Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Act
- Bill Number
- S. 675
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Arts, Culture, Religion
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-23: Held at the desk.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T21:21:21Z
AI-Generated Summary
Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Act
Purpose
This legislation authorizes federal support to establish the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, by providing grants and loaned artifacts to preserve materials on President Theodore Roosevelt and offer educational services about his life.
Key Provisions
- Grants: The Secretary of the Interior may award grants up to a total of $50,000,000 to the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation, subject to annual appropriations.
- Matching Requirement: Grants require the Foundation to first secure at least $100,000,000 from the State of North Dakota or non-federal sources.
- Use Restrictions: Grant funds cannot support ongoing maintenance or operations of the Library.
- Artifact Loans: The Secretary may enter agreements to loan historic, educational, artistic, natural, and museum artifacts from agencies under the Department of the Interior (including the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) to the Foundation without payment, subject to preservation conditions.
- Federal Role: Federal entities must have no involvement in Library operations unless requested by the non-federal operator.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This Act creates a new, targeted federal grant program and artifact loan authority specifically for this Library, distinct from standard presidential library processes managed through the National Archives and Records Administration. It introduces a 2:1 non-federal matching requirement and explicitly limits federal operational involvement.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enables the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to loan artifacts, potentially reducing display availability at federal sites while supporting external preservation.
- Citizens: Increases public access to Theodore Roosevelt-related materials and educational resources through a new facility.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders
- Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Foundation (primary recipient of grants and loans)
- State of North Dakota (potential funding source)
- Department of the Interior, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (administrative and artifact responsibilities)
- General public interested in Theodore Roosevelt history
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Requires advance appropriations, consistent with congressional budget processes under the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
- Establishes a non-federal library model with limited federal support, raising questions about long-term artifact stewardship and public access without full federal ownership.
- No explicit constitutional issues noted, though it involves federal property loans to a private foundation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-23: Held at the desk.
- 2026-06-23: Received in the House.
- 2026-06-23: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2026-06-22: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR S2981-2982)
- 2026-06-22: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-06-22: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2981-2984)
- 2026-06-22: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2026-06-22: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-02-20: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-02-20: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Act — issued 2026-06-22 — PDF (6 pages)
- Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library Museum Artifacts Act — issued 2025-02-20 — PDF (4 pages)