Resolve, To Initiate the Procedures To Request the United States Congress's Joint Committee on the Library To Replace a Statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection

Preamble. Whereas,  the statues of 2 great citizens of Maine, William King, Maine's first governor, and Hannibal Hamlin, the 15th Vice President of the United States, are part of the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol; and

Whereas,  this legislation seeks to put a statue of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in the place of the statue of William King in the collection; and

Whereas,  Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, a president of Bowdoin College, a brigadier general in the Union Army, a hero of the Battle of Gettysburg, a Medal of Honor recipient and the 32nd Governor of Maine, is a great citizen of Maine whose statue would help educate visitors to the United States Capitol about his life and about a great state; now, therefore, be it

Sec. 1. Commission established. Resolved: That the Commission to Install a Statue of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in the National Statuary Hall Collection, referred to in this resolve as "the commission," is established; and be it further

Sec. 2. Commission membership. Resolved: That the commission consists of 11 members appointed as follows:

1. Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including a member from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;

2. Four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, including members from each of the 2 parties holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature;

3. A member representing the Maine Arts Commission appointed by the Governor;

4. A member representing the Maine Historic Preservation Commission appointed by the Governor;

5. A member representing the Maine State Museum Commission appointed by the Governor;

6. A member of the public appointed by the President of the Senate; and

7. A member of the public appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and be it further

Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the commission; and be it further

Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of commission. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. After appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the commission. If 30 days or more after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority for the commission to meet and conduct its business; and be it further

Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the commission shall:

1. Select a sculptor to sculpt the statue of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain;

2. Devise a method to raise and collect outside funds necessary to carry out the intent of this resolve;

3. Represent the State in its dealings with the United States Congress's Joint Committee on the Library, which has oversight of the National Statuary Hall Collection, and the Architect of the Capitol, who is responsible for the reception, placement and care of the statue in the collection;

4. Direct the expenditure of money to pay for the sculptor chosen to carve or cast the statue, a pedestal and any desired inscription, transporting the statue and pedestal to the United States Capitol, removing and transporting the replaced statue, temporarily erecting the new statue in the Rotunda of the Capitol for the unveiling ceremony, the unveiling ceremony and any other expenses the commission considers necessary; and

5. Take any further actions incidental to carrying out the intent of this resolve; and be it further

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Maine Arts Commission, the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and the Maine State Museum Commission shall provide necessary staffing services to the commission; and be it further

Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That the commission shall submit a report that includes a summary of the commission's progress in carrying out the intent of this resolve and any recommendations, including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Second Regular Session of the 127th Legislature; and be it further

Sec. 8. Outside funding. Resolved: That the commission shall seek funding contributions to fully fund the costs associated with carrying out the intent of this resolve.

summary

This resolve establishes the Commission to Install a Statue of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in the National Statuary Hall Collection. The commission is directed to take steps necessary to result in the placement of a statue of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol. This statue will replace that of William King, Maine's first governor, the ownership of which may be transferred to the State, subject to the approval of the United States Congress's Joint Committee on the Library. The commission is directed to seek outside funding to fully fund the costs associated with carrying out the intent of the resolve.