19–006

108TH CONGRESS REPORT " HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ! 1st Session 108–252

COLTSVILLE STUDY ACT OF 2003

SEPTEMBER 3, 2003.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. POMBO, from the Committee on Resources, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 233] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill (S. 

233) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of 

Coltsville in the State of Connecticut for potential inclusion in the 

National Park System, having considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do 

pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of S. 233 is to direct the Secretary of the Interior 

to conduct a study of Coltsville in the State of Connecticut for potential inclusion in the National Park System. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Coltsville, a site in Hartford, Connecticut, was inspired by Samuel Colt, founder of Colt Manufacturing Company and his wife, 

Elizabeth. Coltsville flourished during the Industrial Revolution 

spurring innovation not only in the production of firearms, but also 

with the development of technology that led to changes in the 

American way of life. Coltsville set the standard of excellence during the Industrial Revolution and continues to be significant as a 

place where Americans learn the importance of that period in history. In 1998 the National Park Service conducted a special resource reconnaissance study of the Connecticut River Valley to 

evaluate the significance of historic manufacturing sites and found 

that the Coltsville region contains an unequaled concentration of 

historic resources relating to precision manufacturing. Further 

study is needed to find if the area warrants designation as a unit 

2

of the National Park System. As part of the study, the Committee 

expects that the Secretary of the Interior will determine any potential impacts that designation of the site is likely to have on land 

within or bordering the study area that is privately owned at the 

time that the study is conducted. 

COMMITTEE ACTION

S. 233 was introduced on January 29, 2003, by Senator Christopher Dodd (D–CT) and passed in the Senate on March 4, 2003 

by unanimous consent. The bill was then referred to the Committee 

on Resources and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on 

National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands. On July 9, 2003, the 

Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands was 

discharged from further consideration of the bill by unanimous consent. No amendments were offered and the bill was then ordered 

favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous 

consent. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII 

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in 

the body of this report. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Article I, section 8, and Article IV, section 3 of the Constitution 

of the United States grants Congress the authority to enact this 

bill. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides 

that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) of rule 

XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 

308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this bill does not 

contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 

3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 

clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or objective 

of this bill is to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 

study of Coltsville in the State of Connecticut for potential inclusion in the National Park System. 

4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 

3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 

section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office:

3

U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, August 11, 2003. 

Hon. RICHARD POMBO,

Chairman, Committee on Resources, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 233, the Coltsville Study Act 

of 2003. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS HOLTZ-EAKIN, 

Director. 

Enclosure. 

S. 233—Coltsville Study Act of 2003

S. 233 would direct the Department of the Interior to conduct a 

study of an area in Connecticut known as Coltsville to evaluate the 

area’s national significance. The study also would assess the feasibility and suitability of designating Coltsville as a unit of the National Park System. The act would authorize the appropriation of 

whatever amounts are necessary for the study and would require 

the department to report on its findings and recommendations 

within three years of receiving funds. 

Assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates 

that it would cost about $250,000 over the next three years to complete the required study and report. Enacting the legislation would 

not affect spending or revenues. 

S. 233 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates 

as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

On February 7, 2003, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for S. 233 

as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on February 5, 2003. The two versions of S. 233 are 

identical, as are the cost estimates. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director of the Budget Analysis Division. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or tribal law. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing law.

Æ