{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=42A68ABB-229E-4BD3-8090-4D79319DAD4E", "House Passes Himes Bill to Designate Weir Farm as National Historical Park", "2020-12-17", "2020", "2020-12", "Democrat", "House", "CT", "James A. Himes", "H001047", "himes.house.gov", "himes", "https://himes.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "Washington, DC\u2014 Today, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill authored by Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) that would change the designation of Weir Farm in Wilton and Ridgefield from a National Historical Site to a National Historical Park.\n\nThe change will better represent Weir\u2019s complex cultural, natural and recreational offerings to the public. This prestigious status will also reflect the increased visitation, collaboration with partners, and public programming since the park\u2019s original designation.\n\n\u201cWalking through Weir Farm in any season is a quintessentially Connecticut experience,\u201d said Himes. \u201cIt\u2019s a beautiful, extensive site that gives visitors perspective into an important period in American art, as well as a much-needed space to reconnect with our natural world.\u201d\n\n\"The Friends of Weir Farm are proud to be part of the initiative, along with the Weir Farm Art Alliance, and Congressman Himes, to propose the redesignation in the House of Representatives to Weir Farm National Historical Park,\u201d said Liz Castagna, Vice President of Friends of Weir Farm. \u201cWe believe that the passage of the bill for this new name truly represents the wide range of cultural, historical and recreational resources that the park offers to the public.\"\n\nThe Weir Farm National Historical Site Establishment Act of 1990, which made the farm Connecticut\u2019s first national park, focused on preserving a limited part of the Weir property. Now, the vast holdings include more than 15 buildings spread out over nearly 75 acres including a vast collection of American art, orchards and landscapes, trails, gardens, miles of stone walls, and Weir Pond.\n\nSince its designation as a Historic Site, many of the park\u2019s landscapes and resources have been rehabilitated and restored to their original state, which inspired artists like Julian Alden Weir, Mahonri Mackintosh Young, and Charles Sperry Andrews.\n\n\u201cWhile we work on large government funding bills and coronavirus relief efforts in Congress, we must never forget to sustain the arts, protect our natural spaces, and plan for a brighter future,\u201d continued Himes. \u201cAmericans will soon once again travel the country and explore its National Parks. Elevating Weir Farm to the status it deserves will help draw visitors and share the unique beauty and history of Southwest Connecticut.\u201d\n\nPassage of a Senate version led by Connecticut Senators Blumenthal and Murphy is expected as early as tomorrow.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://himes.house.gov/press-releases?ID=42A68ABB-229E-4BD3-8090-4D79319DAD4E"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7908428087830544, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}