S. 3141Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

New Philadelphia National Historical Park Act

Introduced November 2, 2021

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 7:46 AM UTC

The bill creates the New Philadelphia National Historical Park in Illinois as a unit of the National Park System. The park will protect, preserve, and interpret the historic resources of New Philadelphia, the first town planned and legally registered by a free African American before the Civil War. It involves the federal Secretary of the Interior, the State of Illinois, and any public or private partners that help manage or preserve the park.

Key Provisions

  • Establishes the park covering about 124.33 acres as defined by a proposed boundary map
  • Sets the park’s purpose to protect, preserve, and interpret the historic resources of New Philadelphia
  • Gives the Secretary of the Interior authority to administer the park under existing National Park System laws
  • Allows the Secretary to enter cooperative agreements with the State and other entities to coordinate preservation and provide public access to non‑federal lands
  • Permits land acquisition for the park by donation, purchase, or exchange, with state‑owned land only obtainable through donation
  • Requires the Secretary, in consultation with the State, to develop a general management plan within three fiscal years of receiving funding

Legislative Activity

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5 earlier actions
SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 534.

October 18, 2022

View full timeline
SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

November 2, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (text: CR S7605)

November 2, 2021

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.

May 11, 2022

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

July 21, 2022

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin under authority of the order of the Senate of 10/14/2022 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 117-183.

October 18, 2022

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 534.

October 18, 2022

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S. 3141 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat
John Cornyn
Sen. John CornynR-TX · Nov 2, 2021

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have my bill printed in the Record. The bill ensures the maintenance of critical supply lines within the defense industrial base.

Richard J. Durbin
Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Nov 2, 2021

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Richard J. Durbin
Sen. Richard J. DurbinD-IL · Nov 2, 2021

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Bill Text

2 versions available

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Latest
Reported to SenateIssued October 18, 2022

II

Calendar No. 534

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3141

[Report No. 117–183]

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

November 2, 2021

Mr. Durbin (for himself and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

October 18, 2022

Reported under authority of the order of the Senate of October 14, 2022, by Mr. Manchin, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To establish the New Philadelphia National Historical Park in the State of Illinois as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the New Philadelphia National Historical Park Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds that—

(1)

Frank McWorter, an enslaved man, bought his freedom and the freedom of 15 family members by—

(A)

mining for crude niter in Kentucky caves and processing the mined material into saltpeter;

(B)

hiring his time to other settlers; and

(C)

selling lots in New Philadelphia, which was—

(i)

the town founded by Frank McWorter; and

(ii)

the first town planned and legally registered by a free African American before the Civil War;

(2)

the first railroad constructed in the area of New Philadelphia bypassed New Philadelphia, which led to the decline of New Philadelphia; and

(3)

the site of New Philadelphia is a registered National Historic Landmark.

3.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Park

The term Park means the New Philadelphia National Historical Park established by section 4(a).

(2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(3)

State

The term State means the State of Illinois.

4.

Establishment of New Philadelphia National Historical Park

(a)

Establishment

There is established in the State as a unit of the National Park System the New Philadelphia National Historical Park.

(b)

Purposes

The purposes of the Park are—

(1)

to protect, preserve, and interpret the many significant aspects of the Park; and

(2)

to the extent feasible, to coordinate preservation and interpretation activities with the State and other public and nonpublic entities through cooperative agreements entered into under section 5(c).

(c)

Boundary

The Park shall consist of the approximately 124.33 acres of land within the boundary generally depicted as Legislative Boundary on the map prepared by the National Park Service entitled New Philadelphia National Historic Site Proposed Boundary, numbered 591/176,516, and dated July 2021.

5.

Administration

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall administer land within the boundary of the Park in accordance with—

(1)

this Act; and

(2)

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

(A)

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

(B)

chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code.

(b)

Management and operations

The Lincoln Home National Historic Site shall be responsible for the management and operations of the Park.

(c)

Cooperative agreements

The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the State or other public and nonpublic entities under which the Secretary may identify, interpret, and provide assistance for the preservation of non-Federal land within the boundaries of the Park and at sites in close proximity to the Park but located outside the boundaries of the Park, including providing for—

(1)

the placement of directional and interpretive signage;

(2)

exhibits; and

(3)

technology-based interpretive devices.

(d)

Acquisition of land

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may acquire land and interests in land (including any buildings or structures) for inclusion in the Park by—

(A)

donation;

(B)

purchase with donated or appropriated funds; or

(C)

exchange.

(2)

Limitation

Any land owned by the State or a political subdivision of the State may be acquired for inclusion in the Park only by donation.

(e)

Technical and preservation assistance

The Secretary may provide public interpretation and technical assistance for the preservation of historic structures of, the maintenance of the cultural landscape of, and local preservation planning for, related historic and cultural resources within the boundaries of the Park.

(f)

Management plan

Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the State, shall complete a general management plan for the Park in accordance with—

(1)

section 100502 of title 54, United States Code; and

(2)

any other applicable laws.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the New Philadelphia National Historical Park Act.

2.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Park

The term Park means the New Philadelphia National Historical Park established by section 3(a).

(2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(3)

State

The term State means the State of Illinois.

3.

Establishment of New Philadelphia National Historical Park

(a)

Establishment

There is established in the State as a unit of the National Park System the New Philadelphia National Historical Park.

(b)

Purpose

The purpose of the Park is to protect, preserve, and interpret the historic resources associated with the town of New Philadelphia, the first town in the United States planned and legally registered by a free African American before the Civil War.

(c)

Boundary

The Park shall consist of the approximately 124.33 acres of land within the boundary generally depicted as Proposed Boundary on the map prepared by the National Park Service entitled New Philadelphia National Historic Site Proposed Boundary, numbered 591/176,516, and dated July 2021.

4.

Administration

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall administer land within the boundary of the Park in accordance with—

(1)

this Act; and

(2)

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

(A)

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

(B)

chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code.

(b)

Cooperative agreements

(1)

In general

The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the State or other public and private entities—

(A)

to coordinate preservation and interpretation activities within the Park; and

(B)

to identify, interpret, and provide assistance for the preservation and interpretation of non-Federal land within the boundary of the Park and at sites in close proximity to the Park that are located outside the boundary of the Park.

(2)

Public access

Any cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (1) to provide assistance to non-Federal land shall provide for reasonable public access to the non-Federal land.

(c)

Acquisition of land

(1)

In general

Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary may acquire land and interests in land for inclusion in the Park by—

(A)

donation;

(B)

purchase with donated or appropriated funds; or

(C)

exchange.

(2)

Limitation

Any land owned by the State or a political subdivision of the State may be acquired for inclusion in the Park only by donation.

(d)

Technical and preservation assistance

The Secretary may provide public interpretation and technical assistance for the preservation of historic structures of, the maintenance of the cultural landscape of, and local preservation planning for, related historic and cultural resources within the boundaries of the Park.

(e)

Management plan

Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the State, shall complete a general management plan for the Park in accordance with—

(1)

section 100502 of title 54, United States Code; and

(2)

any other applicable laws.

October 18, 2022

Reported under authority of the order of the Senate of October 14, 2022, with an amendment