Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 791
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-09: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T12:48:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to honor the legacy of Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice, by designating his childhood elementary school in Baltimore, Maryland, as a national historic site. This will preserve, protect, and interpret his contributions to civil rights for future generations, integrating the site as an affiliated area of the National Park System (NPS), which includes parks and historic places managed by the federal government.
Key Provisions
- Establishment of the Site: Creates the Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site, consisting solely of the building at 1315 Division Street (formerly Public School 103, now the Justice Thurgood Marshall School), as shown on a specific map.
- Ownership and Management: The site remains owned, operated, and managed by the Beloved Community Services Corporation, a nonprofit organization that has restored the building for use as a museum. This group serves as the "management entity."
- Administration and Support: The site must be managed in line with this act and general NPS laws. The Secretary of the Interior (head of the Department of the Interior, which oversees the NPS) can provide technical and financial assistance for preservation, interpretation, marketing, and marking, and must enter a cooperative agreement outlining roles. However, the Secretary cannot acquire the property or take over its full financial or operational responsibilities.
- Funding: Authorizes Congress to appropriate necessary funds to implement the act, primarily for assistance rather than direct management.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Builds on a 2019 NPS special resource study (completed in 2023) that deemed the school nationally significant and suitable for the NPS, but introduces a new affiliated status without federal ownership—unlike fully managed NPS units where the government typically owns and operates the land.
- No direct amendments to prior laws, but it expands the NPS's affiliated areas network, which allows non-federally owned sites to receive support while maintaining local control.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The NPS gains a limited role in supporting preservation and education at the site, potentially increasing administrative workload for cooperative agreements and assistance, but without added ownership costs or full management burdens.
- Citizens: Enhances public access to civil rights history through museum operations, education programs, and interpretation of Marshall's life, benefiting students, tourists, and communities in Baltimore and Maryland by promoting cultural heritage and tourism.
- International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic historical preservation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Beloved Community Services Corporation: Primary beneficiary as the owner and manager, gaining federal support for operations and preservation.
- National Park Service and Department of the Interior: Involved in oversight, technical aid, and funding allocation.
- Local Community and Public: Residents of Baltimore, Maryland, and visitors interested in civil rights history, education, and tourism.
- Broader Groups: Civil rights organizations, historians, and educators who may use the site for programming on racial justice and American history.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces federal support for historic preservation under the National Park Service Organic Act (which governs NPS units), emphasizing cooperative management to respect private ownership and avoid eminent domain issues. The affiliated status ensures compliance with NPS standards without federal takeover.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under the Property Clause (Article IV, Section 3) to manage federal lands and historic sites, promoting education and public welfare without infringing on private property rights.
- Political: Highlights recognition of African American contributions to U.S. law and civil rights, potentially advancing discussions on racial equity and historical commemoration in a politically divided context, while fostering bipartisan support for cultural preservation in Maryland.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Warner, Mark R. [D-VA]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-09: Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
- 2025-02-27: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2025 — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (6 pages)