Sponsors (3)
The bill secures formal preservation and public access to Justice Thurgood Marshall's school and provides NPS support while keeping local ownership, trading stronger local stewardship and educational benefits for increased burdens and uncertainty on the managing nonprofit and some fiscal and oversight risks for taxpayers.
Residents, students, and visitors gain preserved, formally recognized access to the Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site, improving public history and education about civil rights.
The local nonprofit (Beloved Community Services Corporation) keeps ownership and control while receiving NPS technical and limited financial support for marketing, interpretation, and preservation, aiding stewardship.
Baltimore's local economy and tourism may benefit from increased visitation, grant opportunities, and federal affiliation tied to the site's preservation.
The local nonprofit managing the site may face new or increased maintenance, compliance, and reporting costs imposed by federal affiliation and assigned management responsibilities.
Taxpayers could still face increased federal spending — the bill creates potential modest additional federal maintenance/administrative costs for an affiliated site and leaves appropriations uncapped, increasing fiscal exposure.
Because the NPS cannot assume overall financial responsibility and support relies on cooperative agreements and technical assistance, long-term preservation could be uneven or under-supported, leaving burdens on local stewards.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Designates Thurgood Marshall’s elementary school in Baltimore as an affiliated National Park Service historic site while keeping ownership with a local nonprofit and permitting NPS technical and cooperative support.
Official title: Establish the Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site in the State of Maryland as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Christopher Van Hollen · Last progress February 27, 2025
Creates the Justice Thurgood Marshall National Historic Site by designating Public School 103 (1315 Division Street, Baltimore, MD) as an affiliated area of the National Park System while leaving ownership and day-to-day operation with the Beloved Community Services Corporation. The Interior Secretary may provide technical support, enter cooperative agreements, and offer financial assistance for interpretation, preservation, and marketing, but may not acquire the property or assume overall fiscal responsibility. The act authorizes whatever funds are necessary without specifying amounts or deadlines.