IB 
Union Calendar No. 381 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2129 
[Report No. 108–637] 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study 
regarding the suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic 
buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National 
Park System, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 15, 2003 
Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts (for himself and Mr. LYNCH) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources 
SEPTEMBER 7, 2004 
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 May 15, 2003] 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 
resources study regarding the suitability and feasibility 
of designating certain historic buildings and areas in 
Taunton, Massachusetts, 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 ‘‘Taunton, Massachusetts 
Special Resources Study Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) The city of Taunton, Massachusetts, is home 
to 9 distinct historic districts, with more than 600 
properties on the National Register of Historic Places. 
Included among these districts are the Church Green 
Historic District, the Courthouse Historic District, 
the Taunton Green Historic District, and the Reed 
and Barton Historic District. 
(2) All of these districts include buildings and 
building facades of great historical, cultural, and ar-
chitectural value. 
(3) Taunton Green is the site where the Sons of 
Liberty first raised the Liberty and Union Flag in 
1774, an event that helped to spark a popular move-
ment, culminating in the American Revolution, and 
Taunton citizens have been among the first to volun-
teer for America’s subsequent wars.
(4) Robert Treat Paine, a citizen of Taunton, 
and the first Attorney General of Massachusetts, was 
a signer of the Declaration of Independence. 
(5) Taunton was a leading community in the 
Industrial Revolution, and its industrial area has 
been the site of many innovations in such industries 
as silver manufacture, paper manufacture, and ship 
building. 
(6) The landscaping of the Courthouse Green was 
designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also left 
landscaping ideas and plans for other areas in the 
city which have great value and interest as historical 
archives and objects of future study. 
(7) Main Street, which connects many of the his-
toric districts, is home to the Taunton City Hall and 
the Leonard Block building, 2 outstanding examples 
of early 19th Century American architecture, as well 
as many other historically and architecturally signifi-
cant structures. 
(8) The city and people of Taunton have pre-
served many artifacts, gravesites, and important doc-
uments dating back to 1638 when Taunton was 
founded. 
(9) Taunton was and continues to be an impor-
tant destination for immigrants from Europe and
other parts of the world who have helped to give 
Southeastern Massachusetts its unique ethnic char-
acter. 
SEC. 3. STUDY. 
The Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate 
State historic preservation officers, State historical soci-
eties, the city of Taunton, and other appropriate organiza-
tions, shall conduct a special resources study regarding the 
suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic 
buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit 
of the National Park System. The study shall be conducted 
and completed in accordance with section 8(c) of Public 
Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5(c)) and shall include anal-
ysis, documentation, and determinations regarding whether 
the historic areas in Taunton— 
(1) can be managed, curated, interpreted, re-
stored, preserved, and presented as an organic whole 
under management by the National Park Service or 
under an alternative management structure; 
(2) have an assemblage of natural, historic, and 
cultural resources that together represent distinctive 
aspects of American heritage worthy of recognition, 
conservation, interpretation, and continuing use;
(3) reflect traditions, customs, beliefs, and histor-
ical events that are valuable parts of the national 
story; 
(4) provide outstanding opportunities to conserve 
natural, historic, cultural, architectural, or scenic fea-
tures; 
(5) provide outstanding recreational and edu-
cational opportunities; and 
(6) can be managed by the National Park Serv-
ice in partnership with residents, business interests, 
nonprofit organizations, and State and local govern-
ments to develop a unit of the National Park System 
consistent with State and local economic activity. 
SEC. 4. REPORT. 
Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which 
funds are first made available for this Act, the Secretary 
shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources of the Senate a report on the findings, con-
clusions, and recommendations of the study required under 
section 3. 
SEC. 5. PRIVATE PROPERTY. 
The recommendations in the report submitted pursu-
ant to section 4 shall discuss and consider the concerns ex-
pressed by private landowners with respect to designating
the certain structures referred to in this Act as a unit of 
the National Park System. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Union Calendar No. 381 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2129 
[Report No. 108–637] 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a special resources study regarding the suitability 
and feasibility of designating certain historic 
buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, 
as a unit of the National Park System, and for 
other purposes. 
SEPTEMBER 7, 2004 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed