I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3408
To establish the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park in the State
of Louisiana, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 28, 1993
Mr. JEFFERSON (for himself, Mr. FIELDS of Louisiana, Mr. HAYES, Mr. LIV-
INGSTON, and Mr. TAUZIN) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To establish the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park
in the State of Louisiana, 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 ‘‘New Orleans Jazz Na-
tional Historical Park Act of 1993’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that—
(1) jazz is the United States’ most widely rec-
ognized indigenous music and art form. Congress
previously recognized jazz in 1987 through Senate
Concurrent Resolution 57 as a rare and valuable na-
tional treasure of international importance;
(2) the city of New Orleans is widely recognized
as the birthplace of jazz. In and around this city,
cultural and musical elements blended to form the
unique American music that is known as New Orle-
ans jazz, which is an expression of the cultural di-
versity of the lower Mississippi Delta Region; and
(3) Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and
Preserve was established to commemorate the cul-
tural diversity of the lower Mississippi Delta Region
including a range of cultural expressions like jazz.
(b) PURPOSE.—In furtherance of the need to recog-
nize the value and importance of jazz, it is the purpose
of this Act to establish a New Orleans Jazz National His-
torical Park, together with associated educational pro-
grams, as a unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical
Park and Preserve which is headquartered in New Orle-
ans, Louisiana. The historical park shall preserve the ori-
gins and early history of jazz; provide visitors with oppor-
tunities to experience the sights, sounds, and places where
jazz evolved; and implement innovative ways of establish-
ing jazz educational partnerships that will help to ensure
that jazz continues as a vital element of the culture of
New Orleans and our Nation.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In order to assist in the preserva-
tion, education, and interpretation of jazz as it has evolved
in New Orleans, and to provide technical assistance to a
broad range of organizations involved with jazz music and
its history, there is hereby established the New Orleans
Jazz National Historical Park (hereinafter referred to as
the ‘‘historical park’’). The historical park shall be admin-
istered and managed as a unit of the Jean Lafitte Na-
tional Historical Park and Preserve, which was established
to preserve and interpret the cultural and natural re-
sources of the lower Mississippi Delta Region.
(b) AREA INCLUDED.—The historical park shall con-
sist of lands and interests therein as follows—
(1) lands which the Secretary of the Interior
(hereinafter referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) may
designate for an interpretive visitor center complex;
(2) sites that are the subject of cooperative
agreements with the National Park Service for the
purposes of interpretive demonstrations and pro-
grams associated with the purposes of this Act; and
(3)(A) sites designated by the Secretary as pro-
vided in subparagraph (B);
(B)(i) the Secretary is directed to undertake a
national historic landmark evaluation of sites associ-
ated with jazz in and around New Orleans as identi-
fied in the document entitled ‘‘New Orleans Jazz
Special Resource Study’’, prepared by the National
Park Service pursuant to Public Law 101–499. In
undertaking the evaluation, the Secretary shall, to
the extent practicable, utilize existing information
relating to such sites, and
(ii) if any of the sites evaluated are found to
meet the standards of the National Historic Land-
mark program and National Park Service tests of
suitability and feasibility, and offer outstanding op-
portunities to further the purposes of this Act, the
Secretary may designate such sites as part of the
historical park, following consultation with the city
of New Orleans, the Smithsonian Institution, and
the Delta Region Preservation Commission, and no-
tification to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the United States Senate and the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources of the United States
House of Representatives.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall administer
the historical park in accordance with this Act and with
provisions of law generally applicable to units of the Na-
tional Park System, including the Act entitled ‘‘An Act
to establish a National Park Service, and for other pur-
poses,’’ approved August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535; 15
U.S.C. 1, 2–4); the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666;
16 U.S.C. 461–467); and title IX of Public Law 95–625,
the enabling Act for Jean Lafitte National Historical Park
and Preserve, as amended (16 U.S.C. 230). The Secretary
shall manage the historical park in such a manner as will
preserve and perpetuate knowledge and understanding of
the history of jazz and its continued evolution as a true
American art form.
(b) DONATIONS.—The Secretary may accept and re-
tain donations of funds, property, or services from individ-
uals, foundations, corporations, or other public entities for
the purposes of providing services, programs, and facilities
that further the purposes of this Act.
(c) INTERPRETIVE CENTER.—The Secretary is au-
thorized to lease, construct, operate, or maintain an inter-
pretive center in New Orleans. Programs at the center
may include live jazz interpretive and education programs,
and shall provide visitors with information about jazz-re-
lated programs, performances, and opportunities.
(d) JAZZ HERITAGE DISTRICTS.—The Secretary may
provide technical assistance to the city of New Orleans and
other appropriate entities for the designation of certain
areas in and around New Orleans as jazz heritage dis-
tricts. Such districts shall include those areas with an ex-
the State of Louisiana, and other appropriate public
and private organizations under which the other par-
ties to the agreement may contribute to the acquisi-
tion, construction, operation, and maintenance of the
interpretive center and to the operation of edu-
cational and interpretive programs to further the
purposes of this Act; and
(3) the Secretary, in consultation with the Com-
mission, is authorized to provide grants or technical
assistance to public and private organizations.
(f) JAZZ EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS.—The Secretary
shall, in the administration of the historical park, promote
a broad range of educational activities relating to jazz and
its history. The Secretary shall cooperate with schools,
universities, and organizations supporting jazz education
to develop educational programs that provide expanded
public understanding of jazz and enhanced opportunities
for public appreciation. The Secretary may assist appro-
priate entities in the development of an information base
including archival material, audiovisual records, and ob-
jects that relate to the history of jazz.
SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.
(a) GENERAL AUTHORITY.—The Secretary may ac-
quire lands and interests therein within the sites des-
ignated pursuant to section 3(b)(1) and (3) by donation
or purchase with donated or appropriated funds: Provided,
That sites designated pursuant to section 3(b)(3) shall
only be acquired with the consent of the owner thereof.
(b) STATE AND LOCAL PROPERTIES.—Lands and in-
terests in lands which are owned by the State of Louisi-
ana, or any political subdivision thereof, may be acquired
only by donation.
SEC. 6. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.
Within 3 years after the date funds are made avail-
able therefor and concurrent with the national landmark
study referenced in section 3(b)(3), the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the New Orleans Jazz Commission, shall
prepare a general management plan for the historical
park. The plan shall include, but need not be limited to—
(1) a visitor use plan indicating programs and
facilities associated with park programs that will be
made available to the public;
(2) preservation and use plans for any struc-
tures and sites that are identified through the his-
toric landmark study for inclusion within the histori-
cal park;
(3) the location and associated cost of public fa-
cilities that are proposed for inclusion within the his-
torical park, including a visitor center;
(4) identification of programs that the Sec-
retary will implement or be associated with through
cooperative agreements with other groups and orga-
nizations;
(5) a transportation plan that addresses visitor
use access needs to sites, facilities, and programs
central to the purpose of the historical park;
(6) plans for the implementation of an archival
system for materials, objects, and items of impor-
tance relating to the history of jazz; and
(7) guidelines for the application of cooperative
agreements that will be used to assist in the man-
agement of historical park facilities and programs.
SEC. 7. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ COM-
MISSION.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—To assist in implementing the
purposes of this Act and the document entitled ‘‘New Or-
leans Jazz Special Resource Study,’’ there is established
the New Orleans Jazz Commission (hereinafter referred
to as the ‘‘Commission’’).
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall consist of
15 members to be appointed no later than 6 months after
the date of enactment of this Act. The Commission shall
be appointed by the Secretary as follows:
(1) one member recommended by the Mayor of
New Orleans;
(2) two members who have recognized experi-
ence in music education programs that emphasize
jazz;
(3) one member, with experience and knowledge
of tourism in the greater New Orleans area, from
recommendations submitted by local businesses;
(4) one member recommended by the Board of
the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation;
(5) one member, with experience and knowledge
of historic preservation within the New Orleans area;
(6) two members who are recognized musicians
with knowledge and experience in the development of
jazz in New Orleans;
(7) one member with recognized expertise in
jazz and folklore preservation and interpretation,
recommended by the Director of the Louisiana State
Museum;
(8) two members who represent local neighbor-
hood groups or other local associations, rec-
ommended by the Mayor of New Orleans;
(9) one member representing local social and
pleasure clubs, recommended by the Mayor of New
Orleans;
(10) one member recommended by the Governor
of the State of Louisiana, who shall be a member of
the Louisiana State Music Commission;
(11) the Chairman of the Delta Regional Pres-
ervation Commission, ex officio; and
(12) the Director of the National Park Service,
or the Director’s designee, ex officio.
(c) DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.—The Commission
shall—
(1) advise the Secretary in the preparation of
the general management plan for the historical park;
assist in public discussions of planning proposals;
and assist the National Park Service in working
with individuals, groups, and organizations including
economic and business interests in determining pro-
grams in which the Secretary should participate
through cooperative agreements;
(2) in consultation and cooperation with the
Secretary, develop partnerships with educational
groups, schools, universities, and other groups to
furtherance of the purposes of this Act;
(3) in consultation and cooperation with the
Secretary, develop partnerships with citywide organi-
zations, and raise and disperse funds for programs
that assist mutual aid and benevolent societies in en-