Overview
Title
To require congressional approval before the sale, disposal, declaration of excess or surplus, transfer, or conveyance of Federal property with historical significance, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 2046 is a rule that says if the government wants to sell or give away special old buildings or places, they have to ask Congress first. This is to make sure important and old places are not lost without thinking it through.
Summary AI
H.R. 2046 is a bill that requires Congress to approve before any federal property with historical significance can be sold, disposed of, or declared excess or surplus. The bill specifies that this approval process applies to any building, land, structure, monument, or site owned by the U.S. that has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A federal official must notify Congress, and then Congress must pass a resolution to approve the transfer or sale of such property. This measure aims to ensure that historically important federal properties are not disposed of without legislative oversight.
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
In March 2025, H. R. 2046 was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill mandates congressional approval for actions involving federal property with historical significance. Specifically, this includes selling, disposing, declaring as excess or surplus, transferring, or conveying any such property. The properties in question must either currently be on or have previously been on the National Register of Historic Places. This legislation aims to protect sites of historical importance in the United States by ensuring any significant federal action regarding them undergoes scrutiny and receives explicit approval through a joint congressional resolution.
Significant Issues
One of the primary issues with the bill is its broad definition of "specified official," which includes the President, the head of any federal agency, and any other federal official. This broad language may lead to ambiguity regarding who precisely holds the authority to initiate actions related to historically significant buildings. Such ambiguity could result in political and legal challenges in executing the bill's provisions effectively.
Additionally, the bill does not clarify the process or timeline for notifying Congress and securing a joint resolution. The absence of a clear procedure could result in bureaucratic delays and inconsistencies, potentially affecting the timely management of federal properties deemed historically significant.
Moreover, the phrase "any covered building" appears expansive, potentially encompassing properties where sales or disposals might not be controversial. This broad categorization might lead to unnecessary legislative processes, consuming time and resources that could be better allocated elsewhere.
Public Impact
The bill's intention to safeguard historically significant federal properties resonates positively with the public, especially those concerned with preserving national heritage and cultural landmarks. By requiring congressional approval, the bill ensures that these decisions undergo rigorous scrutiny, potentially preventing hasty or inappropriate transactions that could jeopardize historical sites.
However, due to the lack of detailed processes and timelines, there may be delays in decision-making related to federal properties, potentially affecting their maintenance and usability. This could lead to public dissatisfaction if historical sites fall into disrepair due to bureaucratic holdups.
Impact on Stakeholders
For historians and cultural preservationists, the bill offers a layer of protection for important sites, aligning with their interests in maintaining national heritage. These stakeholders likely view the bill favorably, as it adds a safeguard to prevent the loss of historical properties.
Conversely, government agencies tasked with property management might encounter challenges. The undefined roles and processes could create obstacles in efficiently handling federal properties. This inefficiency could inadvertently affect their operations and responsibilities. Moreover, developers and private entities bidding for such properties might face prolonged timelines and increased uncertainty due to the additional legislative hurdle.
In summary, while H. R. 2046 aims to protect historically significant properties, its implementation requires clearer definitions and streamlined processes to address potential ambiguities and inefficiencies. This would better align its protective intent with practical execution, balancing preservation with administrative efficiency.
Issues
The broad definition of 'specified official' in Section 1 might create ambiguity in determining the precise authority responsible for initiating actions regarding covered buildings. This could lead to significant political and legal challenges in enforcing the bill as it lacks clarity in assigning responsibility.
Section 1 does not clarify the process or timeline for notifying Congress and obtaining a joint resolution. This could result in bureaucratic delays or inconsistencies, impacting the timely handling of federal properties with historical significance.
The phrase 'any covered building' in Section 1 is broad, potentially including properties where selling or disposing might not be controversial. This might lead to unnecessary legislative processes, wasting resources and time on properties not essential to protect.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Congressional approval of sale of Federal property with historical significance Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In this section, no federal official is allowed to sell or transfer any historically significant property owned by the United States without first notifying Congress and obtaining their approval through a joint resolution. The properties in question must be on or have been on the National Register of Historic Places.