Senator Schmitt Celebrates Committee Passage of His Bipartisan Gateway Partnership Act

Bill Creates More Opportunities for Gateway Arch National Park to Benefit St. Louis Communities U.S. SENATE — Today, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO) praised passage of his bill, the bipartisan Gateway Partnership Act , through the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Senator Schmitt’s bill would authorize the Gateway Arch National Park to enter into an agreement with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation allowing the Foundation to manage private events on Park property. “The Gateway Arch is not just an impressive piece of engineering on the banks of the Mississippi River. This beloved monument helps tell the story of a nation. The Arch’s 630‑foot stainless‑steel arc rises over the very river where a young republic once looked west and saw not just wilderness, but destiny. But for my hometown, the Arch is not simply a relic of the past. It is the front door of the American West, and a symbol of our heritage. And over the last decade, the people of St. Louis proved just how much that monument means to them. Through the City-Arch-River project—a hometown partnership that turned into largest private investment in a national park project to date—Gateway Arch National Park is now, more than ever before, a place to meet, gather, celebrate, and remember. Getting this bill across the finish line will allow visitors from all over to enjoy the Gateway Arch and encourage growth for the St. Louis region,” said Senator Schmitt. Senator Schmitt originally introduced the Gateway Partnership Act in 2025; Rep. Wesley Bell (R-MO) introduced a companion bill in the House of Representatives. The Gateway Arch National Park is Missouri’s most visited landmark, drawing more than two million visitors annually. This legislation will allow the Gateway Arch Park Foundation to assist the Gateway Arch National Park by formally managing private event execution and marketing on behalf of the Park. As the only National Park located inside a major city, Gateway Arch National Park is uniquely positioned as a prime location for private events in St. Louis. Projections show a potential annual revenue of $780,000 generated from private events under this proposed partnership, all of which will be reinvested into the park. ###