Bi-partisan bill to rename a street adjacent to a Chinese government building in Washington, DC
News from Washington, DC.
Last week a bi-partisan bill to rename a street adjacent to a Chinese government building in Washington, DC, “Jimmy Lai Way,” was introduced in Congress, following the January 26 piece in The Hill by Nina Shea, that proposed that Congress do precisely that to “honor [Lai’s] heroism in defending cherished principles of freedom”: Rename the Chinese Embassy’s address to honor a Hong Kong hero | The Hill
In May, Hong Kong political prisoner and free press entrepreneur Jimmy Lai will begin his sixth month on trial before a special national security court. Almost certain to end in conviction, the political show trial could result a lengthy, even life, term in prison for Lai.
The relevant action clauses of the new bill, introduced by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY), are as follows:
118TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8125
A BILL
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES A BILL To designate the area between the intersections of 18th Street Northwest and Church Street Northwest, and 18th Street Northwest and P Street Northwest, in the District of Columbia as ‘‘Jimmy Lai Way’’, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
… .
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF ‘‘JIMMY LAI WAY’’ IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
(a) DESIGNATION OF STREET NAME.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The area between the intersections of 18th Street Northwest and Church Street Northwest, and 18th Street Northwest and P Street Northwest in the District of Columbia shall be known and designated as ‘‘Jimmy Lai Way’’.
(2) REFERENCE.—Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the area referred to in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to include ‘‘Jimmy Lai Way.’’
(b) DESIGNATION OF ADDRESS.—
DESIGNATION.—The address of 1520 18th Street Northwest in the District of Columbia shall be redesignated as 1 Jimmy Lai Way Northwest.
(2) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the address referred to in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be a reference to 1 Jimmy Lai Way Northwest.
(c) SIGNS.—The Administrator of General Services shall construct street signs that shall—
contain the phrase ‘‘Jimmy Lai Way NW’’;
(2) be similar in design to the signs used by the District of Columbia to designate the location of Metro stations; and
(3) be placed on—
(A) the parcel of Federal property that is closest to 1 Jimmy Lai Way Northwest (as redesignated by subsection (b)(1)) in the District of Columbia; and
(B) the street corners of 18th Street Northwest and Church Street Northwest, and 18th Street Northwest and P Street Northwest, in the District of Columbia. … .