Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1718
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-04T08:08:15Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to honor Justice Thurgood Marshall's legacy in civil rights by designating his childhood elementary school in Baltimore, Maryland, as a national historic site. It seeks to preserve, protect, and interpret the site's historical significance for public education and future generations, while integrating it as an affiliated area of the National Park System (a network of protected historic and natural sites managed by the federal government).
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Site: Creates the Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site, consisting of the building at 1315 Division Street (formerly Public School 103), as shown on a specified map. The site is an "affiliated area," meaning it is linked to the National Park System but not directly owned or fully managed by the federal government.
- Ownership and Management: The Beloved Community Services Corporation, a nonprofit organization, retains ownership, operation, and management of the school (which it has restored as a museum). The corporation serves as the official management entity.
- Federal Role: The Secretary of the Interior (head of the Department of the Interior, which oversees the National Park Service) can provide technical and financial assistance for preservation, interpretation, marketing, and marking through cooperative agreements. An agreement must outline shared roles, ensuring management aligns with National Park System standards. However, the federal government cannot acquire the property or take on full financial responsibility for operations or maintenance.
- Funding: Authorizes Congress to appropriate necessary funds to implement the act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This bill introduces a new affiliated unit to the National Park System, building on a 2019 congressional authorization for a National Park Service study (completed in 2023) that deemed the site nationally significant and suitable for inclusion.
- It does not amend prior laws but expands the National Park System's scope by adding a civil rights-related historic site without direct federal land acquisition, differing from fully federally managed parks.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The National Park Service gains a limited advisory and support role, potentially increasing its workload for assistance and oversight without major new costs or property management burdens.
- Citizens: Enhances public access to civil rights history through preserved educational exhibits at the school-museum, benefiting visitors, students, and communities interested in African American heritage. It may boost local tourism in Baltimore.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic historical preservation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Beloved Community Services Corporation: Primary beneficiary, receiving federal support while maintaining control over the site.
- National Park Service/Secretary of the Interior: Involved in technical, financial, and interpretive assistance.
- Local Community and Public: Baltimore residents, educators, and civil rights advocates gain a federally recognized site for learning about Thurgood Marshall's life and contributions.
- Congress and Taxpayers: Responsible for funding appropriations to support the site's operations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the National Park Service's authority to manage affiliated areas under existing laws (e.g., the National Park Service Organic Act), emphasizing cooperative partnerships with nonprofits. No provisions for eminent domain or property seizure, respecting private ownership.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to establish post offices and post roads (extended to historic preservation) and promote general welfare through cultural education; no apparent conflicts with property rights or free speech.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan recognition of civil rights milestones, potentially fostering national dialogue on racial justice and historical equity. It underscores federal support for preserving African American history without imposing new regulatory burdens.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (20)
Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (6 pages)