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;
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(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;
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(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.