| Sponsor | Rep. Frelinghuysen, Rodney P. |
| Committee | Natural Resources |
| Date | December 7, 2009 (111th Congress, 1st Session) |
| Staff Contact | Adam Hepburn |
H.R. 118 is expected to be considered on the floor of the House under a motion to suspend the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) on January 6, 2009. The Committee on Natural Resources approved the bill by voice vote on October 28, 2009.
H.R. 118 authorizes the National Park Service (NPS) to acquire an additional 100 acres of land from willing private property owners for the Morristown National Historical Park.
Morristown, New Jersey, was considered the military capital of the American Revolutionary War. Its geography protected soldiers from enemy attacks, and General George Washington frequently used Morristown as his official headquarters. The Morristown National Historical Park was established in 1935 as the country's first national historic park. Since that time, property owners adjacent to the park have offered their property in the form of donations to the National Park Service. Due to an existing acreage ceiling, however, the Morristown Park cannot accept these donations.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that implementing the legislation would cost about $10 million over five years, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts.