House · HR 4467 · 119th Congress
Vicksburg National Military Park Boundary Modification Act
Summary
This bill transfers about 7 acres of federal land inside Vicksburg National Military Park to the state of Mississippi at no cost. The land must be used to improve visitor access and must not harm the park's resources or experience. The park's official boundary will shrink to exclude the transferred land.
In Favor
Mississippi receives 7 acres at no cost to build visitor access improvements tied directly to the park's Civil War mission. The Secretary keeps authority to block any use that harms park resources or the visitor experience. Federal use restrictions stay in place permanently, so the land cannot be repurposed without approval.
Against
Once the federal government gives this land away, it loses direct ownership over those 7 acres forever. The Secretary sets use rules, but future enforcement depends on political will. Removing land from the park boundary could set a precedent for shrinking other protected sites.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
This bill directs the federal government to transfer about 7 acres of land inside Vicksburg National Military Park to Mississippi. The land is meant to improve public access and support the park's educational mission.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The bill's provisions stay tied to its core purpose of transferring two specific parcels and modifying the park boundary. No unrelated additions appear in the text.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
Mississippi gains ownership of two land parcels without paying for them. The National Park Service takes on new duties to modify the park boundary and set use restrictions on the transferred land.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill requires the land transfer to happen without payment, so the federal government receives no money in return. No dollar amount is authorized or appropriated, but the agency bears administrative costs to complete the transfer and set restrictions.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The Secretary of the Interior must determine whether the State's future use of the land harms park resources or visitors. If the State uses the land in a way that conflicts with the park's mission, the bill gives the Secretary authority to restrict that use.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 10/18/2026