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The House passed H.R. 2215, which renames the Salem Maritime National Historic Site to a National Historical Park and authorizes a study to potentially expand its boundaries.
H.R. 2215 officially changes the name of the 'Salem Maritime National Historic Site' in Massachusetts to the 'Salem Maritime National Historical Park.' This redesignation elevates the site's status within the National Park System. The bill also directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a three-year study to determine if other historic locations in the Salem area related to maritime and military history should be added to the park. This vote was held under a procedure called 'suspension of the rules.' This is a fast-track method used by the House for bills that are generally considered non-controversial. While it limits debate and prevents any changes (amendments) from being made on the floor, it requires a higher standard of support—two-thirds of the voting members—to pass rather than a simple majority. The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, receiving far more than the required two-thirds majority. While all Democrats present voted for the measure, a small group of Republicans voted against it. Since the bill has passed the House, it moves to the Senate for further consideration.
As the bill passed the House, its next step was consideration by the U.S. Senate.
OPEN BILL →Why it matters. Redesignating the site as a National Historical Park formally elevates its status, which can lead to increased tourism and higher priority for federal preservation resources.
Who’s affected. Salem, Massachusetts community: Potential for increased economic activity through tourism and the preservation of local historical landmarks. · National Park Service: Responsible for managing the name change and completing the required boundary expansion study within three years.
Democrats. Democratic members voted unanimously in favor of the bill.
Republicans. The vast majority of Republicans supported the bill, though 31 members voted against it.
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass
May 14, 2025
The House passed H.R.
2215, which renames the Salem Maritime National Historic Site to a National Historical Park and authorizes a study to potentially expand its boundaries.
The House used a 'suspension of the rules' to quickly pass this bill. This process is reserved for measures with broad agreement; it skips the usual legislative hurdles but requires a two-thirds supermajority to succeed.
As the bill passed the House, its next step was consideration by the U.S. Senate.
Redesignating the site as a National Historical Park formally elevates its status, which can lead to increased tourism and higher priority for federal preservation resources.
The vote showed broad bipartisan consensus, though a small minority of Republicans opposed the measure.
Democratic members voted unanimously in favor of the bill.
The vast majority of Republicans supported the bill, though 31 members voted against it.
The one independent member present voted in favor of the bill.