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104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 810

To provide for the study of battlefields of the Revolutionary War and the

War of 1812.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 2, 1995

Mr. ZIMMER (for himself, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania,

Mr. BEILENSON, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. EVANS, Mr. TORRICELLI, Mr.

GILCHREST, and Mr. SANDERS) introduced the following bill; which was

referred to the Committee on Resources

A BILL

To provide for the study of battlefields of the Revolutionary

War and the War of 1812.

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

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Revolutionary War and

5 War of 1812 Historic Preservation Study Act of 1995’’.

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

7 For the purposes of this Act—

8 (1) the term ‘‘Revolutionary War sites’’ means

9 those sites and structures situated in the United
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1 States which are thematically tied with the nation2 ally significant events that occurred during the Rev3 olutionary War;

4 (2) the term ‘‘sites of the War of 1812’’ means

5 those sites and structures situated in the United

6 States which are thematically tied with the nation7 ally significant events that occurred during the War

8 of 1812; and

9 (2) the term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary

10 of the Interior.

11 SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

12 The Congress finds that—

13 (1) Revolutionary War sites and sites of the

14 War of 1812 provide a means for Americans to un15 derstand and interpret those periods in American

16 history;

17 (2) the historical integrity of many of these

18 sites is at risk because they are located in regions

19 which are undergoing rapid urban and suburban de20 velopment; and

21 (3) it is important to obtain current informa22 tion on the significance of such sites, threats to their

23 integrity, and alternatives for their preservation and

24 interpretation for the benefit of the Nation.
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1 SEC. 4. PREPARATION OF STUDY.

2 (a) PREPARATION OF STUDY.—The Secretary, acting

3 through the National Park Service, shall prepare a study

4 of Revolutionary War sites and sites of the War of 1812.

5 Such study shall identify the sites, determine the relative

6 significance of such sites, assess short- and long-term

7 threats to their integrity, and provide alternatives for the

8 preservation and interpretation of such sites by Federal,

9 State, and local governments, or other public or private

10 entities, as may be appropriate. The Secretary shall re11 search and propose innovative open space and land preser12 vation techniques with respect to such sites. Such alter13 natives may include (but shall not be limited to) designa14 tion as units of the National Park System or as affiliated

15 areas. The study may include existing units of the Na16 tional Park System.

17 (b) CONSULTATION.—During the preparation of the

18 study referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary shall

19 consult with the Governors of affected States, affected

20 units of local government, State and local historic preser21 vation organizations, scholarly organizations, and such

22 other interested parties as the Secretary deems advisable.

23 (c) TRANSMITTAL TO THE CONGRESS.—Not later

24 than two years after the date that funds are made avail25 able for the study referred to in subsection (a), the Sec26 retary shall transmit such study to the Committee on Re-
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1 sources of the United States House of Representatives and

2 the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the

3 United States Senate.

4 (d) REPORT.—Whenever the Secretary submits a re5 port of the study to the Secretary or the Office of Manage6 ment and Budget, it shall concurrently transmit copies of

7 that report to the Committee on Resources of the United

8 States House of Representatives and the Committee on

9 Energy and Natural Resources of the United States

10 Senate.

11 SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

12 There is authorized to be appropriated $500,000 to

13 carry out this Act.

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