Adams Memorial-Great American Heroes Act
What changed between versions
The entire authorization of appropriations provision was deleted. The introduced version had authorized $50,000,000 with a 1-to-1 non-federal match requirement and a cap of 4 percent on administrative costs. None of this funding language appears in the engrossed version.
A new effective date provision was added stating that the amendment extending the Adams Memorial Commission's authority from 2025 to 2032 takes effect as if enacted on December 1, 2025.
The location provision was substantially rewritten. The introduced version treated the Eligible Additional Area as an optional alternative location (added as subsection b). The engrossed version makes the Eligible Additional Area the primary required location and adds a fallback: if the Commission determines that site is not suitable or feasible due to physical or security constraints, the memorial shall be located within the National Mall and Memorial Parks Reserve.
New definitions were added for 'Adams Memorial,' 'Commission' (the Adams Memorial Commission), and 'Reserve' (as defined in section 8902(a)(3) of title 40, U.S. Code).
A new Section 3 was added as a conforming amendment repealing Section 2 and Section 3 of Public Law 107-315 (the original Adams Memorial authorization law), cleaning up now-redundant statutory text.
The standards for commemorative works provision now explicitly states 'Notwithstanding section 8908(c) of title 40, United States Code,' clarifying that the memorial is exempt from certain standard commemorative works requirements.
