Francis G. Newlands Memorial Removal Act
Summary
S. 2369 would require the Secretary of the Interior to remove or permanently conceal the name of Francis Newlands from a memorial fountain located at Chevy Chase Circle in Washington, D.C. Specifically, the bill would direct removal of a brass plaque bearing Newlands' name, a stone tablet bearing his name and an inscription, and the name carved into the fountain's coping stones. Any removed items would first be offered to Newlands' descendants for 60 days; if unclaimed, they would be transferred to the National Park Service museum collection at Rock Creek Park.
Francis Newlands was a U.S. Senator from Nevada (1893-1917) and founder of Chevy Chase, Maryland. He is known for advocating white supremacist policies, including attempts to repeal voting rights for African Americans and restrict immigration to white people. The memorial fountain was established in 1932, funded by Newlands' widow. The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, which held hearings in December 2025. If enacted, the bill would alter a public memorial in the nation's capital.