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S. 2490 117th Congress Senate

Blackwell School National Historic Site Act

Official title: A bill to establish the Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, and for other purposes.

Introduced: July 27, 2021 Introduced by: John Cornyn Republican · Texas See on congress.gov
Public Lands and Natural Resources Educational facilities and institutionsHistoric sites and heritage areasLatin AmericaMexico
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Parks, recreation areas, trailsRacial and ethnic relationsTexasU.S. history
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 Everywhere this bill has been 22 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Oct 17, 2022
Became Public Law No: 117-206.
Oct 17, 2022
Signed by President.
Oct 17, 2022
Presented to President.
Sep 20, 2022
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Sep 20, 2022
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 414 - 12 (Roll no. 444). (text: 9/19/2022 CR H7936)
Sep 20, 2022
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7992-7993)
Sep 19, 2022
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Sep 19, 2022
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 2490.
Sep 19, 2022
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7936-7937)
Sep 19, 2022
Mr. Grijalva moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
May 19, 2022
Held at the desk.
May 19, 2022
Received in the House.
May 19, 2022
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
May 19, 2022
Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S2606)
May 19, 2022
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Unanimous Consent.
May 19, 2022
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S2605-2606)
Mar 2, 2022
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 300.
Mar 2, 2022
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Manchin without amendment. With written report No. 117-92.
Nov 18, 2021
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Oct 6, 2021
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held. With printed Hearing: S.Hrg. 117-450.
Jul 27, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jul 27, 2021
Introduced in Senate
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Sep 20, 2022 House · vote #444 On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass Passed 414–12 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 1

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

1 agreed to

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
SAMDT 5,042 Cornyn, John To modify the map information. Agreed to May 19, 2022
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 Latest action October 17, 2022

Became Public Law No: 117-206.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Blackwell School National Historic Site Act

This bill establishes the Blackwell School National Historic Site in Texas as a unit of the National Park System.

The purpose of the site is to preserve, protect, and interpret for the benefit of present and future generations the Blackwell School, including (1) the role of the Blackwell School, which educated children of Mexican descent, as an academic and cultural cornerstone in Marfa, Texas; and (2) the function of the Blackwell School within a segregated system of education in Texas and the United States from the period of 1885 through 1965.

The historic site shall not be established until the date on which the Department of the Interior has (1) entered into a written agreement with the Marfa Unified School District providing that the Blackwell School shall be donated to or placed by agreement into comanagement with the United States for inclusion in a national historic site to be managed consistently with the purposes of such a site, and (2) acquired sufficient land or interests in land within the boundaries of the historic site to constitute a manageable unit.

Interior may only acquire by donation, purchase with donated funds, or exchange any land or interest in land located within the boundary of the historic site.

The bill prohibits any private property or nonfederal public property from being included within the boundaries of the historic site or managed as part of such site without the written consent of the owner.

Interior shall prepare a general management plan for the historic site.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 5 versions
 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 2490: Blackwell School National Historic Site Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-2490/
MLA
"S. 2490: Blackwell School National Historic Site Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-2490/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 2490, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-2490/.
Markdown link
[S. 2490: Blackwell School National Historic Site Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-2490/)
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