This bill redesignates the César E. Chávez National Monument as the César E.
Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park, with a boundary that centers the Keene, California site and may include Forty Acres in Delano, Santa Rita Center in Phoenix, and McDonnell Hall in San Jose. It authorizes land acquisition, public interpretation, and cooperative agreements to preserve and interpret the movement’s history.
It also adds a National Historic Trail along the 1966 Delano-to-Sacramento march route. A general management plan must be completed within three years, with potential additions to the park identified through that plan.
At a Glance
What It Does
Redesignates the existing monument as a national historical park, expands the boundary to include specified sites, permits land acquisition, and directs a park-wide management and interpretive program. It also adds a study-and-trail component to the National Trails System Act.
Who It Affects
Federal land and park administrators (NPS), private landowners within the boundary, state and local governments, and organizations involved in preservation and interpretation across California and Arizona.
Why It Matters
Creates a formal, federally managed platform to preserve and interpret Chávez’s life and the farmworker movement across multiple sites, strengthening education, heritage tourism, and inter-agency collaboration.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The César Chávez National Monument, established to honor Chávez and the farmworker movement, would be redesignated as a National Historical Park. The boundary would include the Keene, California site and could be expanded to include additional key sites in California and Arizona, such as Forty Acres, Santa Rita Center, and McDonnell Hall, as resources allow.
The Secretary would be authorized to acquire land and to cooperate with states, local governments, and public or private organizations to preserve, develop, and interpret these sites. A general management plan must be produced within three years, evaluating potential new sites in the Coachella Valley, other California locations, and related sites beyond the initial states.
The bill also adds a National Historic Trail, the Farmworker Peregrinacion, to the National Trails System, covering roughly 300 miles along the Delano-to-Sacramento route as described in a National Park Service study. In short, the bill broadens recognition and preservation of farmworker history and ties it to a coordinated park system and a historic trail network.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The monument is redesignated as a National Historical Park with expanded boundaries.
Land may be acquired via donation, purchase, or land exchange for park purposes.
A General Management Plan is due within three years, guiding site additions and interpretation.
Additional sites may be added to the park after consultation and owner participation.
The Delano-to-Sacramento march route is designated as the Farmworker Peregrinacion National Historic Trail under the National Trails System Act.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Findings and Purpose
This section explains the rationale for elevating Chávez’s historic footprint and contextualizing the farmworker movement within a national parks framework. It references prior designations and studies (including the 2013 National Park Service study) that support the creation of a park that encompasses multiple sites and interprets the broader movement rather than a single location.
Definitions
Key terms are defined to anchor the bill’s implementation: Historical Park (the act’s park), Map (boundary depiction), Secretary (Secretary of the Interior), States (California and Arizona), and Study (the NPS resource study). These definitions set the scope for governance and boundary decisions.
Redesignation of the César E. Chávez National Monument
The existing César E. Chávez National Monument is redesignated as the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park. Funds previously used for the monument are available for the purposes of the historical park, ensuring continuity of operation under the new designation.
Boundary and Additional Sites
The park boundary includes the Keene monument site and can include additional sites (e.g., Forty Acres, Santa Rita Center, McDonnell Hall) as the Secretary acquires land or enters agreements. Additions require explicit land acquisition or binding management agreements, and notice of the addition must be published in the Federal Register.
Administration and Interpretation
The Secretary administers the park under the National Park System laws and provides for interpretation of historic sites on land not administered by the Secretary. Cooperative agreements with states, local governments, and private or public organizations are encouraged to support preservation and interpretation.
General Management Plan
Not later than three years after funds are available, the Secretary must prepare a general management plan. The plan should assess potential additional sites in the Coachella Valley, other California locations, or related sites outside the States to be linked and interpreted within the park network. It also calls for consultation with landowners and relevant agencies.
FARMWORKER Peregrinacion National Historic Trail
Updates the National Trails System Act to add a 300-mile Farmworker Peregrinacion National Historic Trail tracing the 1966 Delano-to-Sacramento route. The trail is identified as Alternative C in the National Park Service study and would be managed within the trails framework.
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Explore Culture in Codify Search →Who Benefits and Who Bears the Cost
Every bill creates winners and losers. Here's who stands to gain and who bears the cost.
Who Benefits
- National Park Service and federal park system, which gains a new unit to manage and interpret farmworker history.
- The César E. Chávez Foundation and National Chavez Center, which would become part of a broader interpretive network.
- The United Farm Workers and allied labor/history organizations seeking greater visibility and education on migrant workers' history.
- Educators, researchers, and students who gain access to federally supported interpretive resources and a connected historical narrative.
- California and Arizona communities—Delano, Keene, Phoenix, and San Jose—benefiting from heritage tourism and local pride.
- Museums, heritage organizations, and local historical societies connected to Chávez’s legacy.
Who Bears the Cost
- Federal government bears ongoing operating and potential land acquisition costs via appropriations.
- Private landowners within the new boundary may be affected by acquisition processes or management restrictions—though some sites may be acquired by donation or agreement.
- State and local governments may incur costs related to coordination, partnerships, and infrastructure supporting park activities.
- National Park Service staff costs for administration, interpretation, and trail coordination.
- Local organizations may incur fundraising and administrative expenses to support cooperative agreements and programming.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Balancing expansive recognition and preservation of a national narrative with the rights and interests of private landowners and local communities, while ensuring sufficient federal support and coherent cross-site interpretation.
The bill emphasizes cooperative agreements and acquisition authorities, which rely on funding availability and owner participation. The boundary expansion introduces a mix of public land designation and potential private land involvement, raising questions about cost-sharing, timing, and community impact.
The Trail designation will require interagency coordination, local permissions, and sustained funding for preservation, safety, and interpretation as the route gains recognition. The general management plan process is crucial; its scope and timeline will shape future site additions and the park’s overall footprint.
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