National Historical Park and National Historic Landmark Establishment and Boundary Adjustments Act of 2025
Considered and Passed SenateDec 16, 2025

National Historical Park and National Historic Landmark Establishment and Boundary Adjustments Act of 2025

52 sections · 4 min read

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Historical Park and National Historic Landmark Establishment and Boundary Adjustments Act of 2025.

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Map

The term map means the map entitled Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park Proposed Boundary, numbered 962/194,681, and dated September 2024.

(2) National Historical Park

The term National Historical Park means the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park established by subsection (b)(1).

(3) Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(4) State

The term State means the State of New York.

(1) In general

Subject to paragraph (3), there is established in the State as a unit of the National Park System the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historical Park.

(2) Purpose

The purpose of the National Historical Park is to preserve, protect, and interpret for the benefit of present and future generations resources associated with the stories of the 982 refugees from World War II who were housed at Fort Ontario from August of 1944 until February of 1946.

(A) Determination by the secretary

The National Historical Park shall not be established until the date on which the Secretary determines that a sufficient quantity of land or interests in land has been acquired from land identified as Proposed Boundary on the map to constitute a manageable park unit.

(B) Notice

Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary makes a determination under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register notice of the establishment of the National Historical Park.

(4) Map

The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.

(5) Boundary

The boundary of the National Historical Park shall include any land or interests in land acquired by the Secretary under this section.

(1) In general

The Secretary shall administer the National Historical Park in accordance with—

(A) this section; and

(B) the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including—

(i) sections 100101(a), 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of title 54, United States Code; and

(ii) chapters 1003 and 3201 of title 54, United States Code.

(A) Cooperative agreements

In accordance with section 101702 of title 54, United States Code, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the State or other public and private entities to provide interpretive and educational services within the National Historical Park.

(B) Interpretation and restoration agreements

The Secretary may enter into agreements to identify, interpret, and restore nationally significant historic or cultural resources located on non-Federal land within the boundary of, or in close proximity to, the National Historical Park.

(C) Public access

Any cooperative agreement entered into under subparagraph (B) to provide assistance to non-Federal land shall provide for reasonable public access to the non-Federal land.

(A) In general

Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may acquire land and interests in land located within the boundary of the National Historical Park by—

(i) donation;

(ii) purchase with donated or appropriated funds; or

(iii) exchange.

(B) Limitation

Any land owned by the State or a political subdivision of the State may be acquired for inclusion in the National Historical Park only by donation.

(4) Management plan

Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this section, the Secretary, in consultation with the State, shall complete a general management plan for the National Historical Park in accordance with—

(A) section 100502 of title 54, United States Code; and

(B) any other applicable laws.

(a) Definitions

In this section:

(1) City

The term City means the city of Fulton, Missouri.

(2) College

The term College means Westminster College, located at 501 Westminster Avenue in the City.

(3) Landmark

The term Landmark means the America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark designated by subsection (b)(1).

(4) Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(5) State

The term State means the State of Missouri.

(1) In general

America’s National Churchill Museum located at the College, including the Winston Churchill Memorial listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is designated as the America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark.

(A) In general

The Secretary, in consultation with the State, the City, and the College, may enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate public or private entities, for the purposes of—

(i) protecting historic resources at the Landmark; and

(ii) providing educational and interpretive facilities and programs at the Landmark for the public.

(B) Technical and financial assistance

The Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance to any entity with which the Secretary has entered into a cooperative agreement under subparagraph (A).

(3) No effect on actions of property owners

Designation of the America’s National Churchill Museum as a National Historic Landmark shall not prohibit any actions that may otherwise be taken by a property owner (including the College and any other owner of the Landmark) with respect to the property of the owner.

(4) No effect on administration

Nothing in this subsection affects the administration of the Landmark by the State, the City, or the College.

(1) In general

The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of the Landmark.

(2) Contents

In conducting the study under this subsection, the Secretary shall—

(A) evaluate the national significance of the Landmark;

(B) determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the Landmark as a unit of the National Park System;

(i) consider alternatives to that designation for the preservation, protection, and interpretation of the Landmark by the Federal Government, the State, the City and other affected units of local government, or private and nonprofit organizations (including the College); and

(ii) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives described in clause (i); and

(D) consult with interested Federal agencies, the State, the City and other affected units of local government, private and nonprofit entities (including the College), and other interested individuals.

(3) Requirement

The Secretary shall conduct the study under this subsection in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, United States Code.

(4) Report

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made available to carry out the study under this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report that describes—

(A) the results of the study; and

(B) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.

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