This bill seeks to replace the statue of Philip Kearny in the National Statuary Hall Collection with a statue of Alice Paul, a prominent women's rights activist and suffragist from New Jersey. The bill outlines the process for the State of New Jersey to formally request the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve this replacement, following the procedures established by federal law. It highlights Alice Paul's significant contributions to the women's suffrage movement, including her role in the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
To facilitate this process, the bill establishes a temporary, bipartisan National Statuary Hall Selection Committee consisting of seven members appointed by the Governor and the Secretary of State. This committee will be responsible for selecting a sculptor for the new statue, approving its design, and identifying funding sources for the statue's creation and transportation. The committee is required to complete its work within one year and submit a report on its activities to various state officials and the public. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon enactment.