Stop Any Effort to Tear Down the Kennedy Center Memorial

CONGRESS MUST PROTECT THE KENNEDY CENTER AS A NATIONAL MEMORIAL As a constituent, I urge Congress to protect the physical integrity of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts as a national memorial created by federal law. Congress established the Kennedy Center in 1958 as the national memorial to President John F. Kennedy, and the structure itself carries profound historical, civic, and symbolic significance. Recent developments concerning the governance and future direction of the Kennedy Center have heightened public concern about the preservation of this national memorial. Any proposal to tear down, replace, or fundamentally alter the existing building would raise serious legal questions about Congress’s authority over national memorials and federal property. THE STRUCTURE ITSELF IS PART OF THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL The Kennedy Center is not simply a performing arts venue. Congress created it as the physical memorial honoring President Kennedy’s legacy of public service and cultural leadership. The building itself - its design, location, and presence along the Potomac River - forms an essential component of that memorial and of the national cultural landscape. Altering or replacing the structure would therefore affect a memorial created by Congress and held in trust for the American people. DEMOLITION OR STRUCTURAL REPLACEMENT REQUIRES CONGRESSIONAL AUTHORIZATION The Kennedy Center exists pursuant to federal statute (20 U.S.C. §76h et seq.) and occupies federally owned land. Because Congress created the memorial and retains authority over federal property, any proposal to demolish or substantially replace the structure falls squarely within Congress’s oversight responsibility. Congress also possesses constitutional authority over federal property under Article IV of the Constitution, reinforcing its responsibility to safeguard national memorials established by federal law. Allowing structural replacement to proceed without explicit Congressional authorization would weaken Congress’s role in protecting national memorials created by statute. NATIONAL MEMORIALS HAVE HISTORICALLY BEEN PROTECTED BY CONGRESS Throughout American history, Congress has exercised authority over the creation, preservation, and alteration of national memorials. Major structural changes to such memorials have traditionally required Congressional authorization because these sites represent the shared heritage of the nation. The Kennedy Center deserves the same careful oversight. DESTRUCTION OF A NATIONAL MEMORIAL DEMANDS PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY If any proposal arises to tear down or substantially replace the Kennedy Center building, the public deserves full transparency before such action proceeds. Congress should ensure that any proposal involving structural demolition or replacement is supported by engineering analysis, independent review, and public disclosure. These circumstances raise significant questions regarding statutory compliance, federal property authority, and preservation of a congressionally established national memorial that warrant Congressional attention. The integrity of congressionally established institutions is at stake when major structural decisions affecting national memorials are considered without clear Congressional authorization. National memorials created by Congress must not be demolished or fundamentally altered without clear Congressional authorization. CONGRESS MUST PROTECT A NATIONAL MEMORIAL CREATED BY FEDERAL LAW Because the Kennedy Center is a national memorial established by Congress, its preservation and physical integrity fall squarely within Congressional responsibility. As a matter of institutional responsibility, Congress should therefore: (1) Structural Assessment Require an independent assessment to determine whether demolition or major structural replacement of the Kennedy Center is necessary. (2) Memorial Preservation Review Direct an independent review addressing historic preservation considerations and the memorial status of the building. (3) Congressional Authorization Require explicit Congressional authorization before any demolition, teardown, or structural replacement of the Kennedy Center building proceeds. (4) GAO–CRS Review Direct the Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Research Service to examine governance authority and compliance with federal law governing national memorials. (5) Public Transparency Require disclosure of engineering studies, redevelopment proposals, and construction plans affecting the Kennedy Center structure. (6) Public Leadership Speak publicly in support of protecting the Kennedy Center as a national memorial created by Congress and affirm that Congress must authorize any attempt to tear down or replace the structure, helping ensure that the public understands the importance of preserving national memorials established by federal law. Because the Kennedy Center is a national memorial created by Congress, any decision to demolish or fundamentally replace the structure should occur only under clear Congressional authority and public accountability. Thank you.