The bill designates the General George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, Virginia, as an affiliated area within the National Park System.
This creates formal recognition for the site and sets a framework for federal involvement through standards and guidance, without transferring ownership of the property. The management entity will be the George C.
Marshall International Center, which will work with the Interior Department under cooperative agreements to support marketing, interpretation, and preservation.
At a Glance
What It Does
Establishes the General George C. Marshall House as an affiliated area of the National Park System and defines its boundaries on a specific map. It assigns administration to a designated management entity and enables cooperative agreements with the Interior Department.
Who It Affects
Directly affects the management entity (George C. Marshall International Center), the Interior Department, and Virginia-based historic site stakeholders; also influences visitors, scholars, and local tourism.
Why It Matters
Creates a formal federal-historical site that can receive technical support and funding while preserving local control and alignment with National Park System standards.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The General George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, Virginia is designated as an affiliated area of the National Park System under this bill.
The designation formalizes federal recognition of the site as part of the national heritage framework without placing the property under federal ownership. The management will be handled by the George C.
Marshall International Center, with the Department of the Interior able to provide technical assistance and enter cooperative agreements that may fund marketing, interpretation, and preservation of the affiliated area. The bill also clarifies that the Interior Department will not acquire property or assume overall operating costs for the site.
The affiliated area is defined by a map and will be administered in a manner consistent with National Park policies and standards.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill designates General George C. Marshall House as an affiliated area of the National Park System.
Administration is assigned to the George C. Marshall International Center.
The Secretary of the Interior may provide technical assistance and enter into cooperative agreements to fund marketing, interpretation, and preservation.
The affiliated area is defined by the map titled ‘General George C. Marshall House, Proposed Affiliated Area’ dated September 2023.
The Secretary is limited from acquiring property or assuming full financial responsibility for the site.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
Every bill we cover gets an analysis of its key sections.
Establishment of the affiliated area
Establishes the General George C. Marshall House in Virginia as an affiliated area within the National Park System. This creates formal recognition and a framework for federal involvement focused on preservation, interpretation, and public access without transferring ownership.
Description of the area
Describes the affiliated area as the property generally depicted on the map titled General George C. Marshall House, Proposed Affiliated Area, with its designated reference numbers and date. This defines the geographic scope that the federal program will recognize and influence.
Administration
Establishes that the affiliated area will be managed in accordance with the policies applicable to National Park System units and other relevant law, ensuring consistency with existing federal preservation and interpretive standards.
Management entity
Designates the George C. Marshall International Center as the management entity responsible for administering the affiliated area under the framework set by this section.
Agreements and funding
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide technical assistance and to enter cooperative agreements with the management entity to deliver financial support for marketing, marking, interpretation, and preservation of the affiliated area.
Limited role of the Secretary
Specifies that the Secretary may not acquire property for the affiliated area and shall not assume overall financial responsibility for its operation or maintenance.
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Explore Government 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
- George C. Marshall International Center gains formal management authority and access to potential federal support.
- Visitors and researchers gain access to a formally recognized site with enhanced interpretation and preservation.
- Leesburg/Loudoun County and Virginia’s cultural heritage community benefit from enhanced preservation and tourism appeal.
- National Park System and federal policymakers extend preservation efforts through standardized affiliation without full ownership.
- Local and state cultural heritage stakeholders benefit from alignment with federal standards and potential cross-jurisdiction collaboration.
Who Bears the Cost
- The George C. Marshall International Center bears ongoing operational and interpretive costs as the management entity.
- The Department of the Interior may incur administrative costs in providing technical assistance and potential funding via cooperative agreements.
- Local partners in Leesburg and the surrounding region may incur coordination costs to align with federal standards and programming.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central tension is between delivering federal preservation and interpretive standards for a historic site while avoiding full federal ownership and financial responsibility, which requires a robust, enduring partnership between the federal government and a non-federal management entity.
The affiliated-area approach provides federal recognition and potential technical and financial support without requiring property ownership or full financial commitments by the federal government. This model preserves local control but introduces a federal standard of care for preservation and interpretation that must be coordinated through a non-federal management entity.
One practical challenge is ensuring stable funding and clear delineation of responsibilities in cooperative agreements, so that marketing, interpretation, and preservation activities are sustained beyond the life of any single grant or program. Additionally, the boundary as defined on the map may raise questions about land and facility governance among private owners and local authorities.
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