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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 710 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        S.710

                       One Hundred Sixth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America

                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
             the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand

                                 An Act

 
 To authorize a feasibility study on the preservation of certain Civil 
          War battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail.

    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 ``Vicksburg Campaign Trail 
Battlefields Preservation Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
        (1) there are situated along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail in 
    the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Tennessee the 
    sites of several key Civil War battles;
        (2) the battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail are 
    collectively of national significance in the history of the Civil 
    War; and
        (3) the preservation of those battlefields would vitally 
    contribute to the understanding of the heritage of the United 
    States.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize a feasibility 
study to determine what measures should be taken to preserve certain 
Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
        (1) Campaign trail state.--The term ``Campaign Trail State'' 
    means each of the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and 
    Tennessee, including political subdivisions of those States.
        (2) Civil war battlefield.--The term ``Civil War battlefield'' 
    includes the following sites (including related structures adjacent 
    to or thereon)--
            (A) the battlefields at Helena and Arkansas Post, Arkansas;
            (B) Goodrich's Landing near Transylvania, and sites in and 
        around Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, Louisiana;
            (C) the battlefield at Milliken's Bend, Madison Parish, 
        Louisiana;
            (D) the route of Grant's march through Louisiana from 
        Milliken's Bend to Hard Times, Madison and Tensas Parishes, 
        Louisiana;
            (E) the Winter Quarters at Tensas Parish, Louisiana;
            (F) Grant's landing site at Bruinsburg, and the route of 
        Grant's march from Bruinsburg to Vicksburg, Claiborne, Hinds, 
        and Warren Counties, Mississippi;
            (G) the battlefield at Port Gibson (including Shaifer 
        House, Bethel Church, and the ruins of Windsor), Claiborne 
        County, Mississippi;
            (H) the battlefield at Grand Gulf, Claiborne County, 
        Mississippi;
            (I) the battlefield at Raymond (including Waverly (the 
        Peyton House)), Hinds County, Mississippi;
            (J) the battlefield at Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi;
            (K) the Union siege lines around Jackson, Hinds County, 
        Mississippi;
            (L) the battlefield at Champion Hill (including Coker 
        House), Hinds County, Mississippi;
            (M) the battlefield at Big Black River Bridge, Hinds and 
        Warren Counties, Mississippi;
            (N) the Union fortifications at Haynes Bluff, Confederate 
        fortifications at Snyder's Bluff, and remnants of Federal 
        exterior lines, Warren County, Mississippi;
            (O) the battlefield at Chickasaw Bayou, Warren County, 
        Mississippi;
            (P) Pemberton's Headquarters at Warren County, Mississippi;
            (Q) the site of actions taken in the Mississippi Delta and 
        Confederate fortifications near Grenada, Grenada County, 
        Mississippi;
            (R) the site of the start of Greirson's Raid and other 
        related sites, LaGrange, Tennessee; and
            (S) any other sites considered appropriate by the 
        Secretary.
        (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park 
    Service.

SEC. 4. FEASIBILITY STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after funds are made 
available for this Act, the Secretary shall complete a feasibility 
study to determine what measures should be taken to preserve Civil War 
battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail.
    (b) Components.--In completing the study, the Secretary shall--
        (1) review current National Park Service programs, policies and 
    criteria to determine the most appropriate means of ensuring the 
    Civil War battlefields and associated natural, cultural, and 
    historical resources are preserved;
        (2) evaluate options for the establishment of a management 
    entity for the Civil War battlefields consisting of a unit of 
    government or a private nonprofit organization that--
            (A) administers and manages the Civil War battlefields; and
            (B) possesses the legal authority to--
                (i) receive Federal funds and funds from other units of 
            government or other organizations for use in managing the 
            Civil War battlefields;
                (ii) disburse Federal funds to other units of 
            government or other nonprofit organizations for use in 
            managing the Civil War battlefields;
                (iii) enter into agreements with the Federal 
            Government, State governments, or other units of government 
            and nonprofit organizations; and
                (iv) acquire land or interests in land by gift or 
            devise, by purchase from a willing seller using donated or 
            appropriated funds, or by donation;
        (3) make recommendations to the Campaign Trail States for the 
    management, preservation, and interpretation of the natural, 
    cultural, and historical resources of the Civil War battlefields;
        (4) identify appropriate partnerships among Federal, State, and 
    local governments, regional entities, and the private sector, 
    including nonprofit organizations and the organization known as 
    ``Friends of the Vicksburg Campaign and Historic Trail'', in 
    furtherance of the purposes of this Act; and
        (5) recommend methods of ensuring continued local involvement 
    and participation in the management, protection, and development of 
    the Civil War battlefields.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of completion of 
the study under this section, the Secretary shall submit a report 
describing the findings of the study to--
        (1) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
    Senate; and
        (2) the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act $1,500,000.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.
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