Senator Hiram Revels and Fannie Lou Hamer; request joint committee on Library of Congress to approve replacement of current statues with statues of.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Robert Johnson

Mississippi seeks to replace Davis and George statues in Statuary Hall with Fannie Lou Hamer and Hiram Rhodes Revels, funded by the state, pending federal approval.

Died In Committee

#rules

Purpose and intent

HC 5 formally requests the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve replacing Mississippi’s current statues in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall.

Specifically, it seeks to remove the statues of James Zachariah George and Jefferson Davis and substitute them with statues honoring Fannie Lou Hamer and Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels (the first African American U.S. Senator).

The resolution frames this as aligning Mississippi’s Statuary Hall representation with a more inclusive, contemporary depiction of the state's history and progress.

Key provisions and changes

Authorization mechanism: The bill relies on 2 U.S.C. § 2132, which allows a state to request the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress to approve statue replacements.

Replacement process: If the Joint Committee approves, the Architect of the Capitol would enter into an agreement with Mississippi to carry out the replacement under the Committee’s conditions. The state would fund all related costs (design, construction, transportation, placement, removal of the old statue, unveiling ceremony, etc.).

Precedent and policy context: The resolution notes that several states have replaced statues in Statuary Hall (e.g., Dwight Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Thomas Edison, Helen Keller) and positions the proposed change as part of ongoing modernization and inclusivity initiatives.

Commission and funding: The resolution calls for the Governor to issue a supportive proclamation and to establish a commission of Mississippi artisans to solicit private contributions for the new statues.

Rationale: The text emphasizes recognizing civil rights pioneers (Fannie Lou Hamer) and the historical significance of the first African American U.S. Senator (Hiram Rhodes Revels) as embodies of Mississippi’s evolution.

Who or what would be affected

Statues currently in Statuary Hall representing Mississippi: Jefferson Davis and James Zachariah George.

Proposed replacements: Fannie Lou Hamer and Hiram Rhodes Revels.

Financial burden: Mississippi would pay all costs associated with the replacement (design, construction, transport, placement, removal of the old statues, and unveiling ceremonies).

Cultural and educational impact: The change would alter public representation of Mississippi’s history in a prominent federal sculpture collection, reflecting a shift toward civil rights leadership and Black political leadership.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Status: Died in committee (as of the action history), with a prior referral to Rules.

Action path: As a concurrent resolution, it is a formal request to the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress; ultimate approval depends on federal action by that committee and the Architect of the Capitol, followed by state-funded implementation.

Sponsor: Primary sponsor is Representative Johnson, with co-sponsor Representative Robert Johnson.

Practical considerations

The resolution does not specify a timetable beyond the federal approval process; given the “died in committee” status, passage would require revisiting and advancing through the Mississippi Legislature and addressing federal approval timelines.

Community and legislative input might address considerations such as fundraising, artist commissions, unveiling events, and commemorative ceremonies.

Bill