[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4257 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4257

      To provide for the study of Revolutionary War battlefields.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 19, 1994

 Mr. Zimmer (for himself, Mr. Beilenson, Mr. Frost, Mr. Boehlert, and 
 Mr. Clyburn) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To provide for the study of Revolutionary War battlefields.

    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 ``Revolutionary War Historic 
Preservation Study Act of 1994''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``Commission'' means the Revolutionary War 
        Sites Advisory Commission established in section 4;
            (2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
        Interior; and
            (3) the term ``Revolutionary War sites'' means those sites 
        and structures situated in the United States which are 
        thematically tied with the nationally significant events that 
        occurred during the Revolutionary War.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) Revolutionary War sites provide a means for Americans 
        to understand and interpret that period in American history;
            (2) the historical integrity of many of these sites are at 
        risk because they are located in regions which are undergoing 
        rapid urban and suburban development; and
            (3) it is important to obtain current information on the 
        significance of such sites, threats to their integrity, and 
        alternatives for their preservation and interpretation for the 
        benefit of the Nation.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF REVOLUTIONARY WAR SITES ADVISORY COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--There is hereby established the Revolutionary War 
Sites Advisory Commission. The Commission shall consist of 13 members 
appointed as follows:
            (1) Three individuals who are nationally recognized as 
        experts and authorities on the history of the Revolutionary 
        War, and 2 individuals who are nationally recognized as experts 
        and authorities in historic preservation and land use planning, 
        appointed by the Secretary.
            (2) The Director of the National Park Service or his or her 
        designee.
            (3) The chair of the Advisory Council on Historic 
        Preservation, or his or her designee.
            (4) Three individuals appointed by the Speaker of the 
        United States House of Representatives in consultation with the 
        chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
        Natural Resources.
            (5) Three individuals appointed by the President Pro 
        Tempore of the United States Senate in consultation with the 
        chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy 
        and Natural Resources.
    (b) Chair.--The Commission shall elect a chair from among its 
members.
    (c) Vacancies.--Vacancies occurring on the Commission shall not 
affect the authority of the remaining members of the Commission to 
carry out the functions of the Commission. Any vacancy in the 
Commission shall be promptly filled in the same manner in which the 
original appointment was made.
    (d) Quorum.--A simple majority of Commission members shall 
constitute a quorum.
    (e) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at least quarterly or upon 
the call of the chair or a majority of the members of the Commission.
    (f) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall serve without 
compensation. Members of the Commission, when engaged in official 
Commission business, shall be entitled to travel expenses, including 
per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed 
intermittently in government service under section 5703 of title 5, 
United States Code.
    (g) Termination.--The Commission established by this section shall 
terminate 90 days after the transmittal of the report to Congress as 
provided in section 7(c).

SEC. 5. STAFF OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Executive Director.--The Director of the National Park Service, 
or his or her designee, shall serve as the Executive Director of the 
Commission.
    (b) Staff.--The Director of the National Park Service shall, on a 
reimbursable basis, detail such staff as the Commission may require to 
carry out its duties.
    (c) Staff of Other Agencies.--Upon the request of the Commission, 
the head of any Federal agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any 
of the personnel of such agency to the Commission to assist the 
Commission in carrying out its duties.
    (d) Experts and Consultants.--Subject to such rules as may be 
adopted by the Commission, the Commission may procure temporary and 
intermittent services to the same extent as authorized by section 
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates determined by the 
Commission to be reasonable.

SEC. 6. POWERS OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--The Commission may for the purpose of carrying out 
this Act hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take 
such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission may deem 
advisable.
    (b) Bylaws.--The Commission may make such bylaws, rules, and 
regulations, consistent with this Act, as it considers necessary to 
carry out its functions under this Act.
    (c) Delegation.--When so authorized by the Commission, any member 
or agent of the Commission may take any action which the Commission is 
authorized to take by this section.
    (d) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the 
same manner and upon the same conditions as other departments and 
agencies of the United States.

SEC. 7. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Preparation of Study.--The Commission shall prepare a study of 
Revolutionary War sites. Such study shall identify the sites, determine 
the relative significance of such sites, assess short- and long-term 
threats to their integrity, and provide alternatives for the 
preservation and interpretation of such sites by Federal, State, and 
local governments, or other public or private entities, as may be 
appropriate. The Commission shall research and propose innovative open 
space and land preservation techniques. Such alternatives may include 
(but shall not be limited to) designation as units of the National Park 
System or as affiliated areas. The study may include existing units of 
the National Park System.
    (b) Consultation.--During the preparation of the study referred to 
in subsection (a), the Commission shall consult with the Governors of 
affected States, affected units of local government, State and local 
historic preservation organizations, scholarly organizations, and such 
other interested parties as the Commission deems advisable.
    (c) Transmittal to the Secretary and Congress.--Not later than 2 
years after the date that funds are made available for the study 
referred to in subsection (a), the Commission shall transmit such study 
to the Secretary and 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.
    (d) Report.--Whenever the Commission submits a report of the study 
to the Secretary or the Office of Management and Budget, it shall 
concurrently transmit copies of that report 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.

SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act.

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