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104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 369

To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study regarding Fort

King, Florida.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 4, 1995

Mr. STEARNS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Resources

A BILL

To require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study

regarding Fort King, Florida.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

4 The Congress finds that—

5 (1) the Second Seminole War, 1835–1837, is

6 an important period of conflict in the history of the

7 Nation and lasted longer than any other armed con8 flict in which the Nation participated, except the

9 Vietnam War;
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1 (2) Fort King, in central Florida, played an im2 portant historic role in the Second Seminole War as

3 the site of the outbreak of hostilities between the

4 United States Government and the Seminole Indians

5 of Florida, who were led by Seminole Indian Chief

6 Osceola;

7 (3) Fort King represents a unique site for ex8 ploration and interpretation of the attack that ig9 nited the Second Seminole War on December 28,

10 1835; and

11 (4) Fort King and the surrounding area contain

12 materials and artifacts used in the attack and in the

13 life of the Seminole Indians.

14 SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT OF STUDY.

15 The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter in this Act

16 referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall conduct a study to

17 identify potential means to preserve, develop, and inter18 pret Fort King, in central Florida, and the surrounding

19 area. As part of the study, the Secretary shall propose

20 alternatives for cooperation in the preservation and inter21 pretation of Fort King and shall provide recommendations

22 with respect to the suitability and feasibility of establish23 ing Fort King as a unit of the National Park System.
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1 SEC. 3. FINDINGS INCLUDED IN STUDY.

2 The study required by section 2 shall contain, but

3 need not be limited to, findings with respect to—

4 (1) the role played by Fort King in the Second

5 Seminole War;

6 (2) identification of the historical, cultural, and

7 archaeological material found in Fort King and the

8 surrounding area relating to life at the time of and

9 preceding the Second Seminole War;

10 (3) the types of Federal, State, and local pro11 grams that are available to preserve and develop

12 Fort King and the surrounding area and to make

13 the fort and the surrounding area accessible for pub14 lic use and enjoyment; and

15 (4) the potential use of, and coordination with,

16 Federal, State, and local programs to manage, in

17 the public interest, the historical and cultural re18 sources found at and around Fort King.

19 SEC. 4. CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW.

20 The Secretary shall submit a report detailing the re21 sults of the study required by section 2 to the committees

22 of jurisdiction of the House of Representatives and the

23 Senate not later than 12 months after the date of the en24 actment of this Act.
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1 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

2 There is authorized to be appropriated $200,000 to

3 carry out this Act.

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