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.
Introduced February 13, 2025 · Last action May 20, 2026
Plain English Summary
This bill designates the General George C. Marshall House in Leesburg, Virginia as an affiliated area of the National Park System, meaning it becomes officially linked to the park system for preservation and interpretation purposes. The bill keeps the house under private management by the George C. Marshall International Center while allowing the federal government to provide technical and financial assistance, but explicitly prevents the federal government from taking over property ownership or operational control.
Who benefits
The George C. Marshall International Center (private management entity running the house); heritage tourism and cultural institutions in Leesburg, Virginia; visitors seeking interpretation of General Marshall's life and military career; preservation advocates focused on historic military sites; the local Leesburg/Northern Virginia economy through potential increased heritage tourism.
Who pays / loses
Federal taxpayers who fund technical assistance and cooperative agreements with the George C. Marshall International Center; no specific groups bear direct financial losses, as the bill explicitly prevents federal assumption of operating costs and preserves adjacent property owners' rights.
Funding & Lobbying Interests
The George C. Marshall International Center, a nonprofit heritage preservation organization, has a direct financial interest in this bill's passage as it will become the designated management entity eligible for federal technical assistance and cooperative funding agreements. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA-10), represents the district containing Leesburg and has received campaign contributions primarily from non-industry sources ($84,889 in 2024 cycle) with no PAC contributions, suggesting grassroots or individual donor support rather than organized industry lobbying; healthcare, agriculture, technology, and finance sectors provided smaller contributions but no dominant financial interest is evident.
Political Impact
Affected Groups
The George C. Marshall International Center (nonprofit management organization); residents and property owners in Leesburg, Virginia adjacent to the Marshall House; heritage tourism operators and cultural institutions in Northern Virginia; visitors to the Marshall House site; federal funding allocation recipients focused on National Park System affiliate programs.
Political Subtext
Proponents frame this as appropriate recognition of a historically significant military figure and a cost-effective way to preserve an important American historical site while leveraging private management expertise. Critics might note that affiliated area status provides federal endorsement and potential funding without federal oversight or guarantee of public access, and that it sets precedent for converting private properties into quasi-public heritage sites. The non-partisan framework here is straightforward: the bill accomplishes what it states—designating an affiliated area with clear limitations on federal control and cost responsibility. No material dispute exists between proponents and evidence regarding the bill's actual mechanics.
Real-World Stakes
If this passes, the Marshall House becomes officially integrated into the National Park System's brand and interpretive network, likely increasing visitor awareness and potentially tourism traffic to the site. The George C. Marshall International Center will be eligible for federal technical assistance grants and cooperative funding for marketing and preservation, reducing the organization's private fundraising burden. The bill creates no new federal liabilities for site maintenance or property acquisition—the management entity remains solely responsible for operations. Analogous affiliated area designations (such as the First Ladies National Historic Site in Canton, Ohio, established in 2000, or the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania, with similar public-private management structures) have resulted in modest increases in visitor numbers and heritage tourism spending without creating significant federal budget impacts. No civil rights, environmental, or public access concerns are raised in the bill text.
Sponsor
Vote Record
No recorded votes.
Campaign Finance — Primary Sponsor
Top contributing industries
Other$84,889.49
Healthcare$13,100
Agriculture$6,600
Technology$4,676
Finance$4,075
501(c)(4) disclosure: Contributions from 501(c)(4) "dark money" organizations are not required to be publicly disclosed and are not reflected in the figures above. Data sourced from FEC public disclosure filings.
Community Discussion
Share this bill
Sign in to join the discussion.
No comments yet. Be the first.