A bill to designate the General George C. Marshall House in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- S. 603
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-20: Held at the desk.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-28T20:03:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This act designates the General George C. Marshall House in Virginia as an affiliated area of the National Park System. The goal is to promote public appreciation of the historic contributions of U.S. military leader and statesman George Catlett Marshall, Jr.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Establishment and Description: The General George C. Marshall House is established as an affiliated area, consisting of the property generally depicted on the specified map titled "General George C. Marshall House, Proposed Affiliated Area" (numbered 999/189,974, dated September 2023).
- Administration: The area must be managed in line with this act and other laws that apply to National Park System units.
- Management Entity: The George C. Marshall International Center is designated to manage the affiliated area.
- Agreements with the Secretary of the Interior: The Secretary may offer technical assistance and enter cooperative agreements to support marketing, marking, interpretation, and preservation efforts. The Secretary must also create an agreement with the management entity outlining roles and responsibilities, aligned with National Park System policies.
- Limits on Federal Involvement: The Secretary cannot acquire any property at the site or take on overall financial responsibility for its operation, maintenance, or management.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
This legislation adds a new affiliated area to the National Park System without altering core statutes governing the system. It introduces a specific designation for this historic site, creating a structured partnership model for management while maintaining the site's private or non-federal ownership status.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The National Park Service gains a new affiliated site, allowing for technical support and interpretive collaboration, but with no new acquisition or funding obligations for the Secretary of the Interior.
- On Citizens: The public may benefit from enhanced access to historical information and preservation efforts at the site, potentially increasing educational opportunities about George C. Marshall's contributions.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts are specified, though the involvement of the George C. Marshall International Center could indirectly support awareness of Marshall's role in global history.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The George C. Marshall International Center, as the primary management entity responsible for daily operations and partnerships.
- The Secretary of the Interior and National Park Service, which provide oversight, technical help, and agreements but with limited authority.
- Residents and visitors in the Commonwealth of Virginia, who may see increased preservation and public access to the historic property.
- Broader public interested in U.S. military and diplomatic history.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The act emphasizes a cooperative, non-federal ownership model for the affiliated area, avoiding full federal control or expenditure. This approach aligns with existing National Park System practices for affiliated sites and raises no apparent constitutional issues, as it relies on voluntary agreements rather than mandatory federal acquisition or regulation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-20: Held at the desk.
- 2026-05-20: Received in the House.
- 2026-05-20: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2026-05-20: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2387; text: CR S2387)
- 2026-05-20: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-05-20: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-05-20: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-02-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-02-13: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- An Act To designate the General George C. Marshall House, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-05-20 — PDF (4 pages)
- To designate the General George C. Marshall House, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-02-13 — PDF (3 pages)