No Funding to Honor Crime Scenes Act
- Sponsor
- Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
- Committees
- Energy and Natural Resources Committee (primary)
- Last action
- Apr 14, 2026
Bottom line
The bill seeks to terminate federal recognition, funding, and ownership of the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, selling its assets and reallocating funds to DNA analysis programs.
What it actually does
This bill mandates the closure of the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument in California, revoking the Presidential Proclamation that established it. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to dispose of all federally owned land and contents within the monument for fair market value within 90 days of enactment. Furthermore, it prohibits any additional federal funding for the monument and redirects any unobligated funds and proceeds from the sale to the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000.
Proponents argue
Proponents argue that federal funds should not be used to honor sites they deem inappropriate, as suggested by the bill's short title, 'No Funding to Honor Crime Scenes Act.' They may also contend that the federal government should not maintain certain national monuments, especially those established by executive action, and that redirecting funds to law enforcement priorities like DNA analysis backlog is a more responsible use of taxpayer money.
Opponents contend
Opponents contend that the bill is a politically motivated attack on the legacy of Cesar Chavez, a significant civil rights leader, and an attempt to erase an important part of American history. They argue that the monument serves as a vital educational and cultural site, and its closure and disposal would be a disservice to the public and the values it represents. Critics would also likely oppose the precedent of Congress unilaterally revoking a Presidential Proclamation establishing a national monument.
The bill is very short and clearly written, making it highly accessible for any reader to understand its core provisions quickly.
Section 1
Short Title: 'No Funding to Honor Crime Scenes Act'
This section establishes the official short title of the bill as the 'No Funding to Honor Crime Scenes Act.' This title explicitly conveys the legislative intent and the sponsor's perspective regarding the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, framing the monument in a controversial light.
Supporters argue
Proponents would argue that the short title accurately reflects their concerns about the site and the appropriate use of federal funds, serving as a clear statement of purpose for the legislation.
Critics contend
Opponents would argue that the title is inflammatory, disrespectful, and a deliberate attempt to mischaracterize the historical significance of Cesar Chavez and the monument, aiming to provoke rather than inform.
Tradeoffs
The title prioritizes a specific, critical viewpoint of the monument, potentially at the expense of broader historical recognition and bipartisan consensus on national heritage sites.
Section 2(b)
Removal of 'Cesar E. Chavez' from Monument References
This provision mandates that, effective immediately upon enactment, any federal law, regulation, map, document, or record that references the 'Cesar E. Chavez National Monument' shall have 'Cesar E. Chavez' struck from that reference. This effectively renames the monument by removing the honoree's name from all official federal documentation.
Section 2(c)
Closure of Federal Property within the Monument
This section mandates the immediate closure of all federal property within the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument to public access upon the bill's enactment. This means that the site, including the Cesar Chavez Home and Gravesite and Memorial Garden, would no longer be accessible to the public under federal management.
Section 2(d)
Revocation of Presidential Proclamation 8884
This provision declares that Presidential Proclamation 8884, issued on October 8, 2012, which established the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, shall have no force or effect upon the enactment of this Act. This directly nullifies the executive action that created the monument, effectively disestablishing it as a federal entity.
Section 2(e)
Defunding of the Monument
This section explicitly states that no additional federal funds may be appropriated to the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument. This provision ensures that, regardless of any other legal status or administrative actions, the monument will not receive any further financial support from the federal government.
Section 2(f)
Disposal of the Site for Fair Market Value
This section mandates that, within 90 days of the bill's enactment, the Secretary of the Interior must dispose of all federally owned land and contents within the monument (including the Cesar Chavez Home, Gravesite, Memorial Garden, and contents of Cesar Chavez's personal office) for fair market value. This requires a rapid sale of the property to non-federal entities.
Section 2(g)
Redirection of Funds and Proceeds to DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act
This section specifies that any unobligated federal funds previously appropriated for the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, along with all proceeds generated from the disposal of the site, shall be transferred and made available to carry out section 2 of the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000. This redirects resources from cultural preservation to law enforcement initiatives.
Redirects all unobligated funds and proceeds from the sale of the monument to the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000 (34 U.S.C. 40701).
Section 2(g)
Why it matters:This is standard legislative practice for specifying fund recipients, but its inclusion here serves a dual purpose of defunding the monument and simultaneously bolstering a different, often politically popular, federal program.
Case for: Proponents would argue this is a fiscally responsible reallocation of resources from a controversial monument to a vital law enforcement program that enhances public safety and justice.
Case against: Opponents might argue this specific redirection is a political maneuver to make the bill more palatable by associating it with a widely supported cause, distracting from the controversial nature of disestablishing a national monument.
Estimated impact: The impact would depend on the amount of unobligated funds and the fair market value of the monument, potentially providing a modest but direct financial boost to DNA analysis programs.