I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2129

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study 

regarding the suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic 

buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National 

Park System, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 15, 2003

Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts (for himself and Mr. LYNCH) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources 

A BILL

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 

resources study regarding the suitability and feasibility 

of designating certain historic buildings and areas in 

Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park 

System, 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 ‘‘Taunton, Massachu5 setts Special Resources Study Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds the following: 
2

•HR 2129 IH 

1 (1) The city of Taunton, Massachusetts, is 

2 home to 9 distinct historic districts, with more than 

3 600 properties on the National Register of Historic 

4 Places. Included among these districts are the 

5 Church Green Historic District, the Courthouse His6 toric District, the Taunton Green Historic District, 

7 and the Reed and Barton Historic District. 

8 (2) All of these districts include buildings and 

9 building facades of great historical, cultural, and ar10 chitectural value. 

11 (3) Taunton Green is the site where the Sons 

12 of Liberty first raised the Liberty and Union Flag 

13 in 1774, an event that helped to spark a popular 

14 movement, culminating in the American Revolution, 

15 and Taunton citizens have been among the first to 

16 volunteer for America’s subsequent wars. 

17 (4) Robert Treat Paine, a citizen of Taunton, 

18 and the first Attorney General of Massachusetts, 

19 was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. 

20 (5) Taunton was a leading community in the 

21 Industrial Revolution, and its industrial area has 

22 been the site of many innovations in such industries 

23 as silver manufacture, paper manufacture, and ship 

24 building. 
3

•HR 2129 IH 

1 (6) The landscaping of the Courthouse Green 

2 was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also 

3 left landscaping ideas and plans for other areas in 

4 the city which have great value and interest as his5 torical archives and objects of future study. 

6 (7) Main Street, which connects many of the 

7 historic districts, is home to the Taunton City Hall 

8 and the Leonard Block building, 2 outstanding ex9 amples of early 19th Century American architecture, 

10 as well as many other historically and architecturally 

11 significant structures. 

12 (8) The city and people of Taunton have pre13 served many artifacts, gravesites, and important 

14 documents dating back to 1638 when Taunton was 

15 founded. 

16 (9) Taunton was and continues to be an impor17 tant destination for immigrants from Europe and 

18 other parts of the world who have helped to give 

19 Southeastern Massachusetts its unique ethnic char20 acter. 

21 SEC. 3. STUDY. 

22 The Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate 

23 State historic preservation officers, State historical soci24 eties, the city of Taunton, and other appropriate organiza25 tions, shall conduct a special resources study regarding the 
4

•HR 2129 IH 

1 suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic 

2 buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit 

3 of the National Park System. The study shall be con4 ducted and completed in accordance with section 8(c) of 

5 Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5(c)) and shall include 

6 analysis, documentation, and determinations regarding 

7 whether the historic areas in Taunton—

8 (1) can be managed, curated, interpreted, re9 stored, preserved, and presented as an organic whole 

10 under management by the National Park Service or 

11 under an alternative management structure; 

12 (2) have an assemblage of natural, historic, and 

13 cultural resources that together represent distinctive 

14 aspects of American heritage worthy of recognition, 

15 conservation, interpretation, and continuing use; 

16 (3) reflect traditions, customs, beliefs, and his17 torical events that are valuable parts of the national 

18 story; 

19 (4) provide outstanding opportunities to con20 serve natural, historic, cultural, architectural, or sce21 nic features; 

22 (5) provide outstanding recreational and edu23 cational opportunities; and 

24 (6) can be managed by the National Park Serv25 ice in partnership with residents, business interests, 
5

•HR 2129 IH 

1 nonprofit organizations, and State and local govern2 ments to develop a unit of the National Park System 

3 consistent with State and local economic activity. 

4 SEC. 4. REPORT. 

5 Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which 

6 funds are first made available for this Act, the Secretary 

7 shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House 

8 of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 

9 Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the findings, 

10 conclusions, and recommendations of the study required 

11 under section 3. 

12 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

13 There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as 

14 may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

Æ