IB
Union Calendar No. 78
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 659
[Report No. 106–139]
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
MAY 13, 1999
Additional sponsors: Mr. FROST, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Mr.
ABERCROMBIE, and Mr. EHRLICH
MAY 13, 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 9, 1999]
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for the protection of Paoli and
(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 borough
of Malvern to assure the preservation and interpretation of
the battlefield’s resources.
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated $1,250,000 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 Secretary shall
be subject to an agreement that provides for the protection
of the land’s resources.
SEC. 102. BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION.
(a) BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELD.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to
provide funds to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
a political subdivision of the Commonwealth, or the
Brandywine Conservancy, for the acquisition, protec-
tion, and preservation of land in an area generally
known as the Meetinghouse Road Corridor, located in
Chester County, Pennsylvania, as depicted on a map
entitled 
‘‘Brandywine 
Battlefield—Meetinghouse
Road Corridor’’, numbered 80,000 and dated April
1999 (referred to in this title as the ‘‘Brandywine
Battlefield’’). The map shall be on file in the appro-
priate offices of the National Park Service.
(2) WILLING SELLERS OR DONORS.—Interests in
land shall be acquired pursuant to this section only
from willing sellers or donors.
(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 pro-
vide technical assistance to the entity to assure the preserva-
tion and interpretation of the battlefield’s resources.
(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 Secretary 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 En-
ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Resources of the House of Representatives a re-
source 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 relation-
ship to the American Revolutionary War and the Val-
ley Forge National Historical Park; and
(2) identify alternatives for National Park Serv-
ice involvement at the sites and include cost estimates
for any necessary acquisition, development, interpre-
tation, operation, and maintenance associated with
the alternatives identified.
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are
authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be nec-
essary 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 main-
tains 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 estab-
lish 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 ex-
hibits and research facilities. Plans also call for im-
proving the interpretation of the landscape and im-
proving 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 signifi-
cant history and artifacts of the American Revolution
in their historic setting at Valley Forge. The Valley
Forge Historical Society has amassed valuable hold-
ings of artifacts, art, books, and other documents re-
lating to the 1777–1778 encampment of Washington’s
Continental Army at Valley Forge, the American
Revolution, and the American colonial era. The Soci-
ety continues to pursue additional important collec-
tions through bequests, exchanges, and acquisitions.
(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 authorize
the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an agreement 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 His-
torical Park, is authorized to enter into an agreement under
appropriate terms and conditions with the Valley Forge
Historical Society to facilitate the planning, construction,
and operation of the Valley Forge Museum of the American
Revolution on Federal land within the boundary of Valley
Forge National Historical Park.
ducting events, and selling merchandise, tickets, and
food to visitors to the museum;
(5) provide that the Society’s revenues from the
museum’s facilities and services shall be used to offset
the expenses of the museum’s operation; and
(6) 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 con-
ditions:
(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, preser-
vation, and interpretation of artifacts associated
with the Valley Forge story and the American
Revolution, to enhance the visitor experience of
Valley Forge National Historical Park, and to
conduct appropriately related activities of the
Society consistent with its mission and with the
purposes for which the Valley Forge National
Historical Park was established. Such right shall
not be transferred or conveyed without the ex-
press consent of the Secretary.
(C) Any other terms and conditions as may
be determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 204. PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION.
Nothing in this Act shall authorize the Secretary or
the Society to take any actions in derogation of the preser-
vation and protection of the values and resources of Valley
Forge National Historical Park. An agreement entered into
under section 203 shall be construed and implemented in
light of the high public value and integrity of the Valley
Forge National Historical Park and the National Park Sys-
tem.
Union Calendar No. 78
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 659
[Report No. 106–136]
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for the protection of
Paoli and Brandywine Battlefields in Pennsyl-
vania, to direct the National Park Service to con-
duct a special resource study of Paoli and Bran-
dywine Battlefields, to authorize the Valley Forge
Museum of the American Revolution at Valley
Forge National Historical Park, and for other
purposes.
MAY 13, 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