99–006 

112TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 112–166 

BUFFALO SOLDIERS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS 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. 1022] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 1022) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 

a study of alternatives for commemorating and interpreting the 

role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early years of the National 

Parks, and for other purposes, 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. 1022 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of alternatives for commemorating and interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early years of the 

National Parks. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act, H.R. 1022, 

would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to initiate a study to 

determine effective ways to commemorate America’s Buffalo Soldiers and their role in helping to protect, build, and preserve America’s national parks, as well as to ascertain the suitability and feasibility of potential historic sites, national landmarks, and a national historic trail related to their work. 

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Buffalo Soldiers, 

the all African-American cavalrymen of the U.S. Army, rode from 

the San Francisco Presidio to the foothills of the Sierra Nevada 


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Mountains, serving as the protectors of several of the country’s first 

national parks. Led by Lieutenant Colonel Charles Young, the first 

African American superintendent of Yosemite National Park, these 

de facto rangers built trails, preserved the giant sequoias, and protected the wildlife of Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks from 

poaching during these critical, formative years. 

H.R. 1022 directs the Secretary of the Interior to research the 

role of the Buffalo Soldiers in protecting these nascent parks and 

examine, among other things, the possible creation of a National 

Historic Trail along the route used by these soldiers. 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 1022 was introduced on March 10, 2011, by Congresswoman 

Jackie Speier (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 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. 1022—Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act 

H.R. 1022 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct a study of alternatives for honoring the Buffalo Soldiers 

(members of several African-American regiments within the U.S. 

Army established after the Civil War). Based on information from 

the NPS and assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO 

estimates that conducting the study would cost about $400,000 

over the next three years. Enacting H.R. 1022 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do 

not apply. 


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H.R. 1022 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

not affect the budgets of 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 

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. CBO estimates that conducting the study would 

cost about $400,000 over the next three years. Enacting H.R. 1022 

would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-yougo 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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