H.R. 5254: Gateway Partnership Act
Sponsor
Wesley Bell
Democrat · MO-1
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 17, 2026
Passed the House, received in Senate
Renting out the Gateway Arch, on a 7-year trial
Why it matters
One of America's most recognizable public monuments could start hosting private events. H.R. 5254 lets the National Park Service sign a single deal with the Gateway Arch's nonprofit partner to hold exclusive events inside park buildings — the Arch Visitor Center, the Old Courthouse — for up to 5 years. The House passed it by voice vote in March 2026, and it now sits in the Senate. The whole arrangement is built to expire 7 years after it starts.
H.R. 5254, the Gateway Partnership Act, sets up a one-time experiment for Gateway Arch National Park in St. Louis. The Interior Department could sign a single agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to host private events at the park, including inside buildings like the Arch Visitor Center and the Old Courthouse.
This isn't open-ended. Any agreement has to spell out which buildings the foundation can use exclusively, on what dates and times, how many events it can hold each month, and how many park staff are needed to keep things safe.
The bill draws a line around public access. Private events have to fit the park's purpose, can't damage how it looks or what it stands for, and can't happen at times or places that block or disrupt regular public use.
Money runs through fees, not a federal appropriation. The government must charge for wear and tear and can recover its other costs — security, utilities, maintenance, administrative work, and staffing. The foundation also has to carry liability insurance that names the United States, and the bill shields the federal government from liability for injuries tied to the foundation's use.
Congress put a clock on the whole thing. The authority ends 7 years after the bill becomes law, and within 4 years Interior has to report back on visitor access, security, staffing, and whether the fees actually covered the costs.
H.R. 5254 Bill Summary
What H.R. 5254 actually does.
The Arch could host private events for up to 5 years
The Interior Department could sign one agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to host private events at the park, lasting no more than 5 years.
The Visitor Center and Old Courthouse are on the table
The agreement can cover the Arch Visitor Center, the Old Courthouse, and other public park buildings managed as part of Gateway Arch National Park.
Monthly caps and set time slots
Any agreement must fix the dates and times the foundation can have exclusive use of specific buildings and cap how many events happen each month.
Public access can't be blocked
Events must fit the park's purpose, can't degrade its integrity or appearance, and can't take place at times or in places that prevent or disrupt public use or access.
The foundation pays for the wear and tear
The government must charge a fee covering wear and tear and may recover other event costs, including maintenance, utilities, security, administrative expenses, and personnel.
Insurance required, federal liability limited
The foundation must carry liability insurance naming the United States as additionally insured, and the bill says the federal government isn't liable for injuries or deaths tied to the foundation's use of park buildings.
A report to Congress, then a hard sunset
Interior must report within 4 years on visitor access, security, staffing, facilities, fees collected, and costs recovered — and the whole authority ends 7 years after enactment.
Who benefits from H.R. 5254?
Gateway Arch Park Foundation
The park's official nonprofit partner gets a 5-year window to host exclusive events inside one of St. Louis's most recognizable landmarks — a rare fundraising channel.
National Park Service managers at the Arch
Park officials keep the controls: which buildings, what dates and times, how many events a month, and the staffing levels needed to protect visitors and the site.
Visitors who want the Arch to stay public
The bill writes in guardrails — events can't damage the park or block public access — plus a required check-in to Congress within 4 years.
Federal taxpayers
If cost recovery works as written, the foundation covers the bill for security, staffing, utilities, and upkeep tied to its events rather than the public footing it.
Who is affected by H.R. 5254?
People visiting the Arch or Old Courthouse
On some dates, parts of these public buildings could be reserved for exclusive events, though the bill says those events can't prevent or disrupt public access.
National Park Service staff
Staff would plan around the event calendar, provide safety and resource protection during events, and track whether the government recovers its full costs.
Private event clients
Groups booking through the foundation could gain access to high-profile federal spaces, but only within a capped, time-limited pilot with a fixed end date.
Other groups seeking permits
The bill says the National Park Service can keep hosting its own events and issuing permits to other people and organizations, so this isn't an exclusive lock on the park.
What Congress Is Saying
H.R. 5254 has come up 6 times in the Congressional Record so far.
H.R. 5254 also appeared in 1 more House floor reference.
HR5254 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Mar 17, 2026
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
House: Vote: 2519-2520
Mar 16, 2026
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2519-2520)
House: Committee Action
Mar 2, 2026
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 119-536.
House: Passed Committee
Jan 22, 2026
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Unanimous Consent.
+2 more actions this day
House: Committee Action
Dec 2, 2025
Subcommittee Hearings Held
House: Committee Action
Nov 25, 2025
Referred to the Subcommittee on Federal Lands.
House: Committee Action
Sep 10, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
About the Sponsor
Wesley Bell
Democrat, Missouri's 1st congressional district · 1 years in Congress
Committees: Oversight and Government Reform, Armed Services
View full profile →
Cosponsors (2)
This bill has 2 cosponsors: 1 Democrat, 1 Republican, reflecting bipartisan support. Cosponsors represent 2 states: Illinois, Missouri.
Committee Sponsors
Energy and Natural Resources Committee
0 of 20 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
Natural Resources Committee
0 of 45 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
28 Democrats across these committees haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 5254 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Energy and Natural Resources
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Public Lands and Natural Resources
- Introduced
- Sep 10, 2025
Passed the House, received in Senate
Mar 17, 2026
Official Sources
Official bill page with full text, actions, sponsors, and status for the Gateway Partnership Act.
Official House Natural Resources Committee report on H.R. 5254, recommending the amended bill for passage.
Official National Park Service page for Gateway Arch National Park, the site where the bill's pilot project would allow private events.
Official NPS page for the Old Courthouse, one of the public park buildings the bill names as eligible for private events.
National Park Service framework for authorizing commercial activities on park lands, the existing permitting backdrop for the bill's pilot agreement.
Official Department of the Interior homepage for the department whose Secretary would be authorized to enter into the pilot agreement.
Official Senate committee now considering H.R. 5254 and one of the two committees that would receive the bill's required implementation report.
H.R. 5254 Common Questions
Would H.R. 5254 let private events happen at the Gateway Arch?
Yes. It lets the Interior Department sign a one-time pilot agreement with the Arch's nonprofit partner to host private events at Gateway Arch National Park, including inside certain park buildings.
Which Gateway Arch buildings could be rented for events?
The bill names the Arch Visitor Center and the Old Courthouse, plus any other public building the Park Service runs as part of Gateway Arch National Park.
Could a private event keep me out of the park?
The bill says no. Events can't take place at times or in locations that prevent or disrupt public use of or access to the park or its buildings.
How long would the Gateway Arch event pilot last?
An agreement can run up to 5 years, but the underlying authority sunsets 7 years after the bill becomes law. At that point any existing agreement ends too, no matter what its terms say.
Does H.R. 5254 cap how many private events can be held?
Yes. Every agreement has to set a maximum number of events per month, along with the dates, times, and Park Service staffing needed for safety and resource protection.
Who pays for security, staffing, and wear and tear?
The foundation does. The government must charge a fee for wear and tear and may recover its other event costs, including security, personnel, utilities, maintenance, and administrative expenses.
Does the foundation need insurance for these events?
Yes. The bill requires liability insurance large enough to protect U.S. interests, with the United States listed as additionally insured, and it shields the federal government from liability for injuries tied to the events.
Has H.R. 5254 passed?
Not yet. The House passed it by voice vote in March 2026, and it's now with the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. It still needs the full Senate and the president to become law.
Based on H.R. 5254 bill text
H.R. 5254 Bill Text
“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.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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