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108TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 2237

To establish within the National Park Service the 225th Anniversary of

the American Revolution Commemorative program, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 22, 2003

Mr. HINCHEY (for himself, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Mr. BOEHLERT, Mr.

MCNULTY, and Mrs. JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia) introduced the following

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

A BILL

To establish within the National Park Service the 225th

Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative

program, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘225th Anniversary of

5 the American Revolution Commemoration Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:

8 (1) The American Revolution, inspired by the

9 spirit of liberty and independence among the inhab-
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1 itants of the original 13 colonies of Great Britain,

2 was an event of global significance having a pro3 found and lasting effect upon American Government,

4 laws, culture, society, and values.

5 (2) The years 2000 through 2008 mark the

6 225th anniversary of the Revolutionary War.

7 (3) Every generation of American citizens

8 should have an opportunity to understand and ap9 preciate the continuing legacy of the American Revo10 lution.

11 (4) This 225th anniversary provides an oppor12 tunity to enhance public awareness and under13 standing of the impact of the American Revolution’s

14 legacy on the lives of citizens today.

15 (5) Although the National Park Service admin16 isters battlefields, historical parks, historic sites, and

17 programs that address elements of the story of the

18 American Revolution, there is a need to establish

19 partnerships that link sites and programs adminis20 tered by the National Park Service with those of

21 other Federal and non-Federal entities in order to

22 place the story of the American Revolution in the

23 broad context of its causes, consequences, and mean24 ings.
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1 (6) The story and significance of the American

2 Revolution can best engage the American people

3 through a national program of the National Park

4 Service that links historic structures and sites,

5 routes, activities, community projects, exhibits, and

6 multimedia materials, in a manner that is both uni7 fied and flexible.

8 (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are as fol9 lows:

10 (1) To recognize the enduring importance of

11 the American Revolution in the lives of American

12 citizens today.

13 (2) To authorize the National Park Service to

14 coordinate, connect, and facilitate Federal and non15 Federal activities to commemorate, honor, and inter16 pret the history of the American Revolution, its sig17 nificance, and its relevance to the shape and spirit

18 of American Government and society.

19 SEC. 3. 225TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLU20 TION COMMEMORATION PROGRAM.

21 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior

22 (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’)

23 shall establish a program to be known as the ‘‘225th Anni24 versary of the American Revolution Commemoration’’

25 (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the ‘‘225th Anniver-
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1 sary’’). In administering the 225th Anniversary, the Sec2 retary shall—

3 (1) produce and disseminate to appropriate per4 sons educational materials, such as handbooks,

5 maps, interpretive guides, or electronic information

6 related to the 225th Anniversary and the American

7 Revolution;

8 (2) enter into appropriate cooperative agree9 ments and memoranda of understanding to provide

10 technical assistance under subsection (c);

11 (3) assist in the protection of resources associ12 ated with the American Revolution;

13 (4) enhance communications, connections, and

14 collaboration among the National Park Service units

15 and programs related to the Revolutionary War;

16 (5) expand the research base for American Rev17 olution interpretation and education; and

18 (6) create and adopt an official, uniform symbol

19 or device for the theme ‘‘Lighting Freedom’s Flame:

20 American Revolution, 225th Anniversary’’ and issue

21 regulations for its use.

22 (b) ELEMENTS.—The 225th Anniversary shall en23 compass the following elements:
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1 (1) All units and programs of the National

2 Park Service determined by the Secretary to pertain

3 to the American Revolution.

4 (2) Other governmental and nongovernmental

5 sites, facilities, and programs of an educational, re6 search, or interpretive nature that are documented

7 to be directly related to the American Revolution.

8 (3) Through the Secretary of State, the partici9 pation of the Governments of the United Kingdom,

10 France, the Netherlands, Spain, and Canada.

11 (c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND MEMORANDA

12 OF UNDERSTANDING.—To achieve the purposes of this

13 Act and to ensure effective coordination of the Federal

14 and non-Federal elements of the 225th Anniversary with

15 National Park Service units and programs, the Secretary

16 may enter into cooperative agreements and memoranda of

17 understanding with, and provide technical assistance to,

18 the following:

19 (1) The heads of other Federal agencies,

20 States, units of local government, and private enti21 ties.

22 (2) In cooperation with the Secretary of State,

23 the Governments of the United Kingdom, France,

24 the Netherlands, Spain, and Canada.
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1 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is

2 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry

3 out this Act $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2004

4 through 2009.

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