This bill adds rules about interpretive and education materials at National Park Service sites. It requires that interpretation and education programs be "historically and culturally accurate." The bill bars the Secretary of the Interior from removing, obscuring, editing, or otherwise altering interpretive or educational materials on public display if those materials are historically and culturally accurate and consistent with the unit's purposes and foundational documents. The bill allows the Secretary to update or accommodate new historically and culturally accurate exhibits, but requires consultation with relevant constituencies, including Indian Tribes when appropriate. It defines interpretive or educational materials to include signs, plaques, flags, other exhibits, and related online materials. The bill also requires the Secretary to replace or restore any historically and culturally accurate materials that were removed, obscured, edited, or altered between January 20, 2025, and the date of enactment, within 180 days. Finally, the bill directs the Comptroller General to report within one year on the status of co-stewardship agreements with Indigenous communities and to recommend ways to improve those processes to meet Federal trust obligations.
If you visit National Park Service sites, this bill aims to keep public exhibits and online materials historically and culturally accurate and to restore accurate materials removed since January 20, 2025. Park staff would need to follow the new standard that materials be accurate and consistent with a unit's purpose before removing or changing displays. When updates or new exhibits are needed, the Secretary must consult relevant groups, and may consult Indian Tribes when appropriate. The Comptroller General's report could lead to changes in how agencies and Indigenous communities share stewardship of park places.
No publicly available information.
Supporters would say the bill ensures visitors see historically and culturally accurate exhibits, prevents removal of accurate materials without proper reason, restores accurate materials removed after January 20, 2025, and promotes consultation and review of co-stewardship agreements between Federal agencies and Indigenous communities.
No publicly available information.