H. Con. Res. 33

Designating the George C. Marshall Museum and George C. Marshall Research Library in Lexington, Virginia, as the National George C. Marshall Museum and Library

STATEMENT OF P. DANIEL SMITH, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, EXERCISING THE AUTHORITY OF THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BEFORE THE SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, CONCERNING H. CON. RES. 33, DESIGNATING THE GEORGE C. MARSHALL MUSEUM AND GEORGE C. MARSHALL LIBRARY IN LEXINGTON, VIRGINIA, AS THE NATIONAL GEORGE C. MARSHALL MUSEUM AND LIBRARY.

AUGUST 15, 2018

Chairman Daines, Ranking Member King, and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the Department of the Interior's views on H. Con. Res. 33, a resolution designating the George C. Marshall Museum and George C. Marshall Library in Lexington, Virginia, as the National George C. Marshall Museum and Library.

The Department of the Interior (Department) defers to the Department of Defense and the Department of State for a position on H. Con. Res. 33 since the purpose of the legislation is to confer a national designation on a museum and a library honoring George C. Marshall, a five-star World War II Army general, Secretary of State, and Nobel Peace Prize-winning statesman. The museum and library are located at a site that is not under the jurisdiction of the Department, and this resolution does not call for any management or funding by the National Park Service.

H. Con. Res. 33 would designate the George C. Marshall Museum and the George C. Marshall Library as the National George C. Marshall Museum and Library in Lexington, Virginia. The museum and library are operated by the George C. Marshall Foundation which was established in 1953 to preserve the legacy of General George C. Marshall through educational scholarship and programs and facilities.

The one concern we have with this legislation is that the use of the title "national" could create an expectation among the general public that the museum and library has an affiliation with, or at least some connection to, the Federal government. The Department respectfully encourages the Committee to be thoughtful and judicious in any decision as to whether an entity that has no association with the Federal government should have a "national" title conferred by Congress.

Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement. I would be pleased to answer any questions you or other members of the Subcommittee may have.

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