Values for America · Brief for congressional offices

To the office of U.S. Senator James C. Justice

Re: S 2280 (119th Congress), A bill to transfer administrative jurisdiction over certain parcels of Federal land in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and for other purposes. · Latest action (2026-05-04): Held at the desk.
VFA SI Solution #11 · published 2026-05-13 · https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/11
Office of record (Congress.gov): 509 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510, Washington, DC · (202) 224-3954

Harpers Ferry Federal Land Transfer Improvement Act

The measure, as described from the official record: Transfer administrative jurisdiction over specific federal land parcels in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, to local or state entities for improved management and use.

The proposal

This Act transfers administrative jurisdiction of designated federal parcels in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia—totaling approximately 10 acres under current National Park Service control—to the Jefferson County Commission, West Virginia, effective 90 days after enactment. The transfer requires the recipient to maintain public access, historic preservation standards per National Historic Preservation Act, and environmental protections under NEPA, with annual reporting to Congress on compliance. The Secretary of the Interior must complete all transfer documentation within 180 days, including a full inventory of assets and any liabilities. No federal structures or artifacts may be altered without NPS approval for the first five years post-transfer. A Government Accountability Office audit will review the transfer's costs and benefits two years after completion, reporting to the House and Senate Committees on Natural Resources. If non-compliance occurs, jurisdiction reverts to federal control upon a joint resolution of Congress. This narrows federal holdings while ensuring accountability, with cost caps to prevent overruns.

Operative provisions (VFA proposal)

funding source
Existing Department of the Interior operations budget (National Park Service allocation)
funding amount
$250,000 cap for transfer administration and documentation
sunset years
10 years
oversight body
GAO audit + House/Senate Natural Resources Committees
enforcement mechanism
Secretary of Interior enforces transfer terms; reversion via congressional joint resolution for violations
effective date
90 days after enactment

Constitutional basis

Why both sides can back it (VFA’s assessment)

Honors Democratic priorities of historic preservation and community access protections; honors Republican priorities of federalism via local control, cost caps, and reduced federal footprint.

Values for America is a nonpartisan, constitution-first SI think tank. This brief is informational. It is a policy proposal, not law, and it does not support or oppose any candidate or party. Full analysis and sources: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/solutions/11 · Methodology: https://www.valuesforamerica.com/methodology