119-S-2369 Journalist Public Summary

Public Summary — Document 119-S-2369

Headline Summary: Remove Francis Newlands’s name from the Chevy Chase Circle memorial fountain managed by the National Park Service, with removed items offered to his descendants or placed in a park museum collection. [3]Congress.gov / Library of Congress — Text of S.2369 — Francis G. Newlands Memor…[4]National Park Service — Senator Newlands Memorial (Chevy Chase Circle)

What It Does: The bill directs the Interior Secretary to (1) remove the brass plaque naming “Senator Francis G. Newlands,” (2) remove the stone projection and inscription naming him, (3) remove or permanently conceal “Newlands” carved on the coping stones, and (4) offer the removed items to Newlands’s descendants for 60 days before accessioning them into the Rock Creek Park museum collection. [3]Congress.gov / Library of Congress — Text of S.2369 — Francis G. Newlands Memor…

Why It Matters: Newlands was a Nevada senator and founder of Chevy Chase; while known for the 1902 Reclamation Act, he also openly advanced white supremacist and segregationist views. The fountain’s praise of his “statesmanship” has long drawn local objections, and officials have argued that because Congress created the memorial, changing it requires an act of Congress—hence this bill. [4]National Park Service — Senator Newlands Memorial (Chevy Chase Circle)[5]Washington Post — D.C. neighborhood votes to remove plaque honoring white supre…[6]Washington Post — Norton, Raskin to introduce bill to remove Newlands’s name fr…

• Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D‑MD), the sponsor, says the federal government should not continue to honor Newlands; earlier he and Sen. Ben Cardin backed similar removal legislation. [7]Web search · turn 0 #2[8]Washington Post — Van Hollen, Cardin introduce bill to remove Francis G. Newlan…
• Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D‑DC) and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D‑MD) have pushed related measures since 2020, arguing the memorial honors an avowed segregationist. [6]Washington Post — Norton, Raskin to introduce bill to remove Newlands’s name fr…[9]Office of Rep. Jamie Raskin — Press release: Norton, Raskin announce bill to re…
• Local support has come from the Chevy Chase Advisory Neighborhood Commission and Montgomery County officials, who voted to remove the plaque/name and urged congressional action. [5]Washington Post — D.C. neighborhood votes to remove plaque honoring white supre…[8]Washington Post — Van Hollen, Cardin introduce bill to remove Francis G. Newlan…

• Some local residents and several Newlands descendants oppose renaming/removal, saying it erases history or that the fountain recognizes development achievements rather than racist views. [5]Washington Post — D.C. neighborhood votes to remove plaque honoring white supre…

What’s Next: As of December 10, 2025, S. 2369 remains in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; the Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on December 9, 2025. The next steps would typically be a subcommittee and full committee markup, potential Senate floor consideration, then House action on identical language before it could go to the President. [1]Congress.gov / Library of Congress — All Information (Except Text) for S.2369 —…[2]U.S. Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee — National Parks Subcommittee…

Tone: Neutral, factual, and easy to read.