H. R. 659

One Hundred Sixth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,

the sixth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine

An Act

To authorize appropriations for the protection of Paoli and Brandywine Battlefields

in Pennsylvania, to authorize the Valley Forge Museum of the American Revolution

at Valley Forge National Historical Park, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pennsylvania Battlefields Protection Act of 1999’’.

TITLE I—PAOLI AND BRANDYWINE

BATTLEFIELDS

SEC. 101. PAOLI BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION.

(a) PAOLI BATTLEFIELD.—The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) is authorized to provide funds

to the borough of Malvern, Pennsylvania, for the acquisition of

the area known as the ‘‘Paoli Battlefield’’, located in the borough

of Malvern, Pennsylvania, as generally depicted on the map entitled

‘‘Paoli Battlefield’’ numbered 80,000 and dated April 1999 (referred

to in this title as the ‘‘Paoli Battlefield’’). The map shall be on

file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices

of the National Park Service.

(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— The Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the

borough of Malvern, Pennsylvania, for the management by the

borough of the Paoli Battlefield. The Secretary may provide technical assistance to the borough of Malvern to assure the preservation and interpretation of the Paoli Battlefield’s resources.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized

to be appropriated $1,250,000 to carry out this section. Such funds

shall be expended in the ratio of one dollar of Federal funds for

each dollar of funds contributed by non-Federal sources. Any funds

provided by the Secretary shall be subject to an agreement that

provides for the protection of the Paoli Battlefield’s resources.

SEC. 102. BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION.

(a) BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELD.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to provide

funds to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or the Brandywine Conservancy,

for the acquisition, protection, and preservation of land in an

area generally known as the Meetinghouse Road Corridor,
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located in Chester County, Pennsylvania, as depicted on a

map entitled ‘‘Brandywine Battlefield—Meetinghouse Road Corridor’’, numbered 80,000 and dated April 1999 (referred to

in this title as the ‘‘Brandywine Battlefield’’). The map shall

be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate

offices of the National Park Service.

(2) WILLING SELLERS OR DONORS.—Lands and interests in

land may be acquired pursuant to this section only with the

consent of the owner thereof.

(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— The Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the

same entity that is provided funds under subsection (a) for the

management by the entity of the Brandywine Battlefield. The Secretary may also provide technical assistance to the entity to assure

the preservation and interpretation of the Brandywine Battlefield’s

resources.

(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized

to be appropriated $3,000,000 to carry out this section. Such funds

shall be expended in the ratio of one dollar of Federal funds for

each dollar of funds contributed by non-Federal sources. Any funds

provided by the Secretary shall be subject to an agreement that

provides for the protection of the Brandywine Battlefield’s resources.

TITLE II—VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL

HISTORICAL PARK

SEC. 201. PURPOSE.

The purpose of this title is to authorize the Secretary of the

Interior to enter into an agreement with the Valley Forge Historical

Society (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Society’’), to construct and

operate a museum within the boundary of Valley Forge National

Historical Park in cooperation with the Secretary.

SEC. 202. VALLEY FORGE MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

AUTHORIZATION.

(a) AGREEMENT AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of the Interior,

in administering the Valley Forge National Historical Park, is

authorized to enter into an agreement under appropriate terms

and conditions with the Society to facilitate the planning, construction, and operation of the Valley Forge Museum of the American

Revolution on Federal land within the boundary of Valley Forge

National Historical Park.

(b) CONTENTS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENT.—An agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall—

(1) authorize the Society to develop and operate the

museum pursuant to plans developed by the Secretary and

to provide at the museum appropriate and necessary programs

and services to visitors to Valley Forge National Historical

Park related to the story of Valley Forge and the American

Revolution;

(2) only be carried out in a manner consistent with the

General Management Plan and other plans for the preservation

and interpretation of the resources and values of Valley Forge

National Historical Park;

(3) authorize the Secretary to undertake at the museum

activities related to the management of Valley Forge National
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Historical Park, including, but not limited to, provision of appropriate visitor information and interpretive facilities and programs related to Valley Forge National Historical Park;

(4) authorize the Society, acting as a private nonprofit

organization, to engage in activities appropriate for operation

of the museum that may include, but are not limited to,

charging appropriate fees, conducting events, and selling merchandise, tickets, and food to visitors to the museum;

(5) provide that the Society’s revenues from the museum’s

facilities and services shall be used to offset the expenses

of the museum’s operation; and

(6) authorize the Society to occupy the museum so constructed for the term specified in the Agreement and subject

to the following terms and conditions:

(A) The conveyance by the Society to the United States

of all right, title, and interest in the museum to be constructed at Valley Forge National Historical Park.

(B) The Society’s right to occupy and use the museum

shall be for the exhibition, preservation, and interpretation

of artifacts associated with the Valley Forge story and

the American Revolution, to enhance the visitor experience

of Valley Forge National Historical Park, and to conduct

appropriately related activities of the Society consistent

with its mission and with the purposes for which the Valley

Forge National Historical Park was established. Such right

shall not be transferred or conveyed without the express

consent of the Secretary.

(C) Any other terms and conditions the Secretary determines to be necessary.

SEC. 203. PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION.

Nothing in this title authorizes the Secretary or the Society

to take any actions in derogation of the preservation and protection

of the values and resources of Valley Forge National Historical

Park. An agreement entered into under section 202 shall be construed and implemented in light of the high public value and

integrity of the Valley Forge National Historical Park and the

National Park System.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.