Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of H.R. 1945, America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act. This legislation will formally recognize America's National Churchill Museum in Fulton, Missouri, as a national historic landmark, a designation long overdue and deeply deserved. Nearly 80 years ago this week, in 1946, Westminster College hosted one of the most consequential speeches of the 20th century: Winston Churchill's "Sinews of Peace," better known as the Iron Curtain speech.
H.R. 1945: America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act
Introduced Mar 6, 20253 cosponsors
Sponsor
Robert Onder
Republican · MO-3
Bill Progress
IntroducedMar 6
Committee
Pass HouseMar 3
Pass Senate
Signed
Law
Latest Action · Mar 4, 2026
1/3
Passed the House, received in Senate
Churchill's Iron Curtain speech site goes national
4 min readLast updated June 9, 2026
Why it matters
In 1946, Winston Churchill stood in a small Missouri college town and warned that an "iron curtain" had descended across Europe. H.R. 1945 makes that exact spot — America's National Churchill Museum in Fulton — a National Historic Landmark and orders the Interior Department to study whether it should join the National Park System. The House passed it by voice vote in March 2026, and it's now in the Senate.
H.R. 1945 does two things for one place: America's National Churchill Museum at Westminster College, which already includes the Winston Churchill Memorial on the National Register of Historic Places.
First, it elevates the site to a National Historic Landmark — a higher tier of federal recognition reserved for places of national importance. There are roughly 2,600 of them nationwide.
Second, it lets the Interior Department team up with the state of Missouri, the city of Fulton, Westminster College, and other public or private partners through cooperative agreements. Those partners can get federal expertise and financial help to preserve the site and run educational programs. The bill doesn't name a dollar figure.
The bill is careful about one thing: control. It spells out that the new designation doesn't let Washington take over the property, and that the state, city, and college keep running the site exactly as they do now. The federal role is supporting, not commanding.
The longer-term piece is a required special resource study. Interior has to evaluate the site's national significance, decide whether it would work as a unit of the National Park System, and weigh other preservation options if park status isn't the right fit — then report back to Congress within three years of getting the money to start.
H.R. 1945 Bill Summary
What H.R. 1945 actually does.
1
The Iron Curtain site becomes a National Historic Landmark
The bill designates America's National Churchill Museum at Westminster College, including the Winston Churchill Memorial, as the "America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark" — a step up from its current National Register listing.
2
Interior can partner with the state, city, and college
The Interior Secretary may enter cooperative agreements with Missouri, Fulton, Westminster College, and other public or private groups to protect the site and run public education programs.
3
Federal money and expertise can flow to partners
Interior may provide technical and financial assistance to any group it signs a cooperative agreement with. The bill sets no specific dollar amount.
4
The college keeps control of its property
The designation doesn't block property owners from taking actions they could otherwise take, and it doesn't change how the state, city, or college administer the site.
5
A federal study weighs National Park status
Interior must study the site's national significance, decide whether it's suitable and feasible as a National Park System unit, consider other preservation options, and report to Congress within three years of funding.
Who benefits from H.R. 1945?
America's National Churchill Museum
The museum gains a higher national profile, a stronger preservation status, and potential access to federal expertise and funding.
Westminster College
The college keeps ownership and control while gaining prestige, tourism interest, and federal partnership opportunities.
Visitors, students, and history buffs
Anyone who comes to see where the Iron Curtain speech was delivered could find better exhibits and interpretive programs if federal partnerships move forward.
Fulton and mid-Missouri
A town of about 12,000 stands to gain tourism and national attention tied to a globally recognized piece of Cold War history.
Who is affected by H.R. 1945?
Department of the Interior
Interior would manage the partnerships, provide assistance, and run the special resource study within the bill's three-year reporting window.
State of Missouri
The state can become a formal partner in preservation and education efforts and would be consulted during the study.
City of Fulton
The city may enter cooperative agreements and could see local tourism and civic planning shaped by the designation.
Property owners at the site
The college and any other owners are directly named, though the bill specifically preserves their legal control and day-to-day authority.
On the Record
What Congress Is Saying
H.R. 1945 has come up 13 times in the Congressional Record so far.
Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. H.R. 1945 does ensure that America's National Churchill Museum receives recognition equal to its educational impact and importance to 20th century history. Designating the site as a national historic landmark will bring further prominence to the special place and allow future generations of Americans to learn about the moment that marked the start of the Cold War and the legacy of Sir Winston Churchill. I commend Representative Onder for his leadership on this legislation. Mr.
I rise in support of H.R. 1945, the America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act, sponsored by the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Onder). This bill recognizes a place of global consequence in the heart of small-town America: America's National Churchill Museum at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri. On March 6, 1946, on the heels of a devastating world war, Sir Winston Churchill traveled to Fulton to deliver an address that foreshadowed the next stage of America's global conflict against evil.
H.R. 1945 also appeared in 4 routine cosponsor filings.
HR1945 Legislative Journey
Sent to Senate
Mar 4, 2026
Received in the Senate.
House: Vote Held
Mar 3, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2356)
House: Committee Action
Feb 24, 2026
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-517.
House: Passed Committee
Feb 11, 2026
Ordered to be Reported by Unanimous Consent.
+2 more actions this day
House: Committee Action
Jul 16, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
House: Committee Action
Jul 9, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
House: Committee Action
Mar 6, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
About the Sponsor
Robert Onder
Republican, Missouri's 3rd congressional district · 1 years in Congress
Committees: Education and Workforce, the Judiciary, Transportation and Infrastructure
View full profile →
Cosponsors (3)
No new cosponsors in 196 days — momentum stalled
This bill has 3 cosponsors: 1 Democrat, 2 Republicans, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 3 states: Colorado, Nebraska, Pennsylvania.
1Democrat2Republicans·3 statesBipartisan
Committee Sponsors
25 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 1945 Quick Facts
Cosponsors
3
- Committee
- Natural Resources
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Introduced
- Mar 6, 2025
Passed the House, received in Senate
Mar 4, 2026
Official Sources
H.R. 1945 on Congress.gov
Official bill page with full text, cosponsors, committee actions, and legislative history for the America's National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark Act
H. Rept. 119-517 — Committee Report
House Natural Resources Committee report accompanying H.R. 1945, explaining the committee's findings and recommendation that the bill do pass
NPS National Historic Landmarks Program
The NPS program that administers over 2,600 National Historic Landmarks — the designation category this bill creates for the Churchill Museum
National Register of Historic Places
The Winston Churchill Memorial at Westminster College is already listed on the National Register; this bill elevates it to the higher National Historic Landmark designation
NPS Special Resource Studies — Types of Studies
Explains the special resource study process the Interior Department must conduct under Section 4 to evaluate potential National Park System designation
54 U.S.C. 100507 — Additional Areas for the National Park System
The statute governing how new areas are studied and potentially added to the National Park System — Section 4(c) of the bill requires the study to follow this procedure
H.R. 1945 Common Questions
Why is America's National Churchill Museum historically significant?
It sits at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, where Winston Churchill delivered his 1946 "Sinews of Peace" address — the speech that popularized the phrase "iron curtain" and is seen as an early marker of the Cold War.
Could the Churchill Museum become a national park?
Possibly, but not yet. H.R. 1945 orders the Interior Department to study whether the site is suitable and feasible as a unit of the National Park System. Any actual park designation would take separate legislation later.
Does this bill let the federal government take over Westminster College's property?
No. The bill specifically says property owners can still do what they otherwise could with their property, and that the state, city, and college keep administering the site. The federal role is supporting, not controlling.
What's the difference between a National Historic Landmark and the National Register?
The Winston Churchill Memorial is already on the National Register of Historic Places. A National Historic Landmark is a higher tier — reserved for sites of national importance, with only about 2,600 nationwide. H.R. 1945 moves the site up to that tier.
How much federal money does the bill spend on the Churchill Museum?
The bill doesn't set a dollar amount. It lets Interior provide technical and financial assistance to partners through cooperative agreements, but the actual funding would depend on future appropriations.
When would the federal study be finished?
Interior has to report its findings to Congress within three years after funds are first made available to start the study. That report has to include cost estimates for any federal acquisition, operation, and maintenance.
Has H.R. 1945 passed?
The House passed it by voice vote in March 2026, and it was received in the Senate. It still needs Senate passage and a presidential signature to become law.
Based on H.R. 1945 bill text
H.R. 1945 Bill Text
“To designate the America’s National Churchill Museum National Historic Landmark, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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