Sponsors (10)
The bill protects and interprets Fort Monroe and expands preservation and public access—bringing educational, environmental, and conservation benefits—while increasing federal involvement that can restrict local control and impose costs or conditions on taxpayers and property owners.
Visitors, students, and the public gain preserved historic and natural resources and improved interpretation (including Fort Monroe’s role and the 1861 Contraband Decision), expanding educational and recreational opportunities.
Homeowners, nonprofits, and local/state governments have a voluntary pathway to expand park protections through donations or federal purchases and can access federal preservation assistance, leveraging local and private investment for conservation.
Residents, property owners, and officials gain clearer legal certainty about the park boundary and who administers the park by naming a specific map on file and specifying the Secretary of the Interior as the responsible official.
Local governments and homeowners may face reduced control and uncertainty over land use and neighborhood character because federal management, a fixed dated boundary map, and future federal acquisitions could limit local planning and development options.
Taxpayers, local governments, and property owners could bear increased costs for long‑term maintenance, interpretation, land purchases, and preservation work (including higher construction costs to meet federal standards), and the capped 50% federal share may leave substantial financial burdens locally.
Homeowners and nonprofit owners receiving federal assistance may face limits on property control—requirements for reasonable public access, restrictions on exterior alterations without mutual agreement, and mandatory preservation standards that can slow projects and constrain design choices.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Establishes Fort Monroe as a National Historical Park, replaces the national monument, sets the boundary, authorizes willing‑seller land acquisition, and defines administration and partnership rules.
Introduced February 25, 2025 by Robert C. Scott · Last progress February 25, 2025
Creates a new Fort Monroe National Historical Park in Virginia to preserve and interpret the site’s historic, natural, and recreational resources. The bill replaces the existing Fort Monroe National Monument, transfers any unobligated monument funds to the new park, defines the park boundary by a referenced map, and lets the Interior Department acquire land or interests from willing sellers to support the park. Requires the National Park Service to manage the park under laws that govern the National Park System, preserves federal law enforcement on federal land, maintains state and local jurisdiction on non‑federal land, and allows cooperative agreements with state, local, and private partners (with federal cost share capped at 50%) to preserve non‑federal resources and provide public access.