# What This Bill Does

This bill authorizes the creation of a new national garden called the National Garden of American Heroes to celebrate America's 250th birthday in 2026. Think of it as a statuary park—essentially an outdoor space filled with statues and monuments honoring various American figures and groups. The White House Task Force on Celebrating America's 250th Birthday would be responsible for planning, building, and getting the garden up and running.

The bill sets an ambitious timeline, requiring construction to start by July 4, 2026, though this depends on getting approval from the Secretary of the Interior for the location first. The garden could be built on federal land (like in Washington, D.C.'s National Mall area) or on land purchased from private owners, states, local governments, or tribes. Unlike some existing memorial restrictions, this garden can honor any individual or group of individuals—giving the Task Force broad flexibility in deciding who gets commemorated.

To pay for this project, the bill creates a special fund that will collect private donations and investments. The government won't directly fund construction through regular tax dollars; instead, it relies on private contributions. Once the garden opens to the public, the National Park Service will take over maintenance. If private donations aren't enough to keep the garden maintained, the Park Service can charge visitors an entrance fee. The bill also requires the Task Force to report to Congress every 60 days about progress, location decisions, design plans, budgets, and timelines until the garden opens, then ongoing reports about operations and maintenance.