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[House Report 106-137]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

106th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    106-137

======================================================================

 
                         ROUTE 66 CORRIDOR ACT

                                _______
                                

  May 13, 1999.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______

  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany H.R. 66]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 66) to preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66 
corridor and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
provide assistance, 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 out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act, the following definitions apply:
          (1) Route 66 corridor.--The term ``Route 66 corridor'' means 
        structures and other cultural resources described in paragraph 
        (3), including--
                  (A) lands owned by the Federal Government and lands 
                owned by a State or local government within the 
                immediate vicinity of those portions of the highway 
                formerly designated as United States Route 66; and
                  (B) private land within that immediate vicinity that 
                is owned by persons or entities that are willing to 
                participate in the programs authorized by this Act.
          (2) Cultural resource programs.--The term ``Cultural Resource 
        Programs'' means the programs established and administered by 
        the National Park Service for the benefit of and in support of 
        preservation of the Route 66 corridor, either directly or 
        indirectly.
          (3) Preservation of the route 66 corridor.--The term 
        ``preservation of the Route 66 corridor'' means the 
        preservation or restoration of structures or other cultural 
        resources of businesses, sites of interest, and other 
        contributing resources that--
                  (A) are located within the land described in 
                paragraph (1);
                  (B) existed during the route's period of outstanding 
                historic significance (principally between 1926 and 
                1970), as defined by the study prepared by the National 
                Park Service and entitled ``Special Resource Study of 
                Route 66'', dated July 1995; and
                  (C) remain in existence as of the date of enactment 
                of this Act.
          (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        the Interior, acting through the Cultural Resource Programs at 
        the National Park Service.
          (5) State.--The term ``State'' means a State in which a 
        portion of the Route 66 corridor is located.

SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT.

  (a) In General.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the entities 
described in subsection (c), shall facilitate the development of 
guidelines and a program of technical assistance and grants that will 
set priorities for the preservation of the Route 66 corridor.
  (b) Designation of Officials.--The Secretary shall designate 
officials of the National Park Service stationed at locations 
convenient to the States to perform the functions of the Cultural 
Resource Programs under this Act.
  (c) General Functions.--The Secretary shall--
          (1) support efforts of State and local public and private 
        persons, nonprofit Route 66 preservation entities, Indian 
        tribes, State Historic Preservation Offices, and entities in 
        the States for the preservation of the Route 66 corridor by 
        providing technical assistance, participating in cost-sharing 
        programs, and making grants;
          (2) act as a clearinghouse for communication among Federal, 
        State, and local agencies, nonprofit Route 66 preservation 
        entities, Indian tribes, State historic preservation offices, 
        and private persons and entities interested in the preservation 
        of the Route 66 corridor; and
          (3) assist the States in determining the appropriate form of 
        and establishing and supporting a non-Federal entity or 
        entities to perform the functions of the Cultural Resource 
        Programs after those programs are terminated.
  (d) Authorities.--In carrying out this Act, the Secretary may--
          (1) enter into cooperative agreements, including (but not 
        limited to) cooperative agreements for study, planning, 
        preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration related to the 
        Route 66 corridor;
          (2) accept donations of funds, equipment, supplies, and 
        services as appropriate;
          (3) provide cost-share grants for projects for the 
        preservation of the Route 66 corridor (but not to exceed 50 
        percent of total project costs) and information about existing 
        cost-share opportunities;
          (4) provide technical assistance in historic preservation and 
        interpretation of the Route 66 corridor; and
          (5) coordinate, promote, and stimulate research by other 
        persons and entities regarding the Route 66 corridor.
  (e) Preservation Assistance.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide assistance in 
        the preservation of the Route 66 corridor in a manner that is 
        compatible with the idiosyncratic nature of the Route 66 
        corridor.
          (2) Planning.--The Secretary shall not prepare or require 
        preparation of an overall management plan for the Route 66 
        corridor, but shall cooperate with the States and local public 
        and private persons and entities, State historic preservation 
        offices, nonprofit Route 66 preservation entities, and Indian 
        tribes in developing local preservation plans to guide efforts 
        to protect the most important or representative resources of 
        the Route 66 corridor.

SEC. 3. RESOURCE TREATMENT.

  (a) Technical Assistance Program.--
          (1) Program required.--The Secretary shall develop a program 
        of technical assistance in the preservation of the Route 66 
        corridor and interpretation of the Route 66 corridor.
          (2) Program guidelines.--As part of the technical assistance 
        program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish 
        guidelines for setting priorities for preservation needs for 
        the Route 66 corridor. The Secretary shall base the guidelines 
        on the Secretary's standards for historic preservation.
  (b) Program for Coordination of Activities.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall coordinate a program of 
        historic research, curation, preservation strategies, and the 
        collection of oral and video histories of events that occurred 
        along the Route 66 corridor.
          (2) Design.--The program under paragraph (1) shall be 
        designed for continuing use and implementation by other 
        organizations after the Cultural Resource Programs are 
        terminated.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for the period of 
fiscal years 2000 through 2009 to carry out the purposes of this Act.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 66 is to preserve the cultural 
resources of the Route 66 corridor and to authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The highway formerly known as Route 66, extending from 
Chicago to Los Angeles, is a nationally significant part of 
American history, foremost among the early highways that helped 
change and shape America as it entered the twentieth century. 
Beginning with the Dust Bowl migration to California, Route 66 
enabled American businesses to move commerce, individuals to 
seek better lives, and the government to move troops and war 
supplies. It also opened up the Southwestern landscape to 
tourism and post-war migration of families to the booming job 
market of California. Through books, television, songs, and 
movies, Route 66 has become an enduring part of American 
culture.
    Unfortunately, as Americans became more mobile, this two-
lane roadway could not handle the increasing volume of truck 
and vehicle traffic. Route 66 became so fragmented and 
confusing that in 1979 it lost its official U.S. Highway 
``Route 66'' designation. The remaining portions of the former 
Route 66 have been incorporated into state and local highway 
systems.
    H.R. 66 would preserve the cultural resources along the 
historic Route 66 by allowing the Secretary of the Interior to 
support and collaborate with state, local, and private 
institutions to preserve these resources. The preservation of 
Route 66 would include the preservation or restoration of 
portions of the highway, businesses and sites of interest and 
other contributing resources along the highway during its 
period of outstanding historical significance (principally 
between 1933 and 1970). The Secretary would do so through cost-
share grants, information services, and technical assistance.
    Many portions of Route 66 continue to serve as regional 
highways connecting cities, towns and open spaces. The 
Committee believes that the preservation efforts outlined in 
this legislation should consider Department of Transportation 
highway safety and maintenance standards and that the 
Departments of the Interior and Transportation should work 
cooperatively when and where feasible and mutually beneficial.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 66 was introduced on January 6, 1999, by Congresswoman 
Heather Wilson (R-NM). The bill was referred to the Committee 
on Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on 
National Parks and Public Lands. On March 11, 1999, the 
Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill, where the 
Administration testified in support of H.R. 66, contingent on a 
few minor technical amendments. On March 18, 1999, the 
Subcommittee met to mark up the bill. Chairman James V. Hansen 
(R-UT) offered en bloc amendments to change the beginning of 
the period of historical significance from 1933 to 1926, to 
clarify the role that the Secretary of the Interior would play 
in Route 66 preservation and interpretation, to clarify that 
the Secretary should base the technical assistance program on 
the Secretary's standards for historic preservation, and to 
clarify what types of federal lands the bill would apply to. 
The amendment was adopted by voice vote. The bill was then 
ordered favorably reported to the Full Committee by voice vote. 
On April 28, 1999, the Full Resources Committee met to consider 
the bill. No further amendments were offered. The bill was then 
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by 
voice vote.

            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 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 tax 
expenditures. According to the Congressional Budget Office, 
because H.R. 66 would allow the National Park Service to accept 
donations, the bill could affect federal revenues, but ``any 
amounts collected would be insignificant.''
    3. Government Reform Oversight Findings.--Under clause 
3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee has received no report of 
oversight findings and recommendations from the Committee on 
Government Reform on this bill.
    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:

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, April 30, 1999.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 66, a bill to 
preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66 corridor and to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance.
    If you wish further details on the estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
            Sincerely,
                                          Barry B. Anderson
                                    (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
    Enclosure.

H.R. 66--A bill to preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66 
        corridor and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
        provide assistance

    Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO 
estimates that the National Park Service (NPS) would spend $5 
million over the next five years to implement H.R. 66. The 
government would spend another $5 million over the following 
five years. Because H.R. 66 would allow the NPS to accept 
donations, the bill could affect federal revenues; therefore, 
pay-as-you-go procedures would apply. We estimate, however, 
that any amounts collected would be insignificant. The bill 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. State, local, and 
tribal governments might incur some costs as a result of the 
bill's enactment, but these costs would be voluntary.
    H.R. 66 would direct the Secretary of the Interior (acting 
through the NPS) to create a program for preserving the Route 
66 corridor. For that purpose, the NPS would be authorized to 
accept donations, conduct research, make grants, execute cost-
sharing agreements, and provide technical assistance to 
nonfederal parties. The bill would authorize the appropriation 
of a total of $10 million over the 2000-2009 period for these 
purposes.
    Based on information provided by the NPS and assuming 
appropriation of the $10 million authorized, CBO estimates that 
the agency would spend about $5 million between 2000 and 2004. 
We estimate that about $3 million would be used to establish 
guidelines and programs required by the bill in 2000 and 2001. 
The NPS would need about $1 million annually thereafter to 
carry out the new programs.
    On March 11, 1999, CBO prepared a cost estimte for S. 292, 
a similar bill that was ordered reported by the Senate 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on March 4, 1999. The 
estimated costs of these bills are identical.
    The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. This estimate was 
approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy Assistant Director for 
Budget Analysis.

                    compliance with public law 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                        changes in existing law

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

                                  
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