Fort Monroe National Historical Park Establishment Act

This bill, titled the "Fort Monroe National Historical Park Establishment Act," establishes the Fort Monroe National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its primary purpose is to preserve the historic, natural, and recreational resources of Fort Monroe and to interpret its profound historical significance for current and future generations. Key interpretive themes include Old Point Comfort's role in early American history, its use as a coastal defense and artillery training center, and its critical function during the Civil War, notably the 1861 Contraband Decision which offered a pathway to freedom for enslaved people. The legislation abolishes the existing Fort Monroe National Monument, established in 2011, and incorporates all its land and available funds into the newly established Historical Park. The boundary of the Historical Park is defined by a specific map, and the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to acquire additional land within these boundaries from willing sellers. The Secretary will administer the park in accordance with this Act and general laws applicable to units of the National Park System, while clarifying that the Act does not diminish existing federal, Commonwealth, or local jurisdictions. Furthermore, the bill allows the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with public or private entities to identify, interpret, and provide financial and technical assistance for the preservation of non-Federal resources within or near the park's boundary. These agreements require reasonable public access to non-Federal land and stipulate a federal cost-share of no more than 50 percent. The Act also permits the adaptive reuse of non-federally owned historic resources, provided it complies with the Secretary's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.