# 117-s-2490: Blackwell School National Historic Site Act

117-s-2490, Blackwell School National Historic Site Act, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX); status became_law (as of 2026-01-05).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-2490
- As of: 2026-01-05
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-s-2490
- Congress: 117
- Title: Blackwell School National Historic Site Act
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2021-07-27
- Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (R-TX)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-01-05

## Summary

**Creates the Blackwell School National Historic Site to preserve and interpret the school's role in segregated education in Marfa, Texas.** This law makes the site a unit of the National Park System but only after the Marfa Unified School District donates the school or agrees to co-manage it and after enough land or an interest in land is acquired to form a manageable unit. The law uses a February 2022 boundary map on file and limits land acquisition to donations, purchases with donated funds, or exchanges. The Secretary must prepare a general management plan within three years after planning funds are first available and will work with the Blackwell School Alliance and other local, state, academic, and nonprofit partners on interpretation, education, and rehabilitation. No private or non-Federal public property may be included without the owner's written consent.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA] (D-CA), 2021-07-27T00:00:00.000Z

## Votes

| Date | Chamber | Question | Result | Yea | Nay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2022-09-20T00:00:00.000Z | house | On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass | Passed | 414 | 12 |

## Provisions PRIA read

- Blackwell School becomes a National Historic Site: benefit, low. The law creates the Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, managed by the National Park Service. The site is established after the Secretary has a written deal with the Marfa Unified School District to donate or co-manage the school, and enough land is secured to run the site. The…
- Owner consent and limited land purchases: benefit, low. The government can add land to the site only by donation, exchange, or purchases made with donated funds. The National Park Service cannot use regular federal money to buy land for the site. Private and non-Federal public property is not included or managed as part of the site without the owner’s w…

## Related bills

- 117-s-1605: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022
- 117-s-3846: Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022
- 117-s-4524: Speak Out Act
- 117-s-1543: STANDUP Act of 2021
- 117-s-475: Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
- 117-s-5168: Energy Security and Lightering Independence Act of 2022

## Sources
- [117-s-2490 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/2490)

## Related
- [117-s-1605: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-1605)
- [117-s-3846: Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-3846)
- [117-s-4524: Speak Out Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-4524)
- [117-s-1543: STANDUP Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-1543)
- [117-s-475: Juneteenth National Independence Day Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-475)
- [117-s-5168: Energy Security and Lightering Independence Act of 2022](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-5168)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-2490 (as of 2026-01-05).