99–006 

112TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 112–167 

ROTA CULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCES STUDY ACT 

JULY 20, 2011.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, from the Committee on Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1141] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 1141) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study 

the suitability and feasibility of designating prehistoric, historic, 

and limestone forest sites on Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, as a unit of 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 H.R. 1141 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating prehistoric, historic, and limestone forest sites on Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as a unit of the National 

Park System. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands contains cultural and natural resources including 

caves with pictographs, other prehistoric relics and sites from the 

20th Century Japanese occupation. Additionally, Rota has a natural limestone forest that serves as a habitat for endangered species endemic to the island. H.R. 1141 authorizes the Secretary of 

the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating 

prehistoric, historic, and limestone forest sites on Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as a unit of the National 

Park System. 

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COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 1141 was introduced on March 16, 2011, by Delegate 

Gregorio Sablan (D-MP). 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 May 4, 2011, the 

Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a 

hearing on the bill. On June 15, 2011, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on National 

Parks, Forests and Public Lands was discharged by unanimous 

consent. No amendments were offered and the bill was 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 

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

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) 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)(2)(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. 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. 1141—Rota Cultural and Natural Resources Study Act 

H.R. 1141 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a study of the island of Rota, Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating it as a unit of the National Park System. The NPS would 

have three years to complete the study and report to the Congress 

on its results. 

Based on information provided by the NPS and assuming the 

availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates that carrying out 

the study required by H.R. 1141 would cost about $200,000 over 

the next three years. Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do 

not apply. 

H.R. 1141 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 Martin von Gnechten. 

The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

2. Section 308(a) of Congressional Budget Act. As required by 

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tives 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. CBO estimates that carrying out the study required by H.R. 1141 would cost about $200,000 over the next three 

years. Enacting the legislation would not affect direct spending or 

revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does not 

authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the 

Rules of the House of Representatives does not apply. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, limited 

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

9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. 

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. 

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