Senate Resolution 320
By: Senators Esteves of the 35th, Jones II of the 22nd, Wicks of the 34th, McLaurin of the
14th, Sims of the 12th and others
A RESOLUTION
Creating the National Statuary Hall Collection Replacement Committee; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS, in 1864, the United States Congress established the National Statuary Hall
Collection in the United States Capitol and authorized each state to contribute to the
collection two statues that represent important historic figures of each state; and
WHEREAS, Georgia currently has on display in the National Statuary Hall Collection
statues of Dr. Crawford W. Long and Alexander Hamilton Stephens; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to 2 U.S.C. § 2132, a state may request that the Joint Committee on
the Library of Congress approve the replacement of a statue the state has provided for display
in the National Statuary Hall Collection; and
WHEREAS, the late President James Earl Carter Jr. was a distinguished Georgian who
served as Georgia State Senator and Governor of Georgia; served as President of the United
States; co-founded The Carter Center with his wife and equal partner, Rosalynn Carter;
received a Nobel Peace Price; championed civil and human rights; and became the longest
living United States President at 100 years old; and
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this esteemed historic Georgian be
appropriately recognized in the United States Capitol.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
GEORGIA that the members of this body join in honoring the life and memory of President
Jimmy Carter and approve the replacement of the state's statue of Alexander Hamilton
Stephens with a statue of President Jimmy Carter in the National Statuary Hall Collection in
the United States Capitol.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
(1) Creation of committee. There is created the National Statuary Hall Collection
Replacement Committee to facilitate the replacement of the Alexander Hamilton Stephens
statue in the National Statuary Hall Collection with a statue of President Jimmy Carter.
(2) Members and officers.
(A) The committee shall be composed of eight members.
(B) The Governor shall appoint four members of the committee and shall designate one
of such members as chairperson.
(C) The Lieutenant Governor shall appoint two members of the committee.
(D) The Speaker of the House shall appoint two members of the committee.
(3) Duties. The committee shall:
(A) Determine a suitable location in the state for placement of the Alexander Hamilton
Stephens statue. Once a suitable location is decided upon, the committee shall
immediately transmit to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the
House minutes of the committee meeting indicating such location;
(B) Select a sculptor to create a statue of President Jimmy Carter;
(C) Review and approve the plans for the new statue;
(D) Estimate the costs associated with the replacement of the statue, including the costs
for:
(i) The sculptor for creating the statue;
(ii) The design and fabrication of the pedestal;
(iii) The transportation of the statue and pedestal to the United States Capitol;
(iv) The removal and transportation of the replaced statue;
(v) The temporary placement of the new statue in the Rotunda of the United States
Capitol for the unveiling ceremony;
(vi) The unveiling ceremony; and
(vii) Any other expenses that the committee determines are necessary to incur; and
(E) Identify a method for obtaining, and obtain, private funding to pay for all costs
associated with the replacement of the statue.
(4) Powers. In carrying out its duties, the committee may enter into contracts,
memorandums of understanding, and collaborative arrangements; seek, receive, and
expend private funding for the costs for replacing the statue; and undertake all other lawful
acts that are necessary to accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.
(5) Meetings. The chairperson shall call all meetings of the committee. The committee
may conduct such meetings at such places and at such times as it may deem necessary or
convenient to enable it to exercise fully and effectively its powers, perform its duties, and
accomplish the objectives and purposes of this resolution.
(6) Allowances, expenses, and funding.
(A) Except as provided in paragraphs (B) and (C) of this subsection, all costs of
implementation of the committee and its work shall come from private funds raised,
bequeathed, or granted to the committee.
(B) Legislative members of the committee shall receive the allowances provided for in
Code Section 28-1-8 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated. Such allowances shall
be paid from funds appropriated to the Senate and the House of Representatives.
(C) Members of the committee who are state officials, other than legislative members,
or state employees shall receive no compensation for their services on the committee, but
they may be reimbursed for expenses incurred by them in the performance of their duties
as members of the committee in the same manner as they are reimbursed for expenses in
their capacities as state officials or employees. Such expenses shall be paid from funds
appropriated to or otherwise available to the members' respective agencies.
(D) Members of the committee who are not legislators, state officials, or state employees
shall receive no compensation, allowances, or reimbursement for expenses.
(7) Abolishment. The committee shall stand abolished on December 1, 2025.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
(1) Upon the committee's selection of a location in the state for the statue of Alexander
Hamilton Stephens as provided in this resolution, the Governor shall submit a written
request to the Architect of the Capitol and the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress
for approval of the replacement of the statue of Alexander Hamilton Stephens with a statue
of President Jimmy Carter. Such request shall include a description of the location in the
state where the replaced statue will be displayed after it is transferred to the state and a
copy of this resolution authorizing the replacement.
(2) If the request is approved by the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress, the state
and the Architect of the Capitol shall enter into an agreement to carry out the replacement,
as provided in 2 U.S.C. § 2132(b).