A bill to establish the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and Jefferson College as affiliated areas of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3878 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3878

  To establish the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and Jefferson
College as affiliated areas of the National Park System, and for other
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 12, 2026

 Mrs. Hyde-Smith (for herself and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

  To establish the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and Jefferson
College as affiliated areas of the National Park System, and for other
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GRAND VILLAGE OF THE NATCHEZ INDIANS
              AND JEFFERSON COLLEGE AS AFFILIATED AREAS OF THE NATIONAL
              PARK SYSTEM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Affiliated area.--The term ``affiliated area'' means--
                    (A) the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians in
                Natchez, Mississippi, established as an affiliated area
                of the National Park System by subsection (b)(1); and
                    (B) Historic Jefferson College in Natchez,
                Mississippi, established as an affiliated area of the
                National Park System under subsection (b)(2).
            (2) Management entity.--The term ``management entity''
        means the management entity for the affiliated areas designated
        by subsection (d).
            (3) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled
        ``Affiliated Areas, Adams County, Mississippi Proposed
        Boundaries'', numbered 964/194,653, and dated August 2024.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
        of the Interior.
    (b) Establishment.--
            (1) Grand village of the natchez indians.--To promote
        public appreciation of the significant historic contributions
        of the Natchez Indians, the Grand Village of the Natchez
        Indians in Natchez, Mississippi, as generally depicted on the
        Map, is established as an affiliated area of the National Park
        System.
            (2) Historic jefferson college.--On the date on which the
        Secretary determines that Historic Jefferson College in
        Natchez, Mississippi, as generally depicted on the Map, meets
        National Park Service criteria for designation as an affiliated
        area, Historic Jefferson College, shall be established as an
        affiliated area of the National Park System.
            (3) Map.--
                    (A) In general.--As soon as practicable after the
                establishment of an affiliated area in accordance with
                this section, the Secretary shall prepare a map
                depicting the boundaries of the applicable affiliated
                area.
                    (B) Availability.--The map prepared under
                subparagraph (A) shall be on file and available for
                public inspection in the appropriate offices of the
                National Park Service.
    (c) Administration.--The affiliated areas shall be managed in a
manner consistent with--
            (1) this section; and
            (2) the laws generally applicable to units of the National
        Park System.
    (d) Management Entity.--The Mississippi Department of Archives and
History shall be the management entity for the affiliated areas.
    (e) Agreements.--The Secretary--
            (1) may provide technical assistance to, and enter into
        cooperative agreements with, the management entity for the
        purpose of providing financial assistance for the marketing,
        marking, interpretation, and preservation of the affiliated
        areas; and
            (2) shall enter into an agreement with the management
        entity that delineates the roles and responsibilities for the
        management of the affiliated areas consistent with the policies
        and standards that apply to units of the National Park System.
    (f) Limited Role of the Secretary.--Nothing in this section
authorizes the Secretary--
            (1) to acquire property at the affiliated areas; or
            (2) to assume financial responsibility for the operation,
        maintenance, or management of the affiliated areas.
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