Bill Text: NJ SR104 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Condemns renaming John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-01 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [SR104 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-SR104-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator VIN GOPAL
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Condemns renaming John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
Whereas, In 1955, Congress passed and President Eisenhower signed into law the "National Cultural Center Act," which authorized the construction of the National Cultural Center in Washington, DC with funds raised by voluntary contributions; and
Whereas, President John F. Kennedy was a lifelong supporter and advocate of the arts and he helped raise substantial funding for the facility; and
Whereas, Two months after President Kennedy's assassination, Congress passed and President Johnson signed into law legislation changing the facility's name from the National Cultural Center to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and
Whereas, The legislation stated that the facility would serve as a living memorial to the former president; and
Whereas, The Kennedy Center is charged with presenting classical and contemporary performances from the United States and other countries and serves as both a tribute to the former president and a testament to America's commitment to the arts; and
Whereas, After President Trump entered office, he fired members of the Kennedy Center board, handpicked new board members, and became chair of the new board; and
Whereas, In December 2025, the board of the Kennedy Center voted to change the name of the center to the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and
Whereas, Shortly after the vote, workers added new lettering to the facility with the new name; and
Whereas, Renaming the facility raises legal questions because Congress established the name of the facility in statute and designated it as a living monument to President Kennedy and did not approve legislation to change the name; and
Whereas, Renaming the memorial dedicated to an assassinated president was a gross overstep by the board and a disgrace to the nation and the changes should be reversed immediately; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House condemns the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and urges for an immediate reversal of the name change.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice-President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, every member of Congress elected from this State, and to the Kennedy Center board.
STATEMENT
This Senate resolution condemns the renaming of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and urges for an immediate reversal of the name change.
In 1955, Congress passed and President Eisenhower signed into law the "National Cultural Center Act," which authorized the construction of the National Cultural Center in Washington, DC with funds raised by voluntary contributions. President John F. Kennedy was a lifelong supporter and advocate of the arts and he helped raise substantial funding for the facility. Two months after President Kennedy's assassination, Congress passed and President Johnson signed into law legislation changing the facility's name from the National Cultural Center to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and stating that the facility would serve as a living memorial to the former president.
After President Trump entered office, he fired members of the Kennedy Center board, handpicked new board members, and became chair of the new board. In December 2025, the board of the Kennedy Center voted to change the name of the center to the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Shortly after the vote, workers added new lettering to the facility with the new name.
Renaming the facility raises legal questions because Congress established the name of the facility in statute and designated it as a living monument to President Kennedy and did not approve legislation to change the name.
