September 19, 2025
Mr. Baumgartner introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To co-designate the Arlington Memorial Bridge as the United States-Mexican War Memorial
, to authorize limited interpretive enhancements, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the United States–Mexican War Memorial Act of 2025
.
Sec. 2. Findings and purpose
(a) Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
The United States–Mexican War (1846–1848) concluded with the signing of Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848, reshaping the territorial contours of the United States and Mexico and establishing a durable peace through treaty.
(2)
The war profoundly influenced American military, political, and civic life and is a significant chapter in the Nation’s history that merits national-level recognition.
(3)
Administered by the National Park Service, Arlington Memorial Bridge spans the Potomac River to connect the Lincoln Memorial with Arlington House, The Robert E. Lee Memorial, making it an appropriate site for a co-designation that reflects national reunion after the Civil War and the United States east-west expansion to a continental, industrial power.
(4)
As the Nation approaches the 250th anniversary of its independence in 2026, Congress seeks to elevate under-recognized chapters of American history and advance historical literacy through prudent, low-cost commemorative actions on existing Federal sites.
(5)
There is no national memorial established by Congress on Federal land in the National Capital region dedicated to the United States–Mexican War; a co-designation of an existing federally owned commemorative setting provides a practical means to establish a national focus for commemoration without affecting transportation operations.
(b) Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to establish a national commemorative focus on the United States–Mexican War through a co-designation of an existing federally owned commemorative setting, with minimal physical alterations and no effect on transportation functions.
Sec. 3. Co-designation of Arlington Memorial Bridge
(a) Co-Designation
Arlington Memorial Bridge, spanning the Potomac River between the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia, is hereby co-designated as the United States–Mexican War Memorial
(in this Act referred to as the Memorial
).
(b) Administration
The Secretary of the Interior (in this Act referred to as the Secretary
), acting through the National Park Service, shall administer the co-designation established by subsection (a).
(c) Rule of construction
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to—
(1)
change the official name of Arlington Memorial Bridge;
(2)
alter or impede the bridge’s transportation or safety functions;
(3)
modify existing jurisdictional responsibilities regarding the operation, maintenance, or repair of the bridge; or
(4)
create any right or cause of action.
Sec. 4. Ceremonies and public observances
The Secretary may plan, develop, and execute ceremonies and public observances to recognize the co-designation made by section 3.
Sec. 5. Limited commemorative enhancements
(a) Authority
To further honor the service and sacrifice of participants in the United States–Mexican War and to interpret the war’s causes, course, and consequences (including the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo), the Secretary may install at, on, or immediately adjacent to Arlington Memorial Bridge appropriate commemorative elements limited to interpretive signage, plaques, and landscaping.
(b) Limitations
Commemorative elements authorized under subsection (a)—
(1)
shall be consistent with division A of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code (commonly known as the National Historic Preservation Act
) and the National Environmental Policy Act;
(2)
shall not materially alter the historic character, architectural features, or structural integrity of Arlington Memorial Bridge; and
(3)
shall not interfere with or encroach upon any existing commemorative work.
Sec. 6. Applicability of the Commemorative Works Act; waivers
(a) In general
Except as provided in subsection (b), chapter 89 of title 40, United States Code (commonly known as the Commemorative Works Act
), applies to commemorative enhancements authorized by section 5.
(b) Waivers
(1) Site selection
Section 8905 of title 40, United States Code, shall not apply with respect to the selection of the site for the Memorial by reason of the co-designation effected by section 3.
(2) Certain conditions
Section 8908(b) of title 40, United States Code, shall not apply to the designations or commemorative enhancements authorized by this Act.
Sec. 7. Funding; donations; excess funds
(a) No Federal funds for enhancements
No Federal funds may be obligated or expended for the design, procurement, preparation, installation, or maintenance of commemorative elements authorized under section 5.
(b) Donations
The Secretary may accept and expend contributions of non-Federal funds and in-kind donations for the purposes of this Act.
(c) Maintenance amount
Amounts received for commemorative elements shall include the maintenance and preservation amount required by section 8906(b)(1) of title 40, United States Code.
(d) Excess funds
If, after payment of all expenses (including the amount required by section 8906(b)(1) of such title), there remains a balance of funds received for the purposes of this Act, the Secretary shall deposit such balance with the National Park Foundation in a separate account to be available to the Secretary in accordance with section 8906(b)(4) of such title.
(e) No effect on transportation funding
Nothing in this Act prohibits the use of Federal-aid highway, National Park Service, or other Federal funds for the operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, repair, safety improvements, or replacement of Arlington Memorial Bridge or its approaches, except with respect to the commemorative elements authorized by section 5.
Sec. 8. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Commemorative work
The term commemorative work has the meaning given that term in section 8902 of title 40, United States Code.
(2) Secretary
The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.