S. 1215 — César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park Act

This section states the purpose of the Act, which is to establish the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park (1) to preserve, protect, and interpret nationally significant resources associated with César Chávez and the farmworker movement; (2) to interpret and promote broader understanding of their achievements and contributions to U.S. history; and (3) to support and enhance the network of associated sites and resources.

This section defines terms used in the Act, including (1) "historical park," meaning the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park established by section 4; (2) "map," meaning the map entitled "Cesar E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park Proposed Boundary," numbered 502/179857B, and dated September 2022; (3) "Secretary," meaning the Secretary of the Interior; (4) "States," meaning California and Arizona; and (5) "Study," meaning the National Park Service's "César Chávez Special Resource Study and Environmental Assessment" submitted to Congress on October 24, 2013.

This section redesignates the César E. Chávez National Monument, established in 2012 in Keene, California, as the César E. Chávez and the Farmworker Movement National Historical Park, with available funds carrying over and all references updated accordingly. It sets the initial boundary to include the original monument area (as depicted on the map), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to add three additional sites upon acquiring a land interest or entering a management agreement—(1) the Forty Acres in Delano, California; (2) Santa Rita Center in Phoenix, Arizona; and (3) McDonnell Hall in San Jose, California—with Federal Register notice required within 30 days of each addition; and authorizes land acquisition within the proposed boundary by donation, purchase from a willing seller using donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. The Secretary shall administer the park in accordance with this section and laws generally applicable to National Park System units (e.g., resource protection, public use, and concession management under specified provisions of title 54, U.S. Code), provide technical assistance and interpretation for related non-NPS sites on César E. Chávez and the farmworker movement, and enter cooperative agreements with governmental and private entities for preservation, development, interpretation, and use. Not later than three years after funds are made available, the Secretary shall prepare a general management plan for the park in accordance with 54 U.S.C. 100502 (i.e., addressing resource preservation, development types and costs, visitor carrying capacities, and potential boundary modifications). (As background, general management plans guide preservation and public use of each National Park System unit.) The plan shall determine whether to recommend adding sites from a prior study—(1) in California's Coachella Valley; (2) in other reviewed states; or (3) outside those states relating to the farmworker movement—with recommendations submitted to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the House Committee on Natural Resources; the plan shall be developed in consultation with affected landowners, Federal/State/Tribal agencies, and organizations including the National Chávez Center and César Chávez Foundation.

This section establishes the Farmworker Peregrinación National Historic Trail, a route of approximately 300 miles taken by farmworkers between Delano and Sacramento, California, in 1966, as generally depicted as “Alternative C” in the National Park Service's “César Chávez Special Resource Study and Environmental Assessment” submitted to Congress on October 24, 2013.