ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GENERAL GEORGE C. MARSHALL HOUSE AS AN AFFILIATED AREA

On 2026-05-19, Representative Sarah Elfreth (D-MD-3) delivered a floor speech titled "ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GENERAL GEORGE C. MARSHALL HOUSE AS AN AFFILIATED AREA" in the House.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GENERAL GEORGE C. MARSHALL HOUSE AS AN AFFILIATED AREA

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026) [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. 13

Referenced legislation: HR1352, HR1352