[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3572-H3573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GENERAL GEORGE C. MARSHALL HOUSE AS AN AFFILIATED
AREA
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1352) to designate the General George C. Marshall House, in
the Commonwealth of Virginia, as an affiliated area of the National
Park System, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1352
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GENERAL GEORGE C. MARSHALL
HOUSE AS AN AFFILIATED AREA.
(a) In General.--The General George C. Marshall House, in
the Commonwealth of Virginia, is established as an affiliated
area of the National Park System.
(b) Description of Affiliated Area.--The affiliated area
shall consist of the area generally depicted as the ``General
George C. Marshall House Property, Leesburg, Virginia'' on
the map titled ``General George C. Marshall House, Proposed
Affiliated Area'', numbered 999/189,974, and dated September
2023.
(c) Administration.--The affiliated area shall be managed
in a manner consistent with--
(1) this Act; and
(2) any law generally applicable to units of the National
Park System.
(d) Management Entity.--The George C. Marshall
International Center shall be the management entity for the
affiliated area.
(e) Agreements.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to
in this section as the ``Secretary'')--
(1) may provide technical assistance and enter into
cooperative agreements with the management entity for the
purpose of providing financial assistance for the marketing,
marking, interpretation, and preservation of the affiliated
area; and
(2) shall enter into an agreement with the management
entity that delineates the roles and responsibilities for the
management of the area consistent with the policies and
standards that apply to units of the National Park System.
(f) Limited Role of the Secretary.--Nothing in this Act
authorizes the Secretary to acquire property at the
affiliated area or to assume managerial or financial
responsibility for the operation, maintenance, or management
of the affiliated area.
(g) Private Property Protection.--Nothing in this Act
affects the land use rights of private property owners
adjacent to the General George C. Marshall House.
(h) No Buffer Zones.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed to
create buffer zones outside of the General George C. Marshall
House.
(2) Activity or use outside the general george c. marshall
house.--The fact that an activity or use can be seen, heard,
or detected from within the George C. Marshall House shall
not preclude, limit, control, regulate, or determine the
conduct or management of activities or uses outside of the
George C. Marshall House.
(i) Management Plan.--Not later than 3 years after the date
on which funds are made available to carry out this section,
the Secretary, in consultation with the management entity,
shall complete a management plan for the affiliated area in
accordance with section 100502 of title 54, United States
Code.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) and the gentlewoman from Maryland (Ms.
Elfreth) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas.
General Leave
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 1352, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Arkansas?
There was no objection.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1352, which would
designate the General George C. Marshall House in Virginia as an
affiliated area of the National Park System.
General George C. Marshall was a war hero, statesman, master
strategist, and one of the most important figures in modern American
history. From his distinguished service in both World Wars to his
prominent role in shaping postwar peace, he was the rare American whose
service touched every dimension of national strength. He was
immortalized through his namesake Marshall Plan, the monumental
recovery effort to rebuild Western Europe after the Second World War,
for which he was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize.
In rare times of quiet during those pivotal years, General Marshall
would retire to his home in Leesburg, Virginia, where he could humbly
tend his gardens and ease his mind.
Today, his estate remains an unusually intact window into his life,
with the house and contents still in near-perfect condition.
In 2005, the home and its gardens were open to the public as a
museum.
This bill recognizes George Marshall's legacy and ensures that
Americans can continue to draw inspiration from his story by
designating his home as an affiliated area of the National Park System.
This designation conveys honor and recognition while keeping the
management and fiscal responsibilities of the estate with the George C.
Marshall International Center. This bill does not put the property
under Federal management or add to the Federal estate.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this
legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.
{time} 1600
Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1352 would designate the General
George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, Virginia, as an affiliated area
of the National Park System. This is a fitting tribute to a man who
left an enduring mark on our national and, dare I say it, world
history.
George Marshall is the namesake of the Marshall Plan, a strategy that
helped rebuild Europe after World War II. He understood that American
leadership isn't found in the vacuum of isolation. It occurs from the
steady, selfless work of building relationships to achieve global
stability. He gave us a blueprint for a world held together by shared
prosperity and common interests.
The Marshall House preserves and celebrates the historic
contributions made by George Marshall throughout World War II and
during the postwar economic recovery.
The property currently holds a collection of over 6,000 objects
related to George and Katherine Marshall. It was found to be a worthy
site for increased affiliation with the Park Service through a survey
completed in 2023.
This bill is the next step in that process and will help forever
cement the legacy of George Marshall.
This preservation of history also stands in stark contrast to the
foreign policy of the Trump administration, which, unfortunately,
continues to shoot first and aim later at the expense of decades of
thoughtful diplomacy and alliances.
The bill before us today is also an important reminder of the need to
support our national parks and the agencies tasked with protecting
them.
Affiliated areas are vital public-private partnerships, as this bill
establishes between the National Park Service and the George C.
Marshall International Center, but they are just one component of our
system. They are not a replacement.
Real stewardship requires the courage to designate new, fully funded
national parks, not just when it is easy or convenient, but where the
land and our history demand it.
H.R. 1352 ensures that the legacy of George Marshall and his
significant contributions to American history are preserved, protected,
and publicly accessible for generations to come.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, again, I commend both parties for working
together to bring this legislation to the floor. I appreciate the
gentleman from Virginia for sponsoring this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Subramanyam), who is the sponsor of the
bill.
Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1352,
which designates the General George C. Marshall House on Dodona Manor
in Leesburg as an affiliated area of the National Park System.
Many of us know the incredible legacy of General George Marshall, who
was Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and Chief of Staff of the
Army. He was the only general, and
[[Page H3573]]
still is the only general, to ever win the Nobel Peace Prize. You also
may know the famous Marshall Plan, Mr. Speaker.
What you may not know is the incredible work of the George C.
Marshall International Center, which operates there in Dodona Manor,
and the George C. Marshall House is a part of their mission.
The center looks after the property and hosts thousands of visitors
every year from around the world. They also have a regular speakers
series on the property and lots of programming for children.
They do a lot of amazing work in our community, and the property is a
testament not just to the legacy of George C. Marshall, but to how he
gave back to the community.
This official National Park System designation would be a big deal
not just for the manor and not just for the center, but for our entire
community. It helps preserve the property for generations and allows
the center to expand their programs, as well.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1352. When
it passes, you are all invited to the center as well, Mr. Speaker, and
we will have a big party there.
Ms. ELFRETH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge my
colleagues to support this critical piece of legislation, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, again, H.R. 1352 would designate the
General George C. Marshall House as an affiliated area of the National
Park System, improving national recognition while keeping the site
privately managed without taxpayer support.
This is an appropriate bill to consider during our Nation's 250th
anniversary celebrations, as it bestows recognition to one of the most
hardworking and pivotal Americans of the postwar era.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1352, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Westerman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1352, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________