HR1352-119

What This Bill Does

This bill establishes the General George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, Virginia as an affiliated area of the National Park System. The affiliated area follows the September 2023 map titled "General George C. Marshall House, Proposed Affiliated Area" and is managed by the George C. Marshall International Center. The Interior Secretary may provide technical assistance and enter into cooperative agreements for financial assistance related to marketing, marking, interpretation, and preservation. The Secretary must enter into an agreement with the management entity defining management roles and responsibilities consistent with National Park System policies and standards. The bill also sets limits: Interior may not acquire property at the affiliated area, may not assume operation, maintenance, or management responsibility, may not affect adjacent private property land-use rights, and may not create buffer zones outside the Marshall House. A management plan must be completed within 3 years after funds are made available.

Who Benefits and How

The George C. Marshall International Center benefits because it becomes the management entity for a National Park System affiliated area and can receive Interior technical assistance and cooperative-agreement support. Visitors and educators benefit because the Marshall House gains federal recognition, interpretation, marking, and preservation support. Leesburg and Virginia heritage tourism benefit from the site's elevated National Park System affiliation. Preservation advocates benefit from a management plan and standards tied to National Park System policies. Adjacent private property owners benefit from explicit protections against federal land acquisition, buffer zones, or restrictions based merely on activities visible or audible from the site.

Who Bears the Burden and How

The Interior Secretary must negotiate a management agreement and complete a management plan within 3 years after funds are made available. The George C. Marshall International Center must manage the affiliated area consistently with the Act and generally applicable National Park System law. Interior and National Park Service staff must provide technical assistance and administer any cooperative agreements if used. The federal government is limited because it cannot acquire property or assume operational, maintenance, or management responsibility for the site.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the General George C. Marshall House as a National Park System affiliated area.
• Designates the George C. Marshall International Center as the management entity.
• Authorizes Interior technical assistance and cooperative agreements for marketing, marking, interpretation, and preservation.
• Requires a management agreement defining federal and management-entity roles.
• Prohibits Interior from acquiring property or assuming operation, maintenance, or management responsibility.
• Protects adjacent private property rights and bars creation of buffer zones.
• Requires a management plan within 3 years after funds are made available.