Common Sense 250 Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill allows a new monument for Thomas Paine to be built in a prime location in Washington, D.C. It specifically places the memorial in Area I, which includes the National Mall and surrounding historic areas.
• Thomas Paine was a famous writer during the American Revolution who wrote the pamphlet Common Sense. Supporters call him an unsung Founding Father and want his memorial in a prominent spot to honor his role in American history.
• Usually, there are strict rules about where new monuments can go in the capital. This law would skip some of those standard requirements to make sure the Paine monument gets this specific, high-profile location.
• The monument itself was already authorized by a previous law passed in 2023. This new bill is focused on finalizing the exact neighborhood where it will stand so construction planning can move forward.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.