WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar joined Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA) in re-introducing a bicameral bill in the Senate and House to remove Confederate statues from the U.S. Capitol. The Confederate Monument Removal Act would remove all statues of people who voluntarily served the Confederate States of America from the National Statuary Hall Collection within 120 days.

“It is long overdue that we remove confederate statues from the Capitol of the United States of America,” Klobuchar said. “As we continue to fight racism and injustice, it is critical lawmakers answer with action. Our public spaces should represent our fight for liberty and justice for all — not hateful symbols of the Confederacy. ”

The National Statuary Hall Collection was created in 1864 with a law that allows states to select two statues of deceased individuals to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Under the Confederate Monument Removal Act, states can reclaim Confederate statues that are currently part of the National Statuary Hall Collection. Statues that are not reclaimed by states would be turned over to the Smithsonian.

The Confederate Monument Removal Act is also cosponsored by Senators Schumer (D-NY), Bennet (D-CO), Blumenthal (D-CT), Brown (D-OH), Coons (D-DE), Duckworth (D-IL), Durbin (D-IL), Harris (D-CA), Hirono (D-HI), Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), Sanders (D-NH), Schatz (D-HI), Van Hollen (D-MD) and Warren (D-MA).

Full text of the bill is available here.

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