59–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110–223 

CE ́ SAR ESTRADA CHA ́ VEZ STUDY ACT 

JULY 10, 2007.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. RAHALL, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 359] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 359) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 

a special resource study of sites associated with the life of Ce ́sar 

Estrada Cha ́vez and the farm labor movement, having considered 

the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ce ́sar Estrada Cha ́vez Study Act’’. 

SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made 

available to carry out this Act, the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act 

as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall complete a special resource study of sites in the State of 

Arizona, the State of California, and other States that are significant to the life of 

Ce ́sar E. Cha ́vez and the farm labor movement in the western United States to determine— 

(1) appropriate methods for preserving and interpreting the sites; and 

(2) whether any of the sites meets the criteria for listing on the National Register of Historic Places or designation as a national historic landmark under— 

(A) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.); or 

(B) the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). 

(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary 

shall— 

(1) consider the criteria for the study of areas for potential inclusion in the 

National Park System under section 8(b)(2) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 

1a–5(b)(2)); and 

(2) consult with— 

(A) the Ce ́sar E. Cha ́vez Foundation; 

(B) the United Farm Workers Union; and 


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(C) State and local historical associations and societies, including any 

State historic preservation offices in the State in which the site is located. 

(c) REPORT.—On completion of the study, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 

Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes—

(1) the findings of the study; and 

(2) any recommendations of the Secretary. 

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out 

this Act. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 359 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the sites associated with 

the life of Ce ́sar Estrada Cha ́vez and the farm labor movement. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

In 1962 Ce ́sar Cha ́vez founded the National Farm Workers’ Association, which later became the United Farm Workers of America, 

working to protect farm workers’ rights. Cha ́vez led the United 

Farm Workers for 31 years and gained for farm workers increases 

in wages and better working conditions. Through his work, Cha ́vez 

became a national leader on civil rights and social justice. 

H.R. 359 directs the Secretary of the Interior to consider sites in 

Arizona, California, and other States that are significant to the life 

of Ce ́sar Cha ́vez and the farm labor movement in the western 

United States. The bill requires the Secretary to determine the appropriate methods for preserving and interpreting the sites and to 

determine whether any of them meet the criteria for being listed 

on the National Register of Historic Places or possible designation 

as national historic landmarks. In conducting the study, the Secretary must consider standard criteria for potential inclusion in the 

National Park System, and is required to consult with the Ce ́sar 

E. Cha ́vez Foundation, the United Farm Workers Union, and State 

and local historical associations. 

Under the legislation, the Secretary has three years from the 

date on which funds are made available to submit to the relevant 

committees in Congress, a report describing the findings of the 

study, as well as the Secretary’s recommendations. 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 359 was introduced on January 9, 2007 by Representative 

Hilda Solis (D–CA). The bill was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on 

National Parks, Forests and Public lands. On March 29, 2007, the 

Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On April 19, 2007, the 

Subcommittee met to markup the bill. Chairman Rau ́l Grijalva (D–

AZ) offered an amendment to make minor technical changes to the 

bill. It was adopted by voice vote. The bill was then forwarded to 

the Full Committee as amended by voice vote. 

On May 2, 2007, the Full Natural Resources Committee met to 

consider the bill and agreed to consider a committee print incorporating the subcommittee amendment as original text. Representative Bill Sali (R–ID) offered an amendment to state that nothing 

in the Act shall be construed to advance any effort to establish a 


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national holiday honoring Ce ́sar Cha ́vez. The amendment was not 

adopted by rollcall vote of 5 yeas and 24 nays as follows: 


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The bill, as amended, was then ordered favorably reported to the 

House of Representatives by voice vote. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 entitles the bill the ‘‘Ce ́sar Estrada Cha ́vez Study Act.’’

Section 2. Special resource study 

Section 2(a) requires the Secretary of the Interior to complete a 

special resource study of sites in California, Arizona, and other 

States significant to the life of Ce ́sar Cha ́vez and the farm labor 

movement in the western United States to determine the appropriate methods for preserving and interpreting the sites and 

whether any meet the criteria for listing on the National Register 

of Historic Places or designation as a national historic landmark. 

This study is required to be completed within three years after 

funding is made available. 

Section 2(b) requires the Secretary, when undertaking the study, 

to consider the criteria for the study of areas for potential inclusion 

in the National Park System, and requires the Secretary to consult 

with certain entities in conducting the study. 

Section 2(c) requires the Secretary, upon completion of the study, 

to submit a report to Congress that describes the findings of the 

study and any recommendations. 

Section 3. Authorization of appropriations 

Section 3 authorizes appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the Act. 

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 

Natural Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Article I, section 8 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. 


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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 authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 

a special resource study of the sites associated with the life of 

Ce ́sar Estrada Cha ́vez and the farm labor movement. 

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: 

H.R. 359—Ce ́sar Estrada Cha ́vez Study Act 

H.R. 359 would direct the Department of the Interior to conduct 

a study of sites in Arizona, California, and other States that might 

be suitably preserved and used to interpret the life of Ce ́sar Cha ́vez 

and the farm labor movement. The study would also determine 

whether any of the sites meet the criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places or designating as a national historic landmark. The bill 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 $250,000 over the next three years to complete 

the required study and report. Enacting the bill would not affect 

revenues or direct spending. 

H.R. 359 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. 

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. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

H.R. 359 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e) 

or 9(f) of rule XXI. 

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 


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