HR 986

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 5, 2025

Ms. Balint introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act to expand the boundary of the Marsh-Billings- Rockefeller National Historical Park in the State of Vermont, 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 “Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act Amendments Act of 2025”.

SEC. 2. BOUNDARY EXPANSION.

Section 3 of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 410vv-1) is amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:

“(b) Boundaries; Map.—

“(1) Boundaries.—

“(A) In general.—The boundaries of the park shall be as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘Marsh- Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Proposed Boundary Revision’, numbered 456/190,048, and dated August 2023.

“(B) Inclusions.—The park shall include the following:

“(i) A historic zone, including—

“(I) the Marsh-Billings- Rockefeller Mansion;

“(II) surrounding buildings; and

“(III) a portion of the area known as ‘Mt. Tom’.

“(ii) A protection zone, including the area occupied by the Billings Farm and Museum.

“(iii) The King Farm, which shall be divided between the historic zone described in clause (i) and the protection zone described in clause (ii), as determined by the Secretary to be appropriate.

“(2) Availability of map.—The map described in paragraph

(1)(A) shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.”.

SEC. 3. ACQUISITION OF LAND.

Section 4 of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 410vv-2) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the following:

“(1) In general.—The Secretary may acquire land or an interest in land within the boundary of the park by—

“(A) donation;

“(B) purchase from a willing seller with donated or appropriated funds;

“(C) transfer from a Federal agency; or

“(D) exchange.

“(2) King farm.—Acquisition by the Secretary of the land described in section 3(b)(1)(B)(iii) shall include—

“(A) a right of access from the land acquired to the park; and

“(B) a right of access to the land acquired from the park.”; and

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking “(3) The Secretary” and inserting the following:

“(3) Commercial operation.—The Secretary”; and

(2) by adding at the end the following:

“(e) King Farm.—On acquisition by the Secretary of the land described in section 3(b)(1)(B)(iii), the acquired land may be used for—

“(1) agricultural and forestry purposes, including the growing and harvesting of crops and trees, animal husbandry, and other agricultural operations customary in the State of Vermont;

“(2) conservation purposes in a manner that preserves the historic character of a working farm and forest; and

“(3) educational purposes relating to agriculture, forestry, and conservation activities, including the study of natural history.”.

SEC. 4. SCENIC ZONE.

Section 5(a) of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 410vv-3(a)) is amended by striking “‘Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Scenic Zone Map’ and dated November 19, 1991” and inserting “‘Marsh-Billings- Rockefeller National Historical Park, Proposed Boundary Revision’, numbered 456/190,048, and dated August 2023”.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STEWARDSHIP INSTITUTE.

The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 410vv et seq.) is amended—

(1) by redesignating sections 6 through 10 as sections 7 through 11, respectively; and

(2) by inserting after section 5 the following:

“SEC. 6. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STEWARDSHIP INSTITUTE.

“(a) In General.—There is established at the park the National Park Service Stewardship Institute (referred to in this Act as the ‘Institute’).

“(b) Purposes.—The purposes of the Institute are—

“(1) to highlight and encourage the advancement of stewardship practices through workshops, public programs, learning opportunities, and similar programming;

“(2) to create opportunities within the National Park Service to identify and share innovation through research, evaluation, and dialogue; and

“(3) to identify and exchange best practices and enhance leadership capacity, partnership development, and community engagement in the fields of conservation and resource stewardship.

“(c) Administration.—The Institute shall be managed as a program of the park.”. <all>