People’s White House Historic Preservation Act
Summary
The "People’s White House Historic Preservation Act" (H.R. 6761) aims to amend Title 54 of the United States Code. It seeks to apply certain requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act to the White House. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives and referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to subject the White House and its grounds to the same historic preservation requirements as other nationally recognized historic sites. This could impact future renovations, modifications, or alterations to the White House, requiring adherence to specific preservation standards.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced Preservation: Ensures the White House, a significant historical landmark, is preserved according to established standards.
- Transparency: Increases public awareness and oversight of any changes or modifications to the White House.
- Cultural Heritage: Reinforces the importance of preserving national cultural heritage for future generations.
- Accountability: Holds decision-makers accountable for adhering to preservation guidelines.
- Public Access: Could potentially lead to increased opportunities for public engagement and education regarding the White House's history.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Bureaucratic Hurdles: May create additional layers of bureaucracy and regulatory processes for any future White House renovations or modifications.
- Increased Costs: Compliance with preservation requirements could lead to increased costs for maintenance and upgrades.
- Flexibility Limitations: Could limit the flexibility of future administrations to make necessary changes to the White House to meet modern needs.
- Potential Delays: Preservation reviews and approvals could potentially delay necessary repairs or upgrades.
- Legal Challenges: Could open the door to legal challenges from preservation groups regarding any proposed changes to the White House.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the general welfare clause of the Constitution, as it aims to preserve a national landmark for future generations. Specifically, the preamble states the intention to "promote the general Welfare".
However, the Constitution does not explicitly address historic preservation. The legislative power to enact such a law falls under the implied powers of Congress to legislate for the general welfare and manage federal property under Article I, Section 8.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).