although papp was unsuccessful in saving the morosco or the helen hayes, at his encouragement congressman donald j. mitchell of new york introduced legislation in the united states congress (97th congress – h.r.6885) with 13 co-sponsors, to designate a "broadway/times square theatre district national historic site" in manhattan. the mitchell bill would have required the united states to provide assistance in the preservation of the historical, cultural, and architectural character of the site and in its restoration. it directed the national park service to designate theatre preservation sites and other appropriate real property within the site as national historic landmarks if they met the criteria for national historic landmarks, and would have prohibited the demolition or alteration of real property located within the site unless such demolition or alteration would contribute to the preservation, restoration, or enhancement of the site for traditional legitimate theatre purposes. among other things, it would have established a federally chartered citizens advisory group to be chaired by papp, known as the "broadway/times square theatre district preservation commission".