[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2932 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2932

  To authorize the establishment of a center for the conservation and 
  interpretation of Ozark culture and heritage at the Ozark National 
               Scenic Riverways, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 6, 1993

 Mr. Emerson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize the establishment of a center for the conservation and 
  interpretation of Ozark culture and heritage at the Ozark National 
               Scenic Riverways, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Ozark Heritage Conservation Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) recognize the important contribution made to American 
        culture and history by those who settled in the Ozarks region 
        of south-central Missouri;
            (2) assist local and State governments and other public and 
        private entities in the State of Missouri in interpreting the 
        unique interplay between the Ozark landscape, including the 
        Ozark National Scenic Riverway and the Mark Twain National 
        Forest, and the development of the Ozark folk culture; and
            (3) assist local and State governments and other public and 
        private entities in the State of Missouri in conserving the 
        rich folk culture of the Ozark settlers and their descendants 
        for the benefit and education of the public.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION FOR OZARK HERITAGE CENTER.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to 
establish a center for the conservation and interpretation of Ozark 
culture within the State of Missouri.
    (b) Authorization for Construction.--The Secretary of the Interior, 
acting through the Director of the National Park Service, is authorized 
to construct a visitor center for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. 
Such visitor center shall be located on lands under the administrative 
jurisdiction of the Secretary of Agriculture at the site of the United 
States Forest Service Van Buren District Ranger Station within the Mark 
Twain National Forest. The Secretary of Agriculture shall enter into 
such arrangements with the Secretary of the Interior as may be 
necessary to permit the construction of such visitor center.
    (c) Operation.--The center shall be operated by the Director of the 
National Park Service in cooperation with the chief of the United 
States Forest Service. The Secretary may contract with public and 
private entities for the operation of the center, at the discretion of 
the Secretary, in accordance with program standards approved by the 
Secretary.
    (d) Interpretive Program.--The center shall provide interpretive 
services for the Ozark National Scenic Riverways and the Mark Twain 
National Forest and shall function as a regional cultural center for 
the study of Ozark folklife, history, and culture.
    (e) Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary of the Interior not more than $7,000,000 for construction of 
the center referred to in subsection (b). There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of 
Agriculture such sums as may be necessary for operation of such center.

SEC. 4. STUDY.

    Within one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of the Interior shall prepare and transmit to the Committee 
on Natural Resources of the United States House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States 
Senate an initial study of Ozark culture in Missouri. The Secretary 
shall consult with the Director of the American Folklife Center of the 
Library of Congress, and any other sources the Secretary deems 
appropriate, in the preparation of such study.

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