March 26, 2025
Mr. Mast introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
To authorize the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday to establish the National Garden of American Heroes, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the National Garden for America’s 250th Anniversary Act
.
Sec. 2. National Garden of American Heroes
(a) Establishment
The Task Force shall—
(1)
establish the Garden in accordance with this Act; and
(2)
in establishing the Garden, be responsible for any planning, contracting, implementation of plans, designing, building, permitting, compliance, and land acquisition or environmental reviews related to such establishment.
(b) Timeline for construction of Garden
(1) Deadline for commencement
To the maximum extent practicable and subject to paragraph (2), the Task Force shall commence construction of the Garden by not later than July 4, 2026.
(2) Limitation on construction pending approval
The Task Force may only commence construction of the Garden after the Secretary of the Interior approves the location of the Garden.
(c) Location of Garden
(1) Authorization of establishment in Reserve
Notwithstanding section 8908(c) of title 40, United States Code, the Task Force may establish the Garden in the Reserve.
(2) Authorization of land acquisition
If the Garden is not established on Federal land, the Secretary of the Interior may acquire through purchase, donation, or exchange from a State, local government, Tribal Government, or private landowner land on which to establish the Garden.
(d) Individuals honored
Notwithstanding section 8903(c) of title 40, United States Code, the Garden may commemorate any individual or group of individuals.
(e) Private contributions
The Task Force shall solicit and accept private contributions for the Garden.
(f) National Garden Fund
(1) In general
There is hereby established in the Treasury a fund, to be known as the National Garden Fund
, for the expenses of establishing and maintaining the Garden.
(2) Deposits and credits; obligations
(A) In general
The National Garden Fund shall consist of—
(i)
amounts deposited, and interest and proceeds credited, under subparagraph (B); and
(ii)
obligations obtained under subparagraph (C).
(B) Deposits and credits
The Chair of the Task Force shall deposit in the National Garden Fund the amounts accepted as contributions under subsection (e). The Secretary of the Treasury shall credit to the National Garden Fund the interest on, and the proceeds from sale or redemption of, obligations held in the National Garden Fund.
(C) Obligations
The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest any portion of the National Garden Fund that, as determined by the Chair of the Task Force, is not required to meet current expenses. Each investment shall be made in an interest-bearing obligation of the United States or an obligation guaranteed as to principal and interest by the United States that, as determined by the Chair of the Task Force, has a maturity suitable for the National Garden Fund.
(3) Availability of funds
Such amounts as are necessary shall be made available from the National Garden Fund to—
(A)
the Secretary of the Interior, for the Secretary to provide administrative support for the establishment of the Garden;
(B)
the Task Force, for the Task Force to establish the Garden; and
(C)
the Director of the National Park Service, beginning on the date on which the Garden opens to the public, for the Director to maintain the Garden.
(g) Visitation fee
(1) In general
The Director may charge a visitation fee for the Garden if the Director determines that the funds of the National Garden Fund are insufficient to maintain the Garden.
(2) Use of fee
Any fees collected under paragraph (1) may only be used for the maintenance of the Garden.
(h) Reports to Congress
(1) Report on establishment of Garden
(A) In general
Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this section, and every 60 days thereafter until the date that is 1 day before the date on which the Garden opens to the public, the Task Force shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the establishment of the Garden, which shall include information regarding—
(i)
prior to the commencement of construction of the Garden, any proposed location for the Garden, or a final decision about such location;
(ii)
any plan for the design of the Garden, and any implementation or planned implementation of such plan;
(iii)
an up-to-date timeline for establishment of the Garden, including—
(I)
prior to the commencement of construction of the Garden, any recommendations or initiatives implemented to enable such commencement by not later than July 4, 2026; and
(II)
after the commencement of construction of the Garden, a date on which the Garden plans to open to the public, recommendations, and any initiatives related to such date on which the Garden plans to open to the public; and
(iv)
a detailed and up-to-date budget for establishing the Garden, including information on any funds in the National Garden Fund, and how such funds are used.
(B) Contingency
If the Task Force determines that commencement of construction of the Garden by July 4, 2026, is not feasible, then the Task Force shall, not later than July 4, 2026, submit to Congress a revised timeline for establishment of the Garden, including a date on which the Garden plans to open to the public.
(2) Report on maintenance of Garden
Not later than 60 days after the date on which the Garden opens to the public, and every 60 days thereafter, the Director shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the maintenance of the Garden, which shall include information regarding—
(A)
the staffing and operations of the Garden;
(B)
the conservation and resource management of the Garden;
(C)
visitations to the Garden;
(D)
the safety of the public at the Garden;
(E)
any security threats or challenges to the Garden;
(F)
any funds in the National Garden Fund, and how such funds are used; and
(G)
any visitation fees collected under subparagraph (g), and how such fees are used.
(i) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Appropriate congressional committees
The term appropriate congressional committees means the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
(2) Garden
The term Garden means the statuary park, to be known as the National Garden of American Heroes, described in Executive Order 14189 (90 Fed. Reg. 8849; relating to celebrating America’s 250th birthday) and prior Executive Orders 13934 (85 Fed. Reg. 41165; relating to building and rebuilding monuments to American heroes) and 13978 (86 Fed. Reg. 6809; relating to building the Garden).
(3) Reserve
The term Reserve has the meaning given such term in section 8902 of title 40, United States Code.
(4) State
The term State has the meaning given such term in section 6501 of title 31, United States Code.
(5) Task Force
The term Task Force means the White House Task Force on Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday established under Executive Order 14189 (90 Fed. Reg. 8849; relating to celebrating America’s 250th birthday) and prior Executive Orders 13934 (85 Fed. Reg. 41165; relating to building and rebuilding monuments to American heroes) and 13978 (86 Fed. Reg. 6809; relating to building the Garden) to establish the Garden.
(6) Tribal Government
The term Tribal Government has the meaning given such term in section 421 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 658).