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103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 79
To authorize a study of the struggle for American Independence within
the Northern Frontier.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 5, 1993
Mr. BOEHLERT introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To authorize a study of the struggle for American
Independence within the Northern Frontier.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS
SECTION 1. The Congress finds and declares that:
(1) The area comprising historic Tryon County
in the Mohawk Valley of New York State and the
Country of the Six Nations (Iroquois Confederacy),
the ‘‘Northern Frontier’’, offers excellent opportuni-
ties to study a little known or understood aspect of
the American Revolution—the frontier experience.
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(2) The Northern Frontier territory was ex-
tremely valuable to both sides and hotly contested
because of its unique geopolitical, military, agricul-
tural, transportation, and commercial attributes.
(3) Because such a complex social, economic,
and political society was emerging on the Northern
Frontier, the Continental Congress established the
Northern Indian Department to conduct affairs
there, and the English made the area, and its Indian
population, the centerpiece of its strategy to split the
colonies.
(4) Due to the struggle to control the Northern
Frontier, profound privation and hardship were in-
flicted upon nearly all who lived there; a diverse mix
of ethnic and racial groups willingly and unwillingly
thrust into the struggle for independence, leaving
many of them dead, homeless, orphaned, or dis-
located by the end of the hostilities.
(5) The tensions on the Northern Frontier
reached such a pitch that a civil war erupted, and
pitted neighbors, families, tribes, and clans against
each other and led to among the bloodiest, intensely
savage, and most destructive battles of the Revolu-
tion.
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(6) New interpretations and interdisciplinary
studies of this human drama are not only necessary,
but timely because of the abundant supply of assets
in the area, including sites, buildings, celebrations,
folklore, and collections, many safely preserved and
many at risk.
(7) If these Northern Frontier assets can be
thematically related and portrayed for the education
and enjoyment of Americans and foreign visitors, an
important and often overlooked chapter in America’s
heritage will be displayed for the benefit and edifi-
cation of all peoples.
STUDY
SEC. 2. The Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter re-
ferred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall conduct a study to
identify potential means to preserve and interpret the cul-
tural resources in the Northern Frontier associated with
the American Revolution. As part of the study, the Sec-
retary shall propose alternatives for cooperation in the
preservation and interpretation of the resources.
CONTENTS OF STUDY
SEC. 3. The study of the Secretary shall contain, but
not be limited to, findings with respect to—
(1) the role played by the Northern Frontier in
the American Revolution;
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(2) the historical, cultural, natural, and outdoor
recreational values of the Northern Frontier;
(3) the types of Federal, State, and local pro-
grams that are available to preserve, develop, and
make accessible the Northern Frontier;
(4) the use of, and coordination with, Federal,
State, and local programs to manage in the public
interest the historical, cultural, natural, and rec-
reational resources of the Northern Frontier; and
(5) the possible kinds and general intensities of
development that could be associated with public en-
joyment and use of, and conservation and protection
of, the resources, including location and anticipated
costs.
CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW
SEC. 4. The Secretary shall transmit the study to the
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources of the Senate within twelve months
after funding is made available for the study.
CONSULTATION
SEC. 5. In preparing the study the Secretary shall
consult with the public, representatives of the affected
communities and the State of New York, historians, plan-
ners, recreation specialists, and historic preservationists
knowledgeable in American history and historic preserva-
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tion. The Secretary shall seek expertise from both local
and national organizations.
AUTHORIZATIONS OF APPROPRIATIONS
SEC. 6. There is authorized to be appropriated such
sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of
this Act.
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