# 119-s-5603: Protecting Presidential Memorials Act

119-s-5603, Protecting Presidential Memorials Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR); status in_committee (as of 2026-10-22).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5603
- As of: 2026-10-22
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5603
- Congress: 119
- Title: Protecting Presidential Memorials Act
- Status: in_committee
- Introduced: 2026-09-29
- Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 4
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-22

## Summary

**This bill would bar demolition of presidential memorials designated by an Act of Congress unless Congress explicitly authorizes such demolition.** It defines "demolish" as intentionally razing, destroying, or wrecking an entire building or structure or a substantial portion of one.

## Cosponsors (4)

- Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK), 2026-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] (D-RI), 2026-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (D-MD), 2026-09-29T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Ban on demolishing congressional presidential memorials: benefit, low. If enacted, this bill would bar demolishing a memorial that honors a U.S. President when Congress designated it. The bill would define "demolish" as intentionally razing, destroying, or wrecking an entire structure or a substantial part. Demolition would be allowed only if Congress later passed an…

## Related bills

- 119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026
- 119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025
- 119-s-2823: FAMILY Act
- 119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act
- 119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act
- 119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5603 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5603)

## Related
- [119-s-3990: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3990)
- [119-s-1241: Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1241)
- [119-s-2823: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2823)
- [119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2763)
- [119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3869)
- [119-s-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-51)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5603 (as of 2026-10-22).