Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act

H.R. 4608 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to remove or permanently conceal the name of Francis G. Newlands from a memorial fountain located at Chevy Chase Circle in the District of Columbia. Specifically, the bill would require removal of a brass plaque bearing Newlands' name, a stone tablet bearing his name and related inscription, and the name carved into the fountain's coping stones. The bill would first offer any removed items to Newlands' descendants for 60 days, and if unclaimed, the items would be transferred to the National Park Service for the Rock Creek Park museum collection.

The bill addresses the memorial to Francis G. Newlands, a former U.S. Senator who founded Chevy Chase, Maryland. According to historical records, Newlands held white supremacist views, advocated for repealing voting rights protections for African Americans, and supported immigration restrictions based on race. The memorial fountain was established in 1932 with funding from Newlands' widow. This bill, currently referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources, would remove his name from the public memorial in response to concerns about honoring a figure with such views.