IB
Union Calendar No. 108
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 791
[Report No. 106–189]
To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the route of the
War of 1812 British invasion of Maryland and Washington, District
of Columbia, and the route of the American defense, for study for
potential addition to the national trails system.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 23, 1999
Mr. GILCHREST (for himself and Mr. CARDIN) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Resources
JUNE 17, 1999
Additional sponsors: Mr. HOYER and Mrs. MORELLA
JUNE 17, 1999
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 23, 1999]
A BILL
To amend the National Trails System Act to designate the
route of the War of 1812 British invasion of Maryland
and Washington, District of Columbia, and the route
of the American defense, for study for potential addition
to the national trails system.
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 ‘‘Star-Spangled Banner
National Historic Trail Study Act of 1999’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) the British invasion of Maryland and Wash-
ington, District of Columbia, during the War of 1812
marks a defining period in the history of our Nation,
the only occasion on which the United States of
America has been invaded by a foreign power;
(2) the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic
Trail traces the arrival of the British fleet in the Pa-
tuxent River in Calvert County and St. Mary’s Coun-
ty, Maryland, the landing of British forces at Bene-
dict, the sinking of the Chesapeake Flotilla at Pig
Point in Prince George’s County and Anne Arundel
County, Maryland, the American defeat at the Battle
of Bladensburg, the siege of the Nation’s Capital,
Washington, District of Columbia (including the
burning of the United States Capitol and the White
House), the British naval diversions in the upper
Chesapeake Bay leading to the Battle of Caulk’s Field
in Kent County, Maryland, the route of the American
troops from Washington through Georgetown, the
Maryland Counties of Montgomery, Howard, and
Baltimore, and the city of Baltimore, Maryland, to
the Battle of North Point, and the ultimate victory of
the Americans at Fort McHenry on September 14,
1814, where a distinguished Maryland lawyer and
poet, Francis Scott Key, wrote the words that cap-
tured the essence of our national struggle for inde-
pendence, words that now serve as our national an-
them, the Star-Spangled Banner; and
(3) the designation of this route as a national
historic trail—
(A) would serve as a reminder of the impor-
tance of the concept of liberty to all who experi-
ence the Star-Spangled Banner National His-
toric Trail; and
(B) would give long overdue recognition to
the patriots whose determination to stand firm
against enemy invasion and bombardment pre-
served this liberty for future generations of
Americans.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF TRAIL FOR STUDY.
Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16
U.S.C. 1244(c)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraph (36) (as added
by section 3 of the El Camino Real Para Los Texas
Study Act of 1993 (107 Stat. 1497)) as paragraph
(37) and in subparagraph (C) by striking ‘‘detemine’’
and inserting ‘‘determine’’;
(2) by designating the paragraphs relating to the
Old Spanish Trail and the Great Western Scenic
Trail as paragraphs (38) and (39), respectively; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(40) STAR-SPANGLED BANNER NATIONAL HISTORIC
TRAIL.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Star-Spangled Banner
National Historic Trail, tracing the War of 1812
route from the arrival of the British fleet in the Pa-
tuxent River in Calvert County and St. Mary’s Coun-
ty, Maryland, the landing of the British forces at
Benedict, the sinking of the Chesapeake Flotilla at
Pig Point, the American defeat at the Battle of
Bladensburg, the siege of the Nation’s Capital, Wash-
ington, District of Columbia (including the burning
of the United States Capitol and the White House),
the British naval diversions in the upper Chesapeake
Bay leading to the Battle of Caulk’s Field in Kent
County, Maryland, the route of the American troops
from Washington through Georgetown, the Maryland
Counties of Montgomery, Howard, and Baltimore,
and the city of Baltimore, Maryland, to the Battle of
North Point, and the ultimate victory of the Ameri-
cans at Fort McHenry on September 14, 1814.
‘‘(B) AFFECTED
AREAS.—The trail crosses 8
counties within the boundaries of the State of Mary-
land, the city of Baltimore, Maryland, and Wash-
ington, District of Columbia.
‘‘(C) COORDINATION WITH OTHER CONGRESSION-
ALLY MANDATED ACTIVITIES.—The study under this
paragraph shall be undertaken in coordination with
the study authorized under section 603 of the Omni-
bus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996
(16 U.S.C. 1a-5 note; 110 Stat. 4172) and the Chesa-
peake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network au-
thorized under the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act of
1998 (16 U.S.C. 461 note; 112 Stat. 2961). Such co-
ordination shall extend to any research needed to
complete the studies and any findings and implemen-
tation actions that result from the studies and shall
use available resources to the greatest extent possible
to avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.
‘‘(D) DEADLINE FOR STUDY.—Not later that 2
years after funds are made available for the study
under this paragraph, the study shall be completed
and transmitted with final recommendations to the
Committee on Resources in the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources in the Senate.’’.
Union Calendar No. 108
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 791
[Report No. 106–189]
A BILL
To amend the National Trails System Act to des-
ignate the route of the War of 1812 British inva-
sion of Maryland and Washington, District of
Columbia, and the route of the American de-
fense, for study for potential addition to the na-
tional trails system.
JUNE 17, 1999
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union,
and ordered to be printed