Thomas Paine Memorial moves one step closer to prestigious DC location

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The effort to bring Thomas Paine the recognition he deserves as a Founder and patriot moved another significant step forward when on September 15, 2026, the House Committee om Natural Resources (HCNR) unanimously voted to support the Common Sense 250 Act of 2026 (H.R. 9600) – legislation to authorize the Thomas Paine Memorial Association (TPMA) to place its memorial in Area One of Washington, D.C.

For TPMA, this moment is a milestone on its long journey through the federal memorial process, securing an appropriate location, building bipartisan congressional support, and making the case that Thomas Paine belongs among the historic figures commemorated in the nation’s capital. The legislation now moves to the next stage of the congressional process.

H.R. 9600 was introduced by Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08) and Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (R-IN-05). The bill would approve the location of the Thomas Paine memorial within Area One, which is a portion of Washington reserved for honoring individuals and subjects of preeminent historical and lasting significance to the United States.

The…