To preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66 corridor and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance.

SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act, the following definitions apply:
        (1) Route 66 corridor.--The term ``Route 66 corridor'' means 
    structures and other cultural resources described in paragraph (3), 
    including--
            (A) lands owned by the Federal Government and lands owned 
        by a State or local government within the immediate vicinity of 
        those portions of the highway formerly designated as United 
        States Route 66; and
            (B) private land within that immediate vicinity that is 
        owned by persons or entities that are willing to participate in 
        the programs authorized by this Act.
        (2) Cultural resource programs.--The term ``Cultural Resource 
    Programs'' means the programs established and administered by the 
    National Park Service for the benefit of and in support of 
    preservation of the Route 66 corridor, either directly or 
    indirectly.
        (3) Preservation of the route 66 corridor.--The term 
    ``preservation of the Route 66 corridor'' means the preservation or 
    restoration of structures or other cultural resources of 
    businesses, sites of interest, and other contributing resources 
    that--
            (A) are located within the land described in para-
        graph (1);
            (B) existed during the route's period of outstanding 
        historic significance (principally between 1926 and 1970), as 
        defined by the study prepared by the National Park Service and 
        entitled ``Special Resource Study of Route 66'', dated July 
        1995; and
            (C) remain in existence as of the date of the enactment of 
        this Act.
        (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    the Interior, acting through the Cultural Resource Programs at the 
    National Park Service.
        (5) State.--The term ``State'' means a State in which a portion 
    of the Route 66 corridor is located.

SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the entities 
described in subsection (c), shall facilitate the development of 
guidelines and a program of technical assistance and grants that will 
set priorities for the preservation of the Route 66 corridor.
    (b) Designation of Officials.--The Secretary shall designate 
officials of the National Park Service stationed at locations 
convenient to the States to perform the functions of the Cultural 
Resource Programs under this Act.
    (c) General Functions.--The Secretary shall--
        (1) support efforts of State and local public and private 
    persons, nonprofit Route 66 preservation entities, Indian tribes, 
    State Historic Preservation Offices, and entities in the States for 
    the preservation of the Route 66 corridor by providing technical 
    assistance, participating in cost-sharing programs, and making 
    grants;
        (2) act as a clearinghouse for communication among Federal, 
    State, and local agencies, nonprofit Route 66 preservation 
    entities, Indian tribes, State historic preservation offices, and 
    private persons and entities interested in the preservation of the 
    Route 66 corridor; and
        (3) assist the States in determining the appropriate form of 
    and establishing and supporting a non-Federal entity or entities to 
    perform the functions of the Cultural Resource Programs after those 
    programs are terminated.
    (d) Authorities.--In carrying out this Act, the Secretary may--
        (1) enter into cooperative agreements, including (but not 
    limited to) cooperative agreements for study, planning, 
    preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration related to the Route 
    66 corridor;
        (2) accept donations of funds, equipment, supplies, and 
    services as appropriate;
        (3) provide cost-share grants for projects for the preservation 
    of the Route 66 corridor (but not to exceed 50 percent of total 
    project costs) and information about existing cost-share 
    opportunities;
        (4) provide technical assistance in historic preservation and 
    interpretation of the Route 66 corridor; and
        (5) coordinate, promote, and stimulate research by other 
    persons and entities regarding the Route 66 corridor.
    (e) Preservation Assistance.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide assistance in the 
    preservation of the Route 66 corridor in a manner that is 
    compatible with the idiosyncratic nature of the Route 66 corridor.
        (2) Planning.--The Secretary shall not prepare or require 
    preparation of an overall management plan for the Route 66 
    corridor, but shall cooperate with the States and local public and 
    private persons and entities, State historic preservation offices, 
    nonprofit Route 66 preservation entities, and Indian tribes in 
    developing local preservation plans to guide efforts to protect the 
    most important or representative resources of the Route 66 
    corridor.

SEC. 3. RESOURCE TREATMENT.

    (a) Technical Assistance Program.--
        (1) Program required.--The Secretary shall develop a program of 
    technical assistance in the preservation of the Route 66 corridor 
    and interpretation of the Route 66 corridor.
        (2) Program guidelines.--As part of the technical assistance 
    program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish 
    guidelines for setting priorities for preservation needs for the 
    Route 66 corridor. The Secretary shall base the guidelines on the 
    Secretary's standards for historic preservation.
    (b) Program for Coordination of Activities.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall coordinate a program of 
    historic research, curation, preservation strategies, and the 
    collection of oral and video histories of events that occurred 
    along the Route 66 corridor.
        (2) Design.--The program under paragraph (1) shall be designed 
    for continuing use and implementation by other organizations after 
    the Cultural Resource Programs are terminated.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for the period 
of fiscal years 2000 through 2009 to carry out the purposes of this 
Act.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.

Summary: Directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) facilitate the development of guidelines and a program of technical assistance and grants that will set priorities for the preservation of the Route 66 corridor; (2) designate National Park Service (NPS) officials to perform the functions of the Cultural Resource Programs support cultural resources related to the corridor; (3) support efforts of State and local public and private persons, nonprofit Route 66 preservation entities, Indian tribes, State Historic Preservation Offices, and entities in the States to preserve the corridor by providing technical assistance, participating in cost-sharing programs, and making grants; (4) act as a clearinghouse for communication among such parties and Federal, State, and local agencies; and (5) assist the States in determining the appropriate form of, and establishing and supporting, a non-Federal entity or entities to perform the functions of the Cultural Resource Programs after those programs are terminated. 
Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) enter into cooperative agreements; (2) accept donations of funds, equipment, supplies, and services as appropriate; (3) provide cost-share grants for up to 50 percent of projects for the preservation of the corridor and information about existing cost-share opportunities and technical assistance in the corridor's historic preservation and interpretation; and (4) coordinate, promote, and stimulate research by other persons and entities regarding the corridor. 
Requires the Secretary: (1) to provide assistance in the preservation of the corridor that is compatible with the idiosyncratic nature of the highway; (2) not to prepare or require an overall management plan, but to cooperate with public and private entities in developing local preservation plans to guide efforts to protect the most important or representative resources of the corridor; (3) to develop a technical assistance program in the preservation and interpretation of the corridor, including guidelines for setting priorities for preservation needs; and (4) to coordinate a program of historic research, curation, preservation strategies, and collection of oral and video histories of events that occurred along the corridor designed for continuing use after the Cultural Resource Programs are terminated. 
Authorizes appropriation.