S. 1161 (119th)Bill Overview

Salem Maritime National Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary Study Act

Public Lands and Natural Resources|Congressional oversightHistoric sites and heritage areas
Cosponsors
Support
Democratic
Introduced
Mar 26, 2025
Discussions
Bill Text
Current stageCommittee

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Introduced
Committee
Floor
President
Law
Congressional Activities
01 · The brief

This bill redesignates the Salem Maritime National Historic Site as the Salem Maritime National Historical Park.

It directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a boundary study of Salem, Massachusetts and vicinity, including the Salem Armory Visitor Center and adjacent park, to evaluate adding sites related to maritime history, coastal defenses, and military history.

The Secretary must report results and recommendations to relevant congressional committees within three years after funds are made available.

Passage70/100

Low controversy, limited fiscal impact, and common legislative precedent for park renamings and boundary studies increase chances; depends on committee action and funding.

CredibilityPartially aligned

Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill effectively accomplishes a narrow administrative action (redesignation) and establishes a time-limited study with a defined subject area and recipient committees, but it omits several implementation and resourcing details that would improve clarity and execution.

Contention45/100

Supporters emphasize preservation and interpretation benefits

02 · What it does

Who stands to gain, and who may push back.

Who this appears to help vs burden50% / 50%
Federal agencies · Local governmentsFederal agencies · Local governments
Likely helped
  • Federal agenciesMay increase federal attention and eligibility for National Park Service funding and technical assistance.
  • Local governmentsCould boost local tourism and related revenues if redesignation and expansion attract more visitors.
  • Targeted stakeholdersMay strengthen preservation and interpretation of maritime, coastal defense, and military resources.
Likely burdened
  • Federal agenciesConducting and following up on the study could increase federal expenditures and ongoing maintenance costs.
  • Local governmentsPotential expansion or new management could impose additional federal oversight on local property and land use.
  • Targeted stakeholdersPossible acquisition of sites may raise concerns about property transfer or eminent domain risks.
03 · Why people split

Why the argument around this bill splits.

Supporters emphasize preservation and interpretation benefits
Progressive90%

Likely supportive: renaming to a National Historical Park can strengthen federal recognition and preservation.

The boundary study could help protect maritime and military heritage and potentially expand public access and educational programming.

Leans supportive
Centrist75%

Generally favorable but pragmatic: renaming and a study are modest steps with limited immediate cost.

Support hinges on clarity about funding, local input, and whether recommendations respect fiscal constraints.

Leans supportive
Conservative40%

Cautiously skeptical: a name change and study may be unnecessary federal expansion.

Concerns focus on future land acquisition, ongoing maintenance costs, and federal overreach into local affairs.

Split reaction
04 · Can it pass?

The path through Congress.

Introduced

Reached or meaningfully advanced

Committee

Reached or meaningfully advanced

Floor

Still ahead

President

Still ahead

Law

Still ahead

Passage likelihood70/100

Low controversy, limited fiscal impact, and common legislative precedent for park renamings and boundary studies increase chances; depends on committee action and funding.

Scope and complexity
24%
Scopenarrow
24%
Complexitylow
Why this could stall
  • No cost estimate or funding source included
  • Local stakeholder and landowner support unknown
05 · Recent votes

Recent votes on the bill.

No vote history yet

The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.

06 · Go deeper

Go deeper than the headline read.

Included on this page

Supporters emphasize preservation and interpretation benefits

Low controversy, limited fiscal impact, and common legislative precedent for park renamings and boundary studies increase chances; depends…

Unlocked analysis

Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill effectively accomplishes a narrow administrative action (redesignation) and establishes a time-limited study with a defined subject area and recipient committees, but…

Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.

Perspective breakdownsPassage barriersLegislative design reviewStakeholder impact map
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