I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 659
To authorize appropriations for the protection of Paoli and Brandywine Bat-
tlefields in Pennsylvania, to direct the National Park Service to conduct
a special resource study of Paoli and Brandywine Battlefields, to author-
ize the Valley Forge Museum of the American Revolution at Valley
Forge National Historical Park, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 9, 1999
Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. PITTS, Mr. ENGLISH, Mr.
HOEFFEL, Mr. MASCARA, Mr. GEKAS, Mr. GREENWOOD, Mr. HOLDEN,
Mr. SHUSTER, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. SHERWOOD,
Mr. COYNE, Mr. PETERSON of Pennsylvania, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. TOOMEY,
Mr. KLINK, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. KANJORSKI, Mr. BORSKI, Mr. MURTHA,
Mr. CASTLE, and Mr. GOODLING) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Resources
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for the protection of Paoli and
Brandywine Battlefields in Pennsylvania, to direct the
National Park Service to conduct a special resource
study of Paoli and Brandywine Battlefields, to authorize
the Valley Forge Museum of the American Revolution
at Valley Forge National Historical Park, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Protect America’s
Treasures of the Revolution for Independence for Our To-
morrow Act’’ or the ‘‘PATRIOT Act’’.
TITLE I—PAOLI AND
BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELDS
SEC. 101. PAOLI BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION.
(a) PAOLI BATTLEFIELD.—The Secretary of the In-
terior (hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) is au-
thorized to provide funds to the borough of Malvern,
Pennsylvania, for the protection and preservation of the
area known as the ‘‘Paoli Battlefield’’, located in the bor-
ough of Malvern, Pennsylvania, as generally depicted on
the map entitled ‘‘Paoli Battlefield’’ numbered ll and
dated ll (referred to in this title as the ‘‘Paoli Battle-
field’’). The map shall be on file in the appropriate offices
of the National Park Service.
(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AND TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE.—The Secretary shall enter into a cooperative
agreement with the borough of Malvern, Pennsylvania, for
the management by the borough of the Paoli Battlefield.
The Secretary may provide technical assistance to the bor-
ough of Malvern to assure the preservation and interpreta-
tion of the battlefield’s resources.
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated $2,500,000 to carry out
this section. Such funds shall be expended in the ratio of
$1 of Federal funds for each dollar of funds contributed
by non-Federal sources. Any funds provided by the Sec-
retary shall be subject to an agreement that provides for
the protection of the land’s resources.
SEC. 102. BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION.
(a) BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELD.—The Secretary is
authorized to provide funds to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, a political subdivision of the Common-
wealth, or the Brandywine Conservancy, for the protection
and preservation of land in an area generally known as
the Meetinghouse Road Corridor, located in Chester Coun-
ty, Pennsylvania, as depicted on a map entitled ‘‘Brandy-
wine Battlefield—Meetinghouse Road Corridor’’, num-
bered ll and dated ll (referred to in this title as
the ‘‘Brandywine Battlefield’’). The map shall be on file
in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT AND TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE.—The Secretary shall enter into a cooperative
agreement with the same entity that is provided funds
under subsection (a) for the management by the entity
of the Brandywine Battlefield. The Secretary may also
provide technical assistance to the entity to assure the
preservation and interpretation of the battlefield’s re-
sources.
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated $3,000,000 to carry out
this section. Such funds shall be expended in the ratio of
$1 of Federal funds for each dollar of funds contributed
by non-Federal sources. Any funds provided by the Sec-
retary shall be subject to an agreement that provides for
the protection of the land’s resources.
SEC. 103. STUDY OF BATTLEFIELDS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after
the date on which funds are made available to carry out
this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives
a resource study of the property described in sections 101
and 102.
(b) CONTENTS.—The study shall—
(1) identify the full range of resources and his-
toric themes associated with the Paoli Battlefield
and the Brandywine Battlefield, including their rela-
tionship to the American Revolutionary War and the
Valley Forge National Historical Park; and
(2) identify alternatives for National Park Serv-
ice involvement at the sites and include cost esti-
mates for any necessary acquisition, development,
interpretation, operation, and maintenance associ-
ated with the alternatives identified.
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this section.
TITLE II—VALLEY FORGE
NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Valley Forge Museum
of the American Revolution Act of 1999’’.
SEC. 202. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) Valley Forge National Historical Park, for-
merly a State park, was established as a unit of the
National Park System in 1976. The National Park
Service acquired various lands and structures associ-
ated with the park, including a visitor center, from
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(2) Valley Forge National Historical Park
maintains an extensive collection of artifacts, books,
and other documents associated with the Continental
Army’s winter encampment of 1777–1778 at Valley
Forge, Revolutionary War-era artifacts of military
life, important archaeological resources, and numer-
ous structures and associated artifacts.
(3) Between 1982 and 1997 the National Park
Service completed a general management plan, long-
range interpretive plan, and strategic business plan
for Valley Forge National Historical Park that es-
tablish goals and priorities for management of the
park.
(4) These plans identify inadequacies in the
park’s current visitor center and interpretive pro-
grams. The plans call for the development of a new
or significantly renovated visitor center that would
make the collection accessible to the public through
exhibits and research facilities. Plans also call for
improving the interpretation of the landscape and
improving the circulation into and through the park.
(5) The Valley Forge Historical Society was es-
tablished in 1918 as a nonprofit organization to pre-
serve and interpret for future generations the sig-
nificant history and artifacts of the American Revo-
lution in their historic setting at Valley Forge. The
Valley Forge Historical Society has amassed valu-
able holdings of artifacts, art, books, and other doc-
uments relating to the 1777–1778 encampment of
Washington’s Continental Army at Valley Forge, the
American Revolution, and the American colonial era.
The Society continues to pursue additional impor-
tant collections through bequests, exchanges, and ac-
quisitions.
(6) The Society’s collection is currently housed
in a facility inadequate to properly maintain, pre-
serve, and display their ever-growing collection. The
Society is interested in developing an up-to-date mu-
seum and education facility.
(7) The Society and the National Park Service
have discussed the idea of a joint museum and edu-
cation and visitor facility. Such a collaborative
project would directly support the historical, edu-
cational, and interpretive activities and needs of Val-
ley Forge National Historical Park and those of the
Valley Forge Historical Society. A joint facility
would combine 2 outstanding museum collections
and provide an enhanced experience at Valley Forge
for visitors, scholars, and researchers.
(8) The Society has proposed to raise funds to
construct a new museum and education and visitor
center on park property at Valley Forge National
Historical Park that would be planned, developed,
and operated jointly with Valley Forge National His-
torical Park.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this title is to author-
ize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agree-
ment with the Valley Forge Historical Society to construct
and operate a museum within the boundary of Valley
Forge National Historical Park in cooperation with the
Secretary.
SEC. 203. VALLEY FORGE MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REV-
OLUTION AUTHORIZATION.
(a) AGREEMENT AUTHORIZED.—The Secretary of
the Interior, in administering the Valley Forge National
Historical Park, is authorized to enter into an agreement
under appropriate terms and conditions with the Valley
Forge Historical Society to facilitate the planning, con-
struction, and operation of the Valley Forge Museum of
the American Revolution on Federal land within the
boundary of Valley Forge National Historical Park.
(b) CONTENTS OF AGREEMENT.—An agreement en-
tered into under subsection (a) shall—
(1) authorize the Society to operate the mu-
seum in cooperation with the Secretary and to pro-
vide at the museum programs and services to visi-
tors to Valley Forge National Historical Park, relat-
ed to the story of Valley Forge and the American
Revolution;
(2) authorize the Secretary to undertake at the
museum activities related to the management of Val-
ley Forge National Historical Park, including, but
not limited to, provision of appropriate visitor infor-
mation and interpretive facilities and programs re-
lated to Valley Forge National Historical Park;
(3) authorize the Society, acting as a private
nonprofit organization, to engage in activities appro-
priate for operation of a museum that may include,
but are not limited to, charging fees, conducting
events, and selling merchandise, tickets, and food to
visitors to the museum;
(4) provide that the Society’s revenues from the
museum’s facilities and services shall be used to off-
set the expenses of the museum’s operation; and
(5) authorize the Society to occupy the struc-
ture(s) so constructed for the term specified in the
Agreement and subject to the following terms and
conditions:
(A) The conveyance by the Society to the
United States of America of all right, title, and
interest in the structure(s) to be constructed at
Valley Forge National Historical Park.
(B) The Society’s right to occupy and use
the structure(s) shall be for the exhibition, pres-
ervation, and interpretation of artifacts associ-
ated with the Valley Forge story and the Amer-
ican Revolution, to enhance the visitor experi-