1. U.S. Code
  2. title 2
  3. chapter 30
  4. subchapter V
  5. part D
  6. § 2135

Collapse to view only § 2135. Private studios and works of art

§ 2131. National Statuary Hall

Suitable structures and railings shall be erected in the old hall of Representatives for the reception and protection of statuary, and the same shall be under the supervision and direction of the Architect of the Capitol. And the President is authorized to invite all the States to provide and furnish statues, in marble or bronze, not exceeding two in number for each State, of deceased persons who have been citizens thereof, and illustrious for their historic renown or for distinguished civic or military services, such as each State may deem to be worthy of this national commemoration; and when so furnished, the same shall be placed in the old hall of the House of Representatives, in the Capitol of the United States, which is set apart, or so much thereof as may be necessary, as a national statuary hall for the purpose herein indicated.

(R.S. § 1814; Aug. 15, 1876, ch. 287, 19 Stat. 147.)

CITE AS: 2 USC 2131

§ 2131a. Eligibility for placement of statues in National Statuary Hall
(a) Eligibility
(b) Exceptions
Subsection (a) does not apply with respect to—
(1) the statue obtained and placed in National Statuary Hall under this Act; or
(2) any statue provided and furnished by a State under section 2131 of this title or any replacement statue provided by a State under section 2132 of this title.
(Pub. L. 109–116, § 2, Dec. 1, 2005, 119 Stat. 2524.)

CITE AS: 2 USC 2131a

§ 2132. Replacement of statue in Statuary Hall
(a) Request by State
(1) Any State may request the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve the replacement of a statue the State has provided for display in Statuary Hall in the Capitol of the United States under section 2131 of this title.
(2) A request shall be considered under paragraph (1) only if—
(A) the request has been approved by a resolution adopted by the legislature of the State and the request has been approved by the Governor of the State, and
(B) the statue to be replaced has been displayed in the Capitol of the United States for at least 10 years as of the time the request is made, except that the Joint Committee may waive this requirement for cause at the request of a State.
(b) Agreement upon approvalIf the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress approves a request under subsection (a), the Architect of the Capitol shall enter into an agreement with the State to carry out the replacement in accordance with the request and any conditions the Joint Committee may require for its approval. Such agreement shall provide that—
(1) the new statue shall be subject to the same conditions and restrictions as apply to any statue provided by a State under section 2131 of this title, and
(2) the State shall pay any costs related to the replacement, including costs in connection with the design, construction, transportation, and placement of the new statue, the removal and transportation of the statue being replaced, and any unveiling ceremony.
(c) Limitation on number of State statues
(d) Ownership of replaced statue; removal
(1) Subject to the approval of the Joint Committee on the Library, ownership of any statue replaced under this section shall be transferred to the State.
(2) If any statue is removed from the Capitol of the United States as part of a transfer of ownership under paragraph (1), then it may not be returned to the Capitol for display unless such display is specifically authorized by Federal law.
(e) Relocation of statues
(Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(2) [title III, § 311], Dec. 21, 2000, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A–119.)

CITE AS: 2 USC 2132

§ 2133. Acceptance and supervision of works of fine arts

The Joint Committee on the Library, whenever, in their judgment, it is expedient, are authorized to accept any work of the fine arts, on behalf of Congress, which may be offered, and to assign the same such place in the Capitol as they may deem suitable, and shall have the supervision of all works of art that may be placed in the Capitol.

(R.S. § 1831.)

CITE AS: 2 USC 2133

§ 2134. Art exhibits

No work of art or manufacture other than the property of the United States shall be exhibited in the National Statuary Hall, the Rotunda, Emancipation Hall of the Capitol Visitor Center, or the corridors of the Capitol.

(R.S. § 1815; Mar. 3, 1875, ch. 130, 18 Stat. 376; Mar. 3, 1879, ch. 182, 20 Stat. 391; Pub. L. 110–437, title I, § 101(f)(2), Oct. 20, 2008, 122 Stat. 4985.)

CITE AS: 2 USC 2134

§ 2135. Private studios and works of art

No room in the Capitol shall be used for private studios or works of art, without permission from the Joint Committee on the Library, given in writing; and it shall be the duty of the Architect of the Capitol to carry this provision into effect.

(Mar. 3, 1875, ch. 130, 18 Stat. 376.)

CITE AS: 2 USC 2135