I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1728 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasi-
bility of designating the French Colonial Heritage Area in the State 
of Missouri as a unit of the National Park System, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 20, 2005 
Mr. CARNAHAN (for himself and Mrs. EMERSON) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suit-
ability and feasibility of designating the French Colonial 
Heritage Area in the State of Missouri as a unit of 
the National Park System, 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 ‘‘French Colonial Herit-
age National Historic Site Study Act of 2005’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that—
(1) the French Colonial Heritage Area has 
great historical significance as the home of two of 
the five poteaux-en-terre (post in the ground) 
vertical log French homes remaining in North Amer-
ica, dating from circa 1800, in addition to several 
other important historical artifacts; 
(2) the area is located within the Ste. Genevieve 
National Historic District, and is adjacent to related 
historic properties including the third North Amer-
ican poteaux-en-terre home, the ‘‘Le Grand Champ’’ 
(common field used by French settlers), historic 
downtown Ste. Genevieve, and a pre-historic Native 
American village still evidenced by several ceremo-
nial mounds; 
(3) the Area contains some of the only existing 
examples of a French Colonial Period settlement, 
which was characterized by contact that emphasized 
integration with the local culture; 
(4) local state agencies and organizations have 
undertaken significant efforts to preserve the his-
toric architecture of Ste. Genevieve and convert it to 
educational facilities devoted to the history of the 
early French experience in the New World; and 
(5) no current National Park System unit has 
comparable historic features providing the cultural
backdrop required to adequately interpret the story 
of the early French in the New World. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) AREA.—The term ‘‘Area’’ means the 
French Colonial Heritage Area, which includes the 
Bequette-Ribault, 
St. 
Gemme-Amoureaux, 
and 
Wilhauk homes, and the related and supporting his-
torical assets located in Ste. Genevieve County, Mis-
souri. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the National Park Service. 
SEC. 4. STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the 
date on which funds are made available to carry out this 
Act, the Secretary shall, in consultation with the State of 
Missouri— 
(1) complete a study on the suitability and fea-
sibility of designating the Area as a unit of the Na-
tional Park System; and 
(2) submit to the Committee on Resources of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a re-
port describing the findings of the study.
(b) CONTENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 
shall be conducted in accordance with Public Law 91–383 
(16 U.S.C. 1a–1 et seq.). 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as are necessary to carry out this Act. 
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