Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 986
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T23:26:33Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill, titled the "Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act of 2025," aims to expand the boundaries of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park in Vermont and establish a new institute focused on conservation stewardship. It updates the original 1992 law that created the park to include additional land while preserving its historical, agricultural, and educational value.
Key Provisions
- Boundary Expansion (Section 2): Revises the park's boundaries using a new map dated August 2023. The park now includes:
- A historic zone with the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion, surrounding buildings, and part of the Mt. Tom area.
- A protection zone covering the Billings Farm and Museum.
- The King Farm, split between the historic and protection zones as decided by the Secretary of the Interior.
The map is available for public review at National Park Service offices.
- Land Acquisition (Section 3): Allows the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land or interests in land within the expanded boundaries through:
- Donations.
- Purchases from willing sellers using donated or federal funds.
- Transfers from other federal agencies.
- Exchanges of land.
For the King Farm specifically, acquisitions must include mutual access rights between the acquired land and the park. Once acquired, the King Farm can be used for:
- Agricultural and forestry activities (e.g., crop growing, tree harvesting, animal care) typical in Vermont.
- Conservation efforts that maintain its character as a working farm and forest.
- Educational programs on agriculture, forestry, conservation, and natural history.
- Scenic Zone Update (Section 4): Replaces the outdated 1991 scenic zone map with the new 2023 boundary map to align protections for surrounding viewsheds (landscapes visible from the park).
- National Park Service Stewardship Institute (Section 5): Creates a new program within the park called the National Park Service Stewardship Institute. Its goals are to:
- Promote stewardship practices through workshops, public events, and learning programs.
- Foster innovation in National Park Service operations via research, evaluation, and discussion.
- Share best practices and build skills in leadership, partnerships, and community involvement for conservation and resource management.
The institute will be run as part of the park's operations.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Expands the park's boundaries beyond the original 1992 definition, incorporating the King Farm and updating map references for accuracy.
- Broadens land acquisition options to include exchanges and federal transfers, which were not explicitly listed before, while emphasizing willing sellers and donations to avoid forced sales.
- Adds specific allowable uses for the new King Farm land, ensuring it supports ongoing farming and education rather than converting it fully to park-only restrictions.
- Introduces the Stewardship Institute as a dedicated program, shifting some park resources toward education and innovation in conservation (original law focused more on establishment and basic management).
- Redesignates sections 6–10 of the original act to 7–11 to accommodate the new institute section.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The National Park Service (NPS) will manage more land, potentially increasing operational costs for acquisitions and maintenance but also enhancing its role in education and conservation research. No direct impacts on international relations.
- Citizens and Local Communities: Vermont residents, especially farmers and educators near the park, gain opportunities for continued agricultural use of the King Farm and access to new learning programs. Park visitors may benefit from expanded historical and scenic areas, promoting tourism and environmental awareness.
- Broader Effects: Could boost local economy through tourism and education while preserving rural landscapes; minimal disruption to existing uses due to flexible land provisions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- National Park Service: Primary manager of the expanded park and new institute, responsible for acquisitions, operations, and programming.
- Landowners and Farmers: Particularly those connected to the King Farm, who retain rights for agricultural and forestry activities post-acquisition.
- Local Vermont Communities: Including the Billings Farm and Museum operators, who benefit from protection zones and educational enhancements.
- Visitors and Educators: Gained access to enriched historical, conservation, and stewardship experiences.
- Conservation Groups: Organizations focused on environmental protection may collaborate on institute programs and land management.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens federal authority over park lands under the Property Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article IV, Section 3), which allows Congress to regulate federal territories. Emphasizes voluntary acquisitions to respect private property rights, avoiding eminent domain (government seizure of private land for public use with compensation).
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; aligns with Congress's power to establish and manage national parks. Access rights for the King Farm ensure balanced use without infringing on free use of private-adjacent lands.
- Political: Supports bipartisan goals of expanding national parks for conservation and education, potentially appealing to environmental advocates and rural interests in Vermont. Could set a precedent for integrating working farms into park systems, influencing future land-use policies in historical sites.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-05 — PDF (6 pages)