119-S-2280 Journalist Public Summary
A small, map‑based land swap in Harpers Ferry would move about 25 acres from the national park to Customs and Border Protection’s training center and, in return, add about 71.5 acres of CBP land to the park; the Senate passed the bill on April 29, 2026 and sent it on to the House. (govinfo.gov)
Headline Summary
Harpers Ferry land swap: 25 park acres to CBP’s Advanced Training Center, 71.5 CBP acres added to the park; the Senate approved it by unanimous consent on April 29, 2026. (govinfo.gov)
What It Does
The bill authorizes a two‑way transfer of federal land within Harpers Ferry, WV: roughly 25 acres shift from the National Park Service (NPS) to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for the agency’s Advanced Training Center, while three CBP parcels totaling about 71.51 acres are added to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. No money changes hands; CBP must fund a survey to finalize the legal description. If CBP later stops needing the 25 acres, it must revert to NPS; the bill also waives an older acreage cap so the park can re‑absorb land if that happens. (govinfo.gov)
Who’s For It
- West Virginia’s senators, Sponsor Sen. James C. Justice and Cosponsor Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, who introduced the measure in the Senate. (govinfo.gov)
- Rep. Riley Moore and other House backers (e.g., Reps. Carol Miller, Mark Amodei, Mike Simpson), who argue the swap clears the way to expand CBP’s Harpers Ferry training capacity to meet staffing needs. (rileymoore.house.gov)
- National Park Service staff have indicated the exchange would improve access and stewardship of historically significant Schoolhouse Ridge lands while enabling the ATC’s growth. (observerwv.com)
- CBP, which operates the Advanced Training Center in Harpers Ferry and has long planned facility expansion phases at the site. (cbp.gov)
Who’s Against It
- Some local residents and preservation advocates are uneasy with transferring any NPS acreage to a law‑enforcement campus and worry about precedent or impacts near Schoolhouse Ridge—even though the specific 25‑acre area has been closed to the public due to sinkholes. Public reporting to date has highlighted a net acreage gain for the park, and organized opposition has been limited. (observerwv.com)
What’s Next
Status as of May 2, 2026: The Senate discharged the bill from committee and passed it without amendment by unanimous consent on April 29, 2026. It now heads to the House for consideration (e.g., referral to committee, possible markup and floor vote). (senate.gov)
Discussion