National Historical Park and National Historic Landmark Establishment and Boundary Adjustments Act of 2025

Bill Number

S. 3490

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Passed Senate

Latest Action

2025-12-17: Held at the desk.

Last Updated

2025-12-18T12:43:04Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This legislation aims to preserve and promote U.S. historical sites related to World War II and its global impacts. It establishes a national historical park in New York to commemorate Holocaust refugees and designates a museum in Missouri as a national historic landmark focused on Winston Churchill, while also initiating a study for potential further protections.

Key Provisions

• Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park (Section 2):
• Establishes the park in Oswego, New York, as a unit of the National Park System.
• Focuses on preserving resources tied to the 982 refugees sheltered there from 1944 to 1946 during World War II.
• Requires the Secretary of the Interior to acquire sufficient land (via donation, purchase, or exchange) before official establishment; state-owned land can only be acquired by donation.
• Allows cooperative agreements with New York State and other entities for interpretation, education, restoration, and public access.
• Mandates a general management plan within three years of funding availability, following standard National Park Service (NPS) guidelines.

• America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark (Section 3):
• Designates the museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri—including the Winston Churchill Memorial (already on the National Register of Historic Places)—as a National Historic Landmark (NHL).
• Permits the Secretary to enter cooperative agreements with Missouri, local governments, and the college for resource protection, education, and public programs, including technical and financial assistance.
• Clarifies that the designation does not restrict property owners' rights or alter current administration by state, local, or private entities.
• Requires a special resource study within three years of funding, evaluating the site's national significance, suitability for NPS inclusion, preservation alternatives (e.g., by federal, state, local, or private groups), and associated costs; results to be reported to Congress.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new NPS unit (the Fort Ontario park), expanding the National Park System with boundaries based on an approved map (dated September 2024).
• Elevates the Churchill Museum from its current National Register status to NHL designation, which recognizes sites of exceptional national importance but does not impose federal ownership or restrictions.
• Introduces a mandated study for the Churchill site, potentially leading to future NPS integration or other protections, in line with existing NPS study protocols (e.g., under 54 U.S.C. § 100507).
• No major overhauls to broader NPS laws; aligns with and references existing statutes for administration, land acquisition, and planning (e.g., 54 U.S.C. chapters 1003 and 3201).

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior and NPS will gain new responsibilities for park management, land acquisition, and study coordination, potentially increasing federal spending on preservation (though acquisitions emphasize donations). Cooperative agreements could reduce direct federal costs by partnering with states and locals.
• On Citizens: Enhances public access to educational sites about WWII history, refugee experiences, and Churchill's legacy (e.g., his "Iron Curtain" speech in Fulton), fostering tourism and historical awareness in New York and Missouri.
• On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, but the sites highlight U.S. roles in WWII humanitarian efforts and Cold War origins, potentially strengthening cultural ties with Holocaust survivor communities and U.K. allies through interpretive programs.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Federal Government: Secretary of the Interior and NPS (primary administrators and funders).
• State and Local Governments: New York (Oswego area) and Missouri (Fulton), involved in land donations, cooperative agreements, and local management.
• Private and Educational Entities: Westminster College (museum owner), non-profits, and historical societies benefiting from assistance and partnerships.
• Public and Visitors: General citizens, educators, and tourists interested in WWII and Holocaust history.
• Refugee and Historical Communities: Descendants of the Fort Ontario refugees and Churchill-related groups, gaining formalized recognition.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces NPS authority under Title 54 of the U.S. Code for historic preservation without eminent domain for state lands, emphasizing voluntary acquisitions to respect property rights. The NHL designation provides prestige and potential funding eligibility but imposes no regulatory burdens (a key protection for private owners).
• Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's property clause authority (Article IV, Section 3) to manage federal lands and promote historical education; no apparent First Amendment or takings clause issues due to non-restrictive cooperative approaches.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (e.g., Senators Hawley, Gillibrand, Schumer, Schmitt) signals broad support for cultural heritage; could influence future NPS expansions amid debates on federal spending and historical narratives, but remains non-controversial as it focuses on commemoration rather than policy changes.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]

Cosponsors (3)

Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Schmitt, Eric [R-MO]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-17: Held at the desk.
• 2025-12-17: Received in the House.
• 2025-12-17: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
• 2025-12-16: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8755-8757; text: CR S8755-8756)
• 2025-12-16: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
• 2025-12-16: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• National Historical Park and National Historic Landmark Establishment and Boundary Adjustments Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-16 — PDF (9 pages)
• National Historical Park and National Historic Landmark Establishment and Boundary Adjustments Act of 2025 — issued 2025-12-16 — PDF (10 pages)