II 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. 4599 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement with 

the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to host private events in Gateway 

Arch National Park buildings, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 20, 2024 

Mr. SCHMITT introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into 

an agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation 

to host private events in Gateway Arch National Park 

buildings, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Gateway Partnership 

5 Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 


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1 (1) FOUNDATION.—The term ‘‘Foundation’’ 

2 means the Gateway Arch Park Foundation, a non3 profit organization that serves as the official philan4 thropic partner of the Park. 

5 (2) PARK.—The term ‘‘Park’’ means Gateway 

6 Arch National Park. 

7 (3) PARK BUILDING.—The term ‘‘Park build8 ing’’ means— 

9 (A) the Arch Visitor Center; 

10 (B) the Old Courthouse; and 

11 (C) any other building administered or 

12 managed by the Secretary as part of the Park 

13 that is open to the public. 

14 (4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

15 the Secretary of the Interior. 

16 SEC. 3. GATEWAY ARCH NATIONAL PARK AGREEMENT. 

17 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in accordance with 

18 subsection (b), may enter into an agreement with the 

19 Foundation to host private events at the Park, which may 

20 include the use of Park buildings. 

21 (b) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—An agreement en22 tered into under subsection (a) shall include terms and 

23 conditions to protect the resources and values of the Park, 

24 including— 


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1 (1) dates and times during which the Founda2 tion may be the exclusive organization that holds a 

3 special event in specified Park buildings; 

4 (2)(A) the maximum number of events that can 

5 be held per week; and 

6 (B) appropriate National Park Service staffing 

7 for the events; 

8 (3) liability insurance in an amount sufficient 

9 to protect the interests of the United States that 

10 lists the United States as additionally insured; 

11 (4) a provision stating that the Federal Govern12 ment and agents and employees of the Federal Gov13 ernment will not be held liable for claims for dam14 ages or suits for any injuries or deaths from any 

15 cause resulting from the occupancy and use of speci16 fied Park buildings by the Foundation; and 

17 (5) any other terms and conditions as the Sec18 retary considers appropriate. 

19 (c) USE.—Private events hosted at the Park or in 

20 Park buildings through an agreement entered into under 

21 subsection (a)— 

22 (1) shall be limited to activities— 

23 (A) consistent with the purposes of the 

24 Park; and 


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1 (B) compatible with National Park Service 

2 programs; 

3 (2) shall not include activities that degrade the 

4 integrity, appearance, or purposes of the Park; and 

5 (3) shall not take place during times or in loca6 tions that prevent or disrupt public use or access to 

7 the Park or Park buildings. 

8 (d) RECOVERY OF COSTS.—In entering into an agree9 ment under subsection (a), the Secretary— 

10 (1) shall charge a fee to cover the cost of main11 taining the Park and Park buildings with respect to 

12 wear and tear resulting from the private events; and 

13 (2) notwithstanding any other provision of law, 

14 may recover all costs incurred as a result of the pri15 vate events and use of the Park and Park buildings, 

16 including administrative and personnel costs. 

17 (e) NATIONAL PARK SERVICE-SPONSORED

18 EVENTS.—Nothing in this Act prevents the National Park 

19 Service from hosting events or issuing permits to other 

20 individuals or entities for special events or otherwise, as 

21 appropriate, in the Park or Park buildings. 

Æ 


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