POLISCOPE
Back to bills
Part ofPublic Lands and Natural Resources →

The civic record

Read. Follow. Verify.
HR5254FEDERALSession 119Federal Billpassed chamber
Passed

Gateway Partnership Act authorizes five-year private event agreement at Gateway Arch National Park

Original title: Gateway Partnership Act

Last action · September 17, 2026: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 662.Sponsors: Wesley Bell and 2 others

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.

What This Bill Would Do

Federal legislation allows the National Park Service to enter into a one-lasting, up to five-year agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to host private events in park buildings while recovering all associated operational costs and wear-and-tear fees.

Why it matters

The measure establishes a formal framework for private event hosting at federal historic sites in St. Louis, shifting financial and maintenance cost recovery onto the nonprofit partner for up to seven years.

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Gateway Arch Park Foundation

Obtains statutory authorization to enter into a pilot agreement to host private events in park buildings under specified conditions.

Directly affected

National Park Service

Must oversee the pilot agreement, enforce safety and resource protections, charge cost-recovery fees, and submit a four-year implementation report to Congress.

Directly affected

Park visitors

Retain guaranteed public access and protection from disruptions during private events held in park buildings.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will private events close the Gateway Arch National Park to regular visitors?
No. The bill explicitly prohibits private events from taking place during times or in locations that prevent or disrupt public use or access to the park or its buildings.
Who pays for the extra maintenance and security required during private events?
The National Park Service is required to charge a fee for wear and tear and must recover all costs incurred from the events, including maintenance, utilities, administrative expenses, security, and personnel costs.
How long does this private event agreement authority last?
The agreement itself cannot exceed five years, and the overall statutory authority to carry it out s seven years after enactment.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

Coverage by outlet perspective2 articles
Unrated 2
Blind spot - only covered by center outlets

Wagner’s bipartisan Gateway Partnership Act clears House

Ripon AdvanceOct 5, 2026

Wagner’s Gateway Partnership Act Passes House

Congresswoman Ann Wagner (.gov)Mar 16, 2026

Bias ratings based on AllSides / Media Bias/Fact Check

Follow the record

Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Currently passed chamber. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Law.

Procedural history

20 actions
  1. Sep 17, 2026Senate
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 662.
  2. Sep 17, 2026Senate
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Lee with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
  3. Jul 29, 2026Senate
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
  4. Jul 21, 2026Senate
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks. Hearings held.
  5. Mar 17, 2026SenateCommittee
    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  6. Mar 16, 2026House
    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Show 14 earlier actions
  1. Mar 16, 2026HouseFloor
    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2519-2520)
  2. Mar 16, 2026HouseFloor
    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2519-2520)
  3. Mar 16, 2026House
    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5254.
  4. Mar 16, 2026House
    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2519-2521)
  5. Mar 16, 2026House
    Mr. Wittman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  6. Mar 2, 2026House
    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 461.
  7. Mar 2, 2026House
    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-536.
  8. Jan 22, 2026HouseCommittee
    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
  9. Jan 22, 2026House
    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  10. Jan 22, 2026House
    Subcommittee on Federal Lands Discharged
  11. Dec 2, 2025House
    Subcommittee Hearings Held
  12. Nov 25, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
  13. Sep 10, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
  14. Sep 10, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Introduced in House

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Wesley BellHouse · District 1DPrimary sponsor
Ann WagnerHouse · District 2RCosponsor
Nikki BudzinskiHouse · District 13DCosponsor

Connected Entities

Old Courthouse, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, Arch Visitor Center and 5 more
OrganizationOld Courthouse“Park building administered by the Secretary as part of the Park.”Map →
OrganizationCommittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate“Senate committee to receive an implementation report within 4 years.”Map →
OrganizationArch Visitor Center“Park building administered by the Secretary as part of the Park.”Map →
PersonSecretary of the Interior“Authorized to enter into the agreement with the Foundation.”Map →
OrganizationCommittee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives“House committee to receive an implementation report within 4 years.”Map →
locationGateway Arch National Park“National park located in St. Louis, Missouri.”Map →
OrganizationGateway Arch Park Foundation“Nonprofit organization that serves as the official philanthropic partner of the ”Map →
OrganizationNational Park Service“Agency responsible for managing the Park and park buildings.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.congress.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance45
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy20
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

Publisher tools

Share or embed this record

POLISCOPE publisher tools

Share or embed this record