Gateway Partnership Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 5254
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Passed House
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-17: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:42Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Gateway Partnership Act (H.R. 5254) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to enter into a limited agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation—a nonprofit organization that supports the park—to allow private events in specific buildings at Gateway Arch National Park. The goal is to enable these events while protecting the park's resources, ensuring public access, and allowing the government to recover related costs.
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- "Foundation" refers to the Gateway Arch Park Foundation.
- "Park" means Gateway Arch National Park in Missouri.
- "Park building" includes the Arch Visitor Center, Old Courthouse, and any other public-access building managed by the Secretary.
- "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.
- Pilot Agreement:
- The Secretary may enter into a one-time agreement lasting up to 5 years for the Foundation to host private events, potentially using park buildings.
- Events must align with the park's educational and historical purposes (e.g., commemorating westward expansion and civil rights) and not harm the park's appearance or operations.
- Terms and Conditions:
- Protects park resources by specifying event dates/times (with Foundation exclusivity in certain buildings), limiting events per month, requiring adequate National Park Service (NPS) staffing for safety, and mandating liability insurance that covers the U.S. government.
- Includes a clause shielding the federal government from lawsuits or claims related to injuries or damages from these events.
- Allows the Secretary to modify or cancel the agreement, as long as core protections remain.
- Private events cannot disrupt public access or occur in ways that degrade the park.
- Cost Recovery:
- The Secretary must charge fees to cover wear and tear on the park and buildings.
- All event-related costs (e.g., maintenance, utilities, security, staffing) can be recovered, overriding any conflicting laws.
- Other Elements:
- The NPS retains full authority to host its own events or issue permits to others.
- The agreement authority expires 7 years after enactment, terminating any active agreements.
- A "saving clause" preserves the Secretary's existing powers to issue special use permits.
- Within 4 years of enactment, the Secretary must report to Congress on operational impacts (e.g., visitor access, security) and financial outcomes (e.g., fees collected).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a targeted pilot for a nonprofit partnership to host private events, which may expand beyond standard NPS special use permits by allowing exclusivity in buildings and direct cost recovery without typical legal barriers.
- Explicitly permits overriding other laws for full cost recovery, potentially streamlining financial reimbursements not always available under prior NPS rules.
- Adds a sunset provision and mandatory congressional report, introducing time-limited experimentation and oversight not commonly specified in park management laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior and NPS gain flexibility for partnerships that could offset costs through fees, but must manage added staffing and reporting requirements. This may reduce financial burdens on federal budgets for park maintenance.
- Citizens: Park visitors might experience temporary restrictions on access during events, though provisions prioritize public use. Local communities could benefit from increased economic activity from private events without taxpayer costs.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the legislation focuses on domestic park management.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Gateway Arch Park Foundation: Gains exclusive rights to host events, potentially boosting fundraising and park support.
- Secretary of the Interior and NPS: Responsible for oversight, enforcement, and cost recovery; must balance event approvals with resource protection.
- Park Visitors and the Public: Affected by any event-related disruptions but protected by access safeguards.
- Event Organizers and Local Businesses: Private entities can host compatible events, possibly increasing tourism and revenue in the St. Louis area.
- Congressional Committees: Receive evaluation reports, influencing future park policy decisions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal liability protections (e.g., no government responsibility for event injuries) and enables broad cost recovery, which could set a precedent for similar nonprofit partnerships in other national parks. The saving clause ensures compatibility with existing NPS regulations on special uses.
- Constitutional: No major issues; aligns with Congress's authority over federal lands under the Property Clause of the Constitution, while respecting public access rights.
- Political: Promotes public-private collaboration for park funding, potentially appealing to bipartisan interests in efficient government and historic site preservation, but may raise concerns about commercialization if events limit free public enjoyment. The pilot's time limit allows testing without permanent commitment.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-17: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2026-03-16: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2026-03-16: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2519-2520)
- 2026-03-16: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2519-2520)
- 2026-03-16: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5254.
- 2026-03-16: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2519-2521)
- 2026-03-16: Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- 2026-03-02: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 461.
- 2026-03-02: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-536.
- 2026-03-02: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-536.
- 2026-01-22: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-01-22: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- 2026-01-22: Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
- 2025-12-02: Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 2025-11-25: Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
Bill Versions
- Gateway Partnership Act — issued 2026-03-16 — PDF (8 pages)
- Gateway Partnership Act of 2025 — issued 2025-09-10 — PDF (4 pages)
- Gateway Partnership Act — issued 2026-03-17 — PDF (6 pages)
- Gateway Partnership Act — issued 2026-03-02 — PDF (8 pages)