H.R. 2888House115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed House

Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Establishment Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 4:36 PM UTC

The Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Establishment Act creates a new unit of the National Park System in Missouri to preserve and interpret the area's French colonial settlement, historic architecture, and frontier farming. The park will be established once the Interior Secretary determines that enough land has been acquired and that management agreements with local owners are in place. The law outlines how the Secretary can acquire land, manage the park, and work with local partners.

Key Provisions

The park is established only after sufficient land is acquired and a written management agreement is reached with the State, the City of Ste. Genevieve, or other local owners.
The Secretary of the Interior may acquire land within the park boundaries by donation, purchase, or exchange, and must adjust the park boundary as new properties are added.
A general management plan must be prepared within three years of funding and submitted to the relevant congressional committees.
The Secretary may enter cooperative agreements with owners of significant properties for interpretation, restoration, and public access, with the federal government covering no more than 50% of costs.
The Act limits the Secretary’s financial responsibility, stating the federal government does not assume overall operation, maintenance, or management costs for the historic district.

Legislative Activity

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19 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 392.

April 25, 2018

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 12, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

June 12, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

Federal Lands Subcommittee

June 22, 2017

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Federal Lands Subcommittee

November 15, 2017

HouseCommittee

Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged.

Natural Resources Committee

December 12, 2017

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Natural Resources Committee

December 12, 2017

HouseCommittee

Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Natural Resources Committee

December 13, 2017

HouseCommittee

Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.

Natural Resources Committee

December 13, 2017

HouseCommittee

Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 115-540.

Natural Resources Committee

February 2, 2018

HouseCalendars

Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 405.

February 2, 2018

HouseFloor

Mr. Gosar moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

February 5, 2018 • 4:31 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H750-752)

February 5, 2018 • 4:31 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2888.

February 5, 2018 • 4:31 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H750-751)

February 5, 2018 • 4:39 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H750-751)

February 5, 2018 • 4:39 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

February 5, 2018 • 4:39 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

February 6, 2018

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

March 8, 2018

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-237.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

April 25, 2018

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 392.

April 25, 2018

Floor Debate

3 members

What members said about H.R. 2888 on the floor

2 Republicans1 Democrat

Rep. Jason SmithR-MO-8 · Feb 5, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today to speak on behalf of this bill, the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Establishment Act, and on the behalf of the community of Ste. Genevieve. Ste.…

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today to speak on behalf of this bill, the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Establishment Act, and on the behalf of the community of Ste. Genevieve.

Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, is home to one of the largest collections of French colonial architecture in the United States and is one of the oldest colonial settlements west of the Mississippi River dating back to the early 1700s.

For years, the community of Ste. Genevieve has celebrated its history and unique culture through numerous festivals and annual events. Over time, the Federal Government has begun to catch on. One of the town's historic homes is a National Historic Landmark, several other homes are on the National Register of Historic Places, and a large area of the town itself is designated as a National Historic Landmark district, one of the oldest in the country.

In May of 2016, the National Park Service concluded and released a Final Special Resource Study and Environmental Assessment for Ste. Genevieve. This study was the result of legislation

passed over 10 years previously, which tasked the Park Service with determining whether or not the resources at Ste. Genevieve met the criteria for inclusion in the National Park System. Happily, the Park Service study concluded what the people of Ste. Genevieve already knew: that Ste. Genevieve's large and unique collection of vertical log houses rises to national significance. The study determined that certain areas are suitable for direct Park Service management.

My bill is very straightforward: it establishes the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System; it sets the boundaries of the park as depicted on the map laid out by the Park Service; and it gives the Secretary of the Interior certain authorities within the boundaries of the Historical Park or any nationally significant property identified in the special resource study.

In order for the resources of Ste. Genevieve to be properly preserved, Park Service management is necessary. The work of local nonprofits, the city of Ste. Genevieve, and the State of Missouri to manage, preserve, and showcase these historic structures cannot be understated. However, there are still unmet needs for resource protection and interpretation, and the community looks forward to working with the Park Service to increase tourism in the area as well as properly preserve and study the town's resources.

Once again, I want to highlight and thank the community of Ste. Genevieve for their strong support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to swiftly pass my bill and move it one step closer to the President's desk.

Rep. Paul A. GosarR-AZ-4 · Feb 5, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2888) to establish the Ste. Genevieve National Historic Site in the State of Missouri, and for other purposes. Mr. Speaker, I ask…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2888) to establish the Ste. Genevieve National Historic Site in the State of Missouri, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2888, the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Establishment Act, sponsored by Representative Jason Smith from Missouri, would establish the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park in the city of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. It would also authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land for the park by donation, purchase, or exchange.

Founded around 1750 by French Canadian settlers, Ste. Genevieve was Missouri's first settlement. Settlers from present-day Illinois crossed the Mississippi River attracted to the rich soil in the area. After severe floods in 1785, the town was moved 3 miles inland, where it still exists today, retaining many of its historic buildings, landscapes, and community characteristics.

Ste. Genevieve is one of the oldest National Historic Landmark districts in the country, with a portion of the landmark designated in 1960. It is famous for the use of French vertical log architecture.

In 2009, Congress authorized a National Park Service study of the area, which concluded that the Ste. Genevieve historic district is nationally significant and suitable for direct National Park Service management.

There is widespread local support for the establishment of a historical park, including the city, county commission, and Chamber of Commerce.

Ste. Genevieve is an important part of our Nation's expansion and agricultural history and merits becoming a unit of the National Park System.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith), the original sponsor of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that Ste. Genevieve is an important part of our Nation's expansion and agriculture history and merits becoming a unit of the National Park.

Mr. Speaker, I recommend that all vote for it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Colleen HanabusaD-HI-1 · Feb 5, 2018

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2888 establishes the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park in the State of Missouri. Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, is a small…

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued April 25, 2018

Calendar No. 392

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 2888

[Report No. 115–237]

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

February 6, 2018

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

April 25, 2018

Reported by Ms. Murkowski, without amendment

AN ACT

To establish the Ste. Genevieve National Historic Site in the State of Missouri, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Establishment Act .

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Historic district

The term Historic District means the Ste. Genevieve Historic District National Historic Landmark, as generally depicted on the Map.

(2)

Historical Park

The term Historical Park means the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park established by section 3(a).

(3)

Map

The term Map means the map entitled Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park Proposed Boundary, numbered 571/132,626, and dated May 2016.

(4)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(5)

Special resource study

The term special resource study means the study entitled Ste. Genevieve Final Special Resources Study and Environmental Assessment, Missouri and dated May 2016.

(6)

State

The term State means the State of Missouri.

Establishment of the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park

(a)

Establishment

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraph (2), there is established the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park in the State as a unit of the National Park System to preserve, protect, and interpret for the benefit of present and future generations the themes of French settlement, vernacular architecture, and community form and farming on the frontier associated with Ste. Genevieve.

(2)

Conditions for establishment

The Historical Park shall not be established until the date on which the Secretary determines that—

(A)

sufficient land has been acquired for the Historical Park to constitute a manageable unit; and

(B)

the Secretary has entered into a written agreement providing that land owned by the State, the City of Ste. Genevieve, or other entity within the Historic District shall be managed consistent with the purposes of this Act.

(b)

Boundaries

The boundaries of the Historical Park shall be the boundaries generally depicted on the Map.

(c)

Availability of map

The Map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.

(d)

Acquisition authority

(1)

In general

The Secretary may acquire any land or interest in land located within the boundary of the Historical Park or any nationally significant property identified in the special resource study within the Historic District by—

(A)

donation;

(B)

purchase with donated or appropriated funds; or

(C)

exchange.

(2)

Boundary revision

On the acquisition of any property within the Historic District under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall revise the boundary of the Historical Park to include the property.

(e)

Administration

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall administer the Historical Park in accordance with—

(A)

this Act; and

(B)

the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including—

(i)

section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of title 54, United States Code; and

(ii)

chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code.

(2)

Management plan

(A)

In general

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to prepare a general management plan for the Historical Park, the Secretary shall prepare the general management plan in accordance with section 100502 of title 54, United States Code.

(B)

Submission to Congress

On completion of the general management plan under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate the general management plan.

(3)

Related sites

The Secretary may provide interpretative tours and educational programs at related historic and cultural sites within the Historic District associated with the purposes for which the Historical Park is established.

(f)

Cooperative agreements

(1)

In general

The Secretary may provide technical assistance and enter into cooperative agreements with the owner of a nationally significant property within the Historical Park or the Historic District, to identify, mark, interpret, improve, and restore the property.

(2)

Right of access

A cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (1) shall provide that the Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Park Service, shall have the right of access at all reasonable times to all public portions of the property covered by the agreement for the purposes of—

(A)

conducting visitors through the property; and

(B)

interpreting the property for the public.

(3)

Cost-sharing requirement

(A)

Federal share

The Federal share of the total cost of any activity carried out under a cooperative agreement entered into under this subsection shall be not more than 50 percent.

(B)

Form of non-federal share

The non-Federal share of an activity carried out under a cooperative agreement entered into under this subsection may be in the form of donated property, goods, or services fairly valued.

(4)

Changes or alterations

No changes or alterations shall be made to any property or project covered by a cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (1) unless the Secretary and the other party to the agreement agree to the changes or alterations.

(5)

Conversion, use, or disposal

Any payment by the Secretary under this subsection shall be subject to an agreement that the conversion, use, or disposal of a property or project for purposes contrary to the purposes of this section, as determined by the Secretary, shall entitle the United States to reimbursement in any amount equal to the greater of—

(A)

the amounts made available to the property or project by the United States; or

(B)

the portion of the increased value of the property or project attributable to the amounts made available under this subsection, as determined at the time of the conversion, use, or disposal.

(g)

Limited role of the Secretary

Nothing in this Act authorizes the Secretary to assume overall financial responsibility for the operation, maintenance, or management of the Historic District.

April 25, 2018

Reported without amendment