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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Subramanyam), who is the sponsor of the bill.

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

Mr. Speaker, S. 603 would establish the General George C. Marshall House, the home of one of America's most influential historical figures, as an affiliated area of the National Park System.

This would provide a deserved national recognition and allow the George Marshall House to receive technical assistance and limited financial aid from the National Park Service.

General Marshall lived at the residence in Leesburg, Virginia, between 1941 and 1959, critical years during his career.

He held an impressive resume, serving as Chief of Staff of the Army, special envoy to China, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and president of the American Red Cross.

He was renowned for organizing the Allied victory in World War II and for his dedication to rebuilding European economies and democracies through the Marshall Plan, which earned him the Nobel Peace Prize.

His home was designated a historical landmark in 1996 for the National Park Service, and then, after a 10-year, $7 million restoration, it became a public museum on Veterans Day in 2005.

The home meets all requirements for designation as an affiliated area of the National Park System, and the designation authorized by S. 603 will ensure that the contributions and values of George Marshall are recognized and commemorated by all Americans. I cannot wait to visit.

Mr. Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not mention that this is the second time that the House has passed this bill. Back in May of this year, we sent the Senate H.R. 1352, the House companion introduced by Representative Subramanyam. Instead of passing our bill and sending it to the President for his signature, the Senate passed its own version after a disconnect among Republican leadership. But we should not let this infighting get in the way of a good thing.

Again, I thank Representative Subramanyam and all members of the George C. Marshall International Center for their dedication to preserving the history and legacy of General Marshall.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 603, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues, despite the bureaucracy, to support the legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 603) 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.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to add extraneous material on S. 603, the bill under consideration.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 603, which would designate the 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 the postwar peace, he was the rare American whose service touched every dimension of national strength.

This bill recognizes George Marshall's legacy and ensures that Americans can continue to draw inspiration from his story by designating his historic home and estate as an affiliated area of the National Park System. This designation conveys honor and recognition while keeping the estate's management and fiscal responsibilities within the George C. Marshall International Center. This bill does not put 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.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time. I am prepared to close, and I join my colleague in her frustration with the Senate. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 603, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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

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.