateful symbols stand, they are condoning racism, bigotry, and men who committed treason against the United States in the effort to uphold the institution of slavery and white supremacy. They have no place in our society, and should certainly not be enshrined in the very building which proclaims to represent this nation’s highest values.”

“By removing the Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol, this is a step in the right direction,” said Representative Thompson. “We must stand for what is right and to not allow history to repeat itself. The continuation of these terrible symbols condones racism, prejudice, and individuals who betrayed the United States. We can never be afraid to stand up for what we believe in, no matter what the outcome is. It is time to take action and it starts by removing the Confederate statues.”

The National Statuary Hall Collection was created in 1864 with a law that allows states to select two statues of deceased individuals to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Under the Confederate Monument Removal Act, states can reclaim Confederate statues that are currently part of the National Statuary Hall Collection. Statues that are not reclaimed by states would be stored by the Architect of the Capitol.

The Senate bill is cosponsored by Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

The full text of the bill can be found here.