[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1581 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1581
To establish the Fort Monroe National Historical Park in the
Commonwealth of Virginia, and for other purposes.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 25, 2025
Mr. Scott of Virginia (for himself, Mr. Wittman, Ms. McClellan, and
Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
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A BILL
To establish the Fort Monroe National Historical Park in the
Commonwealth of Virginia, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fort Monroe National Historical Park
Establishment Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Commonwealth.--The term ``Commonwealth'' means the
Commonwealth of Virginia.
(2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map titled ``Fort
Monroe National Historical Park Proposed Boundary'', numbered
250/193734, and dated June 2024.
(3) Historical park.--The term ``Historical Park'' means
the Fort Monroe National Historical Park established by section
(3)(a).
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF FORT MONROE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
(a) In General.--There is established the Fort Monroe National
Historical Park in the Commonwealth to preserve the historic, natural,
and recreational resources of Fort Monroe and interpret for the benefit
of present and future generations--
(1) Old Point Comfort, its relationship to the voyages of
Captain John Smith, its location as the first entry place of
captive Africans into English North America, its use for
successive fortifications, and its role in the War of 1812;
(2) the development and use of Fort Monroe as a coastal
defense facility and artillery training center, including its
military and community life;
(3) the fort's role in the Civil War, including the 1861
Contraband Decision providing a pathway to freedom for those
escaping enslavement during that war, and the formation and
service of United States Colored Troop units stationed at Fort
Monroe;
(4) persons and events associated with the fort, which
contributed to its and the Nation's history, and their
relevance to modern society; and
(5) the natural and recreational resource values associated
with Fort Monroe.
(b) Abolishment of National Monument.--The Fort Monroe National
Monument, established by Presidential Proclamation 8750 of November 1,
2011 (54 U.S.C. 320301 note), is abolished and all land or interests in
land therein are incorporated into, and shall be considered to be part
of, the Historical Park.
(c) Availability of Funds.--Any unobligated funds available for
purposes of the Fort Monroe National Monument shall be available for
purposes of the Historical Park.
(d) References.--Any reference in a law, regulation, document,
record, map, or other paper of the United States to Fort Monroe
National Monument shall be deemed to be a reference to ``Fort Monroe
National Historical Park''.
SEC. 4. BOUNDARY; ACQUISITION OF LAND.
(a) Boundary.--The boundary of the Historical Park shall be as
generally depicted on the Map.
(b) Availability of Map.--The Map shall be on file and available
for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park
Service.
(c) Acquisition of Land.--The Secretary may acquire land, including
interests in land, within the boundaries of the Historical Park by
donation, transfer, exchange, or purchase from a willing seller using
donated or appropriated funds.
SEC. 5. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer the Historical Park
in accordance with--
(1) this Act; and
(2) the laws generally applicable to units of the National
Park System, including--
(A) section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections
100751(a), 100752, 100753 and 102101 of title 54,
United States Code; and
(B) chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code.
(b) Federal, Commonwealth, and Local Jurisdiction.--
(1) Federal authority.--Except as otherwise provided in
this Act, nothing shall enlarge, diminish or modify any
authority of the United States to carry out Federal laws and
regulations on Federal land located within the boundary of the
Historical Park.
(2) Commonwealth authority.--Nothing in this Act enlarges,
diminishes, or modifies any authority of the Commonwealth, or
any political subdivision of the Commonwealth--
(A) to exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction
unless an agreement for concurrent jurisdiction is
executed and modifies Commonwealth or local government
jurisdiction in any way; or
(B) to carry out Commonwealth laws, regulations and
rules on non-Federal land located within the boundary
of the Historical Park.
(c) No Net Loss of Commonwealth Owned Buildings and Structures.--In
the event of loss or authorized demolition of buildings or structures
within the Fort Monroe National Historic Landmark District, replacement
of the square footage from such loss or demolition shall be permitted
provided that such construction complies with the Secretary's Standards
for the Treatment of Historic Properties, and section 306108 of title
54, United States Code (formerly section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act), as applicable.
(d) Authorization of Ex-Officio Appointments.--The Superintendent
of the Historical Park is authorized to serve as an ex-officio member
of such boards or committees affecting Fort Monroe that the Secretary
considers beneficial to the preservation of Historical Park resources
and which further the interpretive or educational purposes of the
Historical Park.
(e) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary may enter into
cooperative agreements with the Commonwealth or other public or private
entities to identify, interpret, and provide financial and technical
assistance for the preservation of non-Federal resources within the
boundary of the Historical Park and outside of the boundary in close
proximity to the Historical Park provided that--
(1) any cooperative agreement entered into to provide
assistance to non-Federal land shall provide for reasonable
public access to the non-Federal land;
(2) no changes or alterations shall be made to the exterior
of the properties except by mutual agreement of the other
parties to the agreements; and
(3) the Federal share of the total cost of any activity
carried out under the agreement shall be not more than 50
percent, with in-kind contributions or goods or services fairly
valued authorized, as appropriate, for the non-Federal share.
(f) Adaptive Reuse.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
inhibit the Commonwealth from providing for the adaptive reuse of the
interior of any non-federally owned historic resource in accordance
with the Secretary's Standards for the Treatment of Historic
Properties.
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