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.
Sponsored By: Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
Introduced
Summary
Would create two National Park Service affiliated areas in Natchez, Mississippi to protect and interpret the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians and to designate Historic Jefferson College once it meets Park Service criteria.
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- Natchez visitors and the public would get formal recognition, interpretation, and mapped boundaries for the Grand Village site and for Historic Jefferson College if it is approved by the Park Service.
- The Mississippi Department of Archives and History would be the designated management entity responsible for stewardship and daily management of the affiliated areas.
- The Secretary of the Interior would be able to provide technical assistance and enter cooperative agreements, including financial help for marketing, marking, interpretation, and preservation, but would not be authorized to acquire property or assume operation or maintenance costs.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Park affiliation for Natchez historic sites
If enacted, this bill would make the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians an affiliated area of the National Park System. If enacted, Historic Jefferson College would become an affiliated area once the Secretary of the Interior determines the site meets National Park Service criteria for designation. If enacted, the Secretary would be required, as soon as practicable after each establishment, to prepare a boundary map and keep it on file and available for public inspection (map: "Affiliated Areas, Adams County, Mississippi Proposed Boundaries," No. 964/194,653, dated August 2024).
Mississippi manages sites; NPS support limited
If enacted, the bill would designate the Mississippi Department of Archives and History as the management entity for the affiliated areas. If enacted, the affiliated areas would be managed consistent with this section and laws that apply to National Park System units. If enacted, the Secretary could provide technical assistance and enter cooperative agreements to give financial help for marketing, marking, interpretation, and preservation, and must sign an agreement that spells out roles and responsibilities. If enacted, the bill would also bar the Secretary from acquiring property at the affiliated areas or from assuming financial responsibility for their operation, maintenance, or management.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cindy Hyde-Smith
MS • R
Cosponsors
Roger Wicker
MS • R
Sponsored 2/12/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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