I

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1776

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Buffalo Bayou National Heritage Area in west

Houston, Texas.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 9, 2001

Mr. GREEN of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the

Committee on Resources

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Buffalo Bayou

National Heritage Area in west Houston, Texas.

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 ‘‘Buffalo Bayou Na5 tional Heritage Area Study Act’’.

6 SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING BUF7 FALO BAYOU, TEXAS.

8 (a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
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1 (1) The area beginning at Shepherd Drive in

2 west Houston, Texas, and extending to the Turning

3 Basin, commonly referred to as the ‘‘Buffalo

4 Bayou’’, made a unique contribution to the cultural,

5 political, and industrial development of the United

6 States.

7 (2) The Buffalo Bayou is distinctive as the first

8 spine of modern industrial development in Texas and

9 one of the first along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

10 (3) The Buffalo Bayou played a significant role

11 in the struggle for Texas independence.

12 (4) The Buffalo Bayou developed a prosperous

13 and productive shipping industry that survives

14 today.

15 (5) The Buffalo Bayou led in the development

16 of Texas’ petrochemical industry that made Houston

17 the center of the early oil boom in America.

18 (6) The Buffalo Bayou developed a sophisti19 cated shipping system, leading to the formation of

20 the modern day Houston Ship Channel.

21 (7) The Buffalo Bayou developed a significant

22 industrial base, and served as the focal point for the

23 new city of Houston.

24 (8) There is a longstanding commitment by the

25 Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Inc., to complete the
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1 Buffalo Bayou Trail along the 12-mile segment of

2 the Buffalo Bayou.

3 (9) There is a need for assistance for the pres4 ervation and promotion of the significance of the

5 Buffalo Bayou as a system for transportation, in6 dustry, commerce, and immigration.

7 (10) The Department of the Interior is respon8 sible for protecting the Nation’s cultural and histor9 ical resources. There are significant examples of

10 such resources within the Buffalo Bayou region to

11 merit the involvement of the Federal Government in

12 the development of programs and projects, in co13 operation with the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, Inc.,

14 the State of Texas, and other local and govern15 mental entities, to adequately conserve, protect, and

16 interpret this heritage for future generations, while

17 providing opportunities for education and revitaliza18 tion.

19 (b) STUDY.—The Secretary shall, in consultation

20 with the State of Texas, carry out a study regarding the

21 suitability and feasibility of establishing the Buffalo

22 Bayou National Heritage Area in Houston, Texas.

23 (c) STUDY PROCESS AND COMPLETION.—Section

24 8(c) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5(c)) shall
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1 apply to the conduct and completion of the study required

2 by this section.

3 (d) SUBMISSION OF STUDY RESULTS.—The Sec4 retary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the

5 House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy

6 and Natural Resources of the Senate a report describing

7 the results the study.

8 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is

9 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to imple10 ment this section $200,000 for fiscal year 2002.

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