H.R. 8539

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8539 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8539

To amend title 54, United States Code, to ensure historically accurate 
exhibits at National Park Service sites, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 28, 2026

Ms. Davids of Kansas (for herself and Mr. Goldman of New York) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 54, United States Code, to ensure historically accurate 
exhibits at National Park Service sites, 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. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Truth in National Parks Act''.

SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS.

(a) Interpretation and Education Evaluation and Quality 
Improvement.--Section 100803 of title 54, United States Code, is 
amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a 
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``analysis.'' and 
inserting ``analysis; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(5) are historically and culturally accurate.''.
(b) Editing and Removing Information.--Chapter 1008 of title 54, 
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 100805. Removal or editing of interpretive or educational 
materials
``(a) Availability of Materials.--
``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), in 
carrying out this chapter, the Secretary shall not remove, 
obscure, edit, or otherwise alter interpretive or educational 
materials at a System unit if such interpretive or educational 
materials are--
``(A) historically and culturally accurate; and
``(B) consistent with the purposes and foundational 
documents of the System unit.
``(2) Exception.--The Secretary may take such steps as are 
necessary (including removing, obscuring, editing, or altering 
interpretive or educational materials) to--
``(A) update historically and culturally accurate 
information on public display at a System unit; or
``(B) accommodate new historically and culturally 
accurate public exhibits and displays at a System unit.
``(b) Consultation.--In updating information or accommodating new 
public exhibits and displays under subsection (a)(2), the Secretary 
shall consult with relevant constituencies, including Indian Tribes 
when appropriate, to determine if removing, obscuring, editing, or 
otherwise altering interpretive or educational materials is 
appropriate.
``(c) Interpretive or Educational Materials Defined.--In this 
section, the term `interpretive or educational materials' means 
interpretation and education program materials on public display at a 
System unit, including--
``(1) signs, plaques, flags, and other exhibits; and
``(2) online materials related to such System unit.''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents for chapter 1008 
of title 54, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``100805. Removal or editing of interpretive and educational 
materials.''.
(d) Replacement of Removed Materials.--Not later than 180 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the 
Interior shall replace or restore, as applicable, at each unit of the 
National Park System, any historically and culturally accurate 
interpretive or educational materials removed, obscured, edited, or 
otherwise altered during the period beginning on January 20, 2025, and 
ending on the date of the enactment is this Act.

SEC. 3. CO-STEWARDSHIP AGREEMENT REPORT.

Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committees on Indian 
Affairs and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the 
status of co-stewardship agreements between Indigenous communities 
(including Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations) and Federal 
agencies, including recommendations on how to improve co-stewardship 
agreement processes to meet Federal trust obligations with respect to 
such Indigenous communities.
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