[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 344 Referred in House (RFH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 344


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 18, 1993

             Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine 
   the suitability and feasibility of designating the Fox and Lower 
   Wisconsin River corridors in the State of Wisconsin as a National 
               Heritage Corridor, 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 ``Fox-Wisconsin River National 
Heritage Corridor Study Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the Fox-Wisconsin waterway is famous as the discovery 
        route of Marquette and Joliet;
            (2) as the connecting route between the Great Lakes and the 
        Mississippi River, the waterway was critical to the opening of 
        the Northwest Territory, and served as a major artery in 
        bringing commerce to the interior of the United States and 
        providing a vital communication link for early explorers, 
        missionaries, and fur traders;
            (3) within the Fox and Lower Wisconsin River corridors are 
        an abundance of historic and archaeological sites and 
        structures representing early Native Americans, European 
        exploration, and 19th-century transportation and settlement; 
        and
            (4) the unique aspects of the waterway, from the heavily 
        developed portions of the Fox River to the pristine expanses of 
        the Lower Wisconsin River, should be studied to determine the 
        waterway's suitability and feasibility for designation as a 
        National Heritage Corridor.

SEC. 3. STUDY OF FOX-WISCONSIN RIVER CORRIDORS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date funds are 
made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall prepare a study on 
the suitability and feasibility of designating the Fox and Lower 
Wisconsin River corridors in the State of Wisconsin as a National 
Heritage Corridor.
    (b) Report to Congress.--On completion of the study referred to in 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit a report describing the 
results of the study to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives.

SEC. 4. FOX-WISCONSIN RIVER STUDY ADVISORY COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--There is established the Fox-Wisconsin River Study 
Advisory Commission (referred to in this Act as the ``Commission'') to 
advise the Secretary with respect to the preparation of the study 
required under section 3(a).
    (b) Membership.--The Commission shall consist of 16 members, 
appointed by the Secretary, of whom--
            (1) 4 members shall be made from recommendations submitted 
        by the Governor of the State of Wisconsin, to represent 
        affected State agencies;
            (2) 4 members shall represent local governments from 
        affected communities along the Fox and Lower Wisconsin River 
        corridors; and
            (3) 8 members shall be made from the general public, who 
        shall have knowledge and experience in appropriate fields of 
        interest relating to the preservation, use, and interpretation 
        of the Fox and Lower Wisconsin River corridors, of whom--
                    (A) 4 members shall be residents of the Fox River 
                region; and
                    (B) 4 members shall be residents of the Lower 
                Wisconsin River region.
    (c) Chairperson.--The members of the Commission shall elect a 
Chairperson from among the members of the Commission.
    (d) Vacancies.--Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled in the 
same manner in which the original appointment was made.
    (e) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
Chairperson.
    (f) Compensation.--Members of the Commission shall receive no 
compensation as a result of their service on the Commission. While away 
from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of 
services for the Commission, members shall be allowed travel expenses, 
including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as 
persons employed intermittently in the Government service are allowed 
expenses under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
    (g) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Section 14(b) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2) shall not apply to the 
Commission.
    (h) Annual Reports.--The Commission shall publish and submit to the 
Secretary and the Governor of the State of Wisconsin an annual report 
concerning the activities of the Commission.
    (i) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the completion 
of the study required under section 3(a).

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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

            Passed the Senate March 17 (legislative day, March 3), 
      1993.

            Attest:

                                             WALTER J. STEWART,

                                                             Secretary.