16 U.S.C. § 410ll — Establishment

(a) Congressional declaration of findings — Congress makes three findings. (1) The Women's Rights Convention, held at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Seneca Falls, New York, in 1848, mattered greatly in U.S. history because it formally began the fight for women's equal rights. (2) The Declaration of Sentiments, which that 1848 convention approved, still matters today. It calls for equality and justice for everyone, no matter their sex. (3) Nine sites in Seneca Falls and Waterloo, New York, connect to the 19th-century women's rights movement and deserve to be recognized, preserved, and explained to the public.

(b) Statement of purposes — This section exists to preserve and explain — for today's and future generations' education, inspiration, and benefit — the nationally significant historical and cultural sites and buildings tied to the fight for women's equal rights. It also aims to work with state and local groups to protect the historic character of these sites and their surroundings.

(c) Establishment — This subsection creates the Women's Rights National Historical Park (called "the park"). The park is made up of thirteen listed sites in Seneca Falls and Waterloo, New York: (1) the Stanton House at 32 Washington Street, Seneca Falls; (2) a dwelling at 30 Washington Street, Seneca Falls; (3) a dwelling at 34 Washington Street, Seneca Falls; (4) a lot at 26-28 Washington Street, Seneca Falls; (5) the former Wesleyan Chapel at 126 Fall Street, Seneca Falls; (6) a theater at 128 Fall Street, Seneca Falls; (7) the McClintock House at 16 East Williams Street, Waterloo; (8) the Hunt House at 401 East Main Street, Waterloo; (9) up to 1 acre (plus improvements), as the Secretary decides, in Seneca Falls for a maintenance facility; (10) a dwelling at 1 Seneca Street, Seneca Falls; (11) a dwelling at 10 Seneca Street, Seneca Falls; (12) parcels next to the Wesleyan Chapel Block, including land along Clinton Street, Fall Street, and Mynderse Street in Seneca Falls; and (13) a dwelling at 12 East Williams Street, Waterloo.

(d) Acquisition of lands and interests — The Secretary can add land or interests in land within these designated sites to the park. The Secretary may do this by donation, by purchase with donated or government money, by transfer from another federal agency, or by exchange. One exception: land owned by a state or local government can only be acquired through donation.

(e) Cooperative agreements — The Secretary can make cooperative agreements with the owners of the designated properties. Under these agreements, the Secretary can mark, interpret, improve, restore, and give technical help toward preserving and explaining the properties. Every agreement must, at minimum, give the Secretary the right to enter the public parts of the property at reasonable times for interpretation and related purposes, and must require that no changes or alterations happen except by mutual agreement.

(f) State and local participation; financial assistance — The Secretary must encourage state and local government agencies to make and carry out plans for preserving and fixing up the designated sites and the areas right around them, so the historic setting stays intact. The Secretary can give these agencies technical and financial help — but the financial help can never cover more than half the cost of the work.

(g) Administration — The Secretary manages the park under this section and under the laws generally applicable to National Park System units, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1, 2-4) and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-7).

(h) Women's Rights National Historical Park Advisory Commission
(1) This creates an 11-member Advisory Commission, each member appointed by the Secretary for a five-year term. The seats are filled based on recommendations from different groups: (A) one from the Elizabeth Cady Stanton Foundation; (B) one from the Women's Hall of Fame; (C) two from the Governor of New York; (D) one from the village of Seneca Falls; (E) one from the town of Seneca Falls; and (F) five members the Secretary appoints directly — at least one of whom must represent a college or university, and at least two of whom must represent national women's rights organizations.
(2) The Secretary picks one member to chair the Commission. Any vacancy is filled the same way the original appointment was made.
(3) Members don't get paid, but the Secretary can cover reasonable expenses the Commission and its members run up doing their work, once the Chair signs off on the vouchers.
(4) The Commission's job is to advise the Secretary on running the park and carrying out this section. The Secretary must regularly consult with the Commission about these responsibilities.
(5) The Commission ends ten years after this section's effective date.

(i) Authorization of appropriations
(1) Congress authorizes whatever money is necessary to carry out this section, capped at $700,000 for acquiring land and $500,000 for development.
(2) On top of whatever money was already appropriated for land acquisition and development before November 12, 1996, Congress authorizes an additional $2,000,000.