[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 227 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 227

   To establish a locally oriented commission to assist the city of 
    Berlin, New Hampshire, in identifying and studying its region's 
        historical and cultural assets, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 28, 1997

   Mr. Gregg introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To establish a locally oriented commission to assist the city of 
    Berlin, New Hampshire, in identifying and studying its region's 
        historical and cultural assets, 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 ``Androscoggin River Valley Heritage 
Area Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to establish a locally oriented 
commission to assist the city of Berlin, New Hampshire, in identifying 
and studying the Androscoggin River Valley's historical and cultural 
assets.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the Androscoggin River 
Valley Heritage Commission (referred to in this Act as the 
``Commission''), which shall consist of 10 members appointed not later 
than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, as follows:
            (1) 1 member appointed by the Governor of New Hampshire, 
        who shall serve as Chairperson.
            (2) 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives of the State of New Hampshire.
            (3) 1 member appointed by the President of the Senate of 
        the State of New Hampshire.
            (4) 2 members appointed by the Secretary of the Interior 
        from among individuals recommended by State and local cultural 
        or historic preservation organizations.
            (5) 1 member, appointed by the Secretary of the Interior, 
        who has experience in the area of historical projects.
            (6) 4 members appointed by the mayor of the city of Berlin, 
        New Hampshire.
    (b) Voting.--The Commission shall act and advise by affirmative 
vote of a majority of its members.
    (c) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--A member of the Commission shall receive 
        no pay on account of the member's service on the Commission.
            (2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Commission, while 
        away from the member's home or regular place of business in the 
        performance of services for the Commission, shall be allowed 
        travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
        the same manner as persons employed intermittently in 
        Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of 
        title 5, United States Code.
    (d) Exemption From Charter Renewal Requirements.--Section 14(b) of 
the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to 
the Commission.
    (e) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on submission of a 
report under section 4(b).
    (f) Support.--
            (1) Staff and technical services.--The Director of the 
        National Park Service may provide such staff support and 
        technical services as are necessary to carry out the functions 
        of the Commission.
            (2) Completion of study.--The Secretary of the Interior may 
        provide the Commission such technical and other assistance as 
        is necessary to complete the study described in section 4.
    (g) Open Meetings.--All meetings of the Commission shall be open to 
the public.

SEC. 4. STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the completion of 
appointment of the members of the Commission, the Commission shall 
complete a comprehensive study of the Androscoggin River Valley's 
history and culture in New Hampshire, which shall--
            (1) include a catalog of all available historically and 
        culturally significant sites, buildings, and areas in the 
        region;
            (2) examine the feasibility of any Federal or State 
        historic recognition in the region;
            (3) include a set of options for the city of Berlin, New 
        Hampshire, to pursue with respect to heritage-based 
        development, including a list of available Federal, State, and 
        private programs that would further any such efforts; and
            (4) account for the impacts of any heritage-based 
        development on State, municipal, and private property.
    (b) Report.--The Commission shall provide Congress, the Secretary 
of the Interior, and the State of New Hampshire with a report based on 
the study described in subsection (a).

SEC. 5. NO REGULATORY AUTHORITY.

    Nothing in this Act provides the Commission with any regulatory 
authority.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    For the purpose of carrying out the functions of the Commission, 
there is authorized to be appropriated $50,000.
                                 <all>