H.Res. 973

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 973 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 973

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
designation of the ``Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial 
Center for the Performing Arts'' constitutes a violation of Federal 
law, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 30, 2025

Mr. Lynch submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
designation of the ``Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial 
Center for the Performing Arts'' constitutes a violation of Federal 
law, and for other purposes.

Whereas Public Law 88-260, the John F. Kennedy Center Act enacted by Congress on 
a bipartisan basis in 1964, designated the National Cultural Center in 
Washington, DC, as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 
honor of the dedication of President John F. Kennedy to the advancement 
of the welfare of mankind and the performing arts, in appreciation of 
his service with distinction as President of the United States and as a 
Member of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, and out 
of respect to the great loss endured by the Nation and the world as a 
result of his untimely death;
Whereas, in further dedication to the memory of President Kennedy, Congress 
expressly mandated that the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing 
Arts shall be the sole national memorial to the late John Fitzgerald 
Kennedy located within the city of Washington and its environs;
Whereas, in signing Public Law 88-260, President Lyndon B. Johnson acknowledged 
that in life, President Kennedy actively participated in the development 
of the former National Cultural Center, considering that he ``delighted 
not only in the classic forms through which our civilization has found 
expression, but also in the popular arts of today, with their variety, 
their humor, and the capacity to touch the lives of all of our people'';
Whereas President Johnson additionally recognized that designating the former 
National Cultural Center in memory and honor of President Kennedy was 
``entirely fitting'' given that President Kennedy personally approved 
the design of the building and expressed the hope that he might see it 
completed during his term of office;
Whereas President Johnson further acknowledged that the John F. Kennedy Center 
for the Performing Arts ``is not simply a Washington building'' but 
rather a ``national institution'' that will endure to honor a great man 
and enrich American life;
Whereas the John F. Kennedy Center Act also expressly prohibits the designation 
and installation of additional memorials and plaques in the public areas 
of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts;
Whereas, on February 7, 2025, President Donald J. Trump announced on social 
media that he would immediately terminate multiple individuals from the 
bipartisan Board of Trustees for the John F. Kennedy Center for the 
Performing Arts, including the Chairman, and install himself as 
Chairman;
Whereas a public statement subsequently released by the John F. Kennedy Center 
for the Performing Arts on February 7, 2025, stated that ``this would be 
the first time such action has been taken with the Kennedy Center's 
Board'';
Whereas, on February 12, 2025, the revised Board of Trustees, now consisting of 
more than 30 individuals solely appointed by President Trump, voted to 
designate President Trump as Chairman and replace the President of the 
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with an Interim 
President, Richard A. Grenell, former Acting Director of National 
Intelligence under President Trump;
Whereas, on December 18, 2025, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt 
announced on social media that the revised Board of Trustees for the 
John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts had ``unanimously'' voted 
to redesignate the building as the Trump-Kennedy Center;
Whereas several Members of Congress who also serve as ex-officio members of the 
Board of Trustees, including the Democratic Leader of the House of 
Representatives, subsequently reported that during the Board of Trustees 
meeting leading up to the vote, meeting participants were prevented from 
speaking, with one ex-officio member and Member of Congress even muted 
and not permitted to voice opposition to the building redesignation;
Whereas, on December 19, 2025, new signage redesignating the John F. Kennedy 
Center for the Performing Arts as ``The Donald J. Trump and the John F. 
Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts'' was installed on the 
building exterior absent congressional authorization;
Whereas, since taking office on January 20, 2025, President Trump has sought to 
terminate millions of dollars in Federal arts and humanities grants that 
Congress previously enacted on a bipartisan basis;
Whereas, in 2025, President Trump canceled more than 500 congressionally 
appropriated grants administered by the National Endowment for the Arts, 
terminating Federal funding directed to State and local art agencies, 
educational institutions, community theaters, and other organizations 
and individuals that support arts education nationwide and leading to 
the departure of every discipline director at the agency;
Whereas, in 2025, President Trump canceled more than 1,400 congressionally 
appropriated grants administered by the National Endowment for the 
Humanities, terminating Federal funding for State humanities councils, 
schools, libraries, and nonprofit organizations that seek to expand 
public accessibility to humanities programs such as teacher training, 
historical lectures, adult education, book festivals, and art 
exhibitions;
Whereas the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget submitted by President Trump to Congress 
proposed the outright elimination of the National Endowment for the 
Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of 
Museum and Library Services;
Whereas, in 2025, President Trump has implemented sweeping staffing cuts 
undermining the critical missions of Federal arts and education 
agencies, including mass layoffs affecting more than two-thirds of the 
workforce at the National Endowment for the Humanities; and
Whereas, according to the nonpartisan American Alliance for Museums, in 2025, 
one-third of American museums have already reported canceled Federal 
Government grants or contracts, including funding administered by the 
National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the 
Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, with many 
institutions forced to cancel critical facility improvements and public 
programing for students, rural communities, individuals with 
disabilities, seniors, and veterans: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
(1) the designation of ``The Donald J. Trump and the John 
F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts'' by the 
Board of Trustees constitutes a violation of Federal law and 
contravenes the express intent of Congress to solely honor, 
with a national monument, President John F. Kennedy and his 
appreciation and promotion of the arts;
(2) the original signage for the John F. Kennedy Center for 
the Performing Arts should be immediately restored; and
(3) all officers and members appointed by President Trump 
to the Board of Trustees should promptly resign their 
positions.
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