[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3497 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 3497

To authorize a study on the feasibility of preserving certain Civil War 
 battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail and of establishing a 
            Civil Rights Trail in the State of Mississippi.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 18, 1999

Mr. Thompson of Mississippi (for himself, Mr. Shows, and Mr. Taylor of 
 Mississippi) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To authorize a study on the feasibility of preserving certain Civil War 
 battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail and of establishing a 
            Civil Rights Trail in the State of Mississippi.

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

      TITLE I--VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN TRAIL BATTLEFIELDS PRESERVATION

SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Vicksburg Campaign Trail 
Battlefields Preservation Act of 1999''.

SEC. 102. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) there are situated along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail 
        in the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and 
        Tennessee the sites of several key Civil War battles;
            (2) the battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail are 
        collectively of national significance in the history of the 
        Civil War; and
            (3) the preservation of those battlefields would vitally 
        contribute to the understanding of the heritage of the United 
        States.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this title is to authorize a 
feasibility study to determine what measures should be taken to 
preserve certain Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign 
Trail.

SEC. 103. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Campaign trail state.--The term ``Campaign Trail 
        State'' means each of the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, 
        Arkansas, and Tennessee, including political subdivisions of 
        those States.
            (2) Civil war battlefields.--
                    (A) In general.--The term ``Civil War 
                battlefields'' means the land and interests in land 
                that is the site of a Civil War battlefield, including 
                structures on or adjacent to the land, as generally 
                depicted on the Map.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``Civil War 
                battlefields'' includes--
                            (i) the battlefields at Helena and Arkansas 
                        Post, Arkansas;
                            (ii) Goodrich's Landing near Transylvania, 
                        and sites in and around Lake Providence, East 
                        Carroll Parish, Louisiana;
                            (iii) the battlefield at Milliken's Bend, 
                        Madison Parish, Louisiana;
                            (iv) the route of Grant's march through 
                        Louisiana from Milliken's Bend to Hard Times, 
                        Madison and Tensas Parishes, Louisiana;
                            (v) the Winter Quarters at Tensas Parish, 
                        Louisiana;
                            (vi) Grant's landing site at Bruinsburg, 
                        and the route of Grant's march from Bruinsburg 
                        to Vicksburg, Claiborne, Hinds, and Warren 
                        Counties, Mississippi;
                            (vii) the battlefield at Port Gibson 
                        (including Shaifer House, Bethel Church, and 
                        the ruins of Windsor), Claiborne County, 
                        Mississippi;
                            (viii) the battlefield at Grand Gulf, 
                        Claiborne County, Mississippi;
                            (ix) the battlefield at Raymond (including 
                        Waverly, (the Peyton House)), Hinds County, 
                        Mississippi;
                            (x) the battlefield at Jackson, Hinds 
                        County, Mississippi;
                            (xi) the Union siege lines around Jackson, 
                        Hinds County, Mississippi;
                            (xii) the battlefield at Champion Hill 
                        (including Coker House), Hinds County, 
                        Mississippi;
                            (xiii) the battlefield at Big Black River 
                        Bridge, Hinds and Warren Counties, Mississippi;
                            (xiv) the Union fortifications at Haynes 
                        Bluff, Confederate fortifications at Snyder's 
                        Bluff, and remnants of Federal exterior lines, 
                        Warren County, Mississippi;
                            (xv) the battlefield at Chickasaw Bayou, 
                        Warren County, Mississippi;
                            (xvi) Pemberton's Headquarters at Warren 
                        County, Mississippi;
                            (xvii) the site of actions taken in the 
                        Mississippi Delta and Confederate 
                        fortifications near Grenada, Grenada County, 
                        Mississippi;
                            (xviii) the site of the start of Greirson's 
                        Raid and other related sites, LaGrange, 
                        Tennessee; and
                            (xix) any other sites considered 
                        appropriate by the Secretary.
            (3) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled 
        ``Vicksburg Campaign Trail National Battlefields'', numbered 
        ______, and dated ______.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
        Park Service.

SEC. 104. FEASIBILITY STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date that funds 
are made available to carry out this title, the Secretary shall 
complete a feasibility study to determine what measures should be taken 
to preserve Civil War battlefields.
    (b) Components.--In completing the study, the Secretary shall--
            (1) enter into contracts with entities to use advanced 
        technology such as remote sensing, river modeling, and flow 
        analysis to determine which property included in the Civil War 
        battlefields should be preserved, restored, managed, 
        maintained, or acquired due to the national historical 
        significance of the property;
            (2) evaluate options for the establishment of a management 
        entity for the Civil War battlefields consisting of a unit of 
        government or a private nonprofit organization that--
                    (A) administers and manages the Civil War 
                battlefields; and
                    (B) possesses the legal authority to--
                            (i) receive Federal funds and funds from 
                        other units of government or other 
                        organizations for use in managing the Civil War 
                        battlefields;
                            (ii) disburse Federal funds to other units 
                        of government or other nonprofit organizations 
                        for use in managing the Civil War battlefields;
                            (iii) enter into agreements with the 
                        Federal government, State governments, or other 
                        units of government and nonprofit 
                        organizations; and
                            (iv) acquire land or interests in land by 
                        gift or devise, by purchase from a willing 
                        seller using donated or appropriated funds, or 
                        by donation;
            (3) make recommendations to the Campaign Trail States for 
        the management, preservation, and interpretation of the 
        natural, cultural, and historical resources of the Civil War 
        battlefields;
            (4) identify appropriate partnerships among Federal, State, 
        and local governments, regional entities, and the private 
        sector, including nonprofit organizations and the organization 
        known as ``Friends of the Vicksburg Campaign and Historic 
        Trail'', in furtherance of the purposes of this title; and
            (5) recommend methods of ensuring continued local 
        involvement and participation in the management, protection, 
        and development of the Civil War battlefields.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of completion of 
the study under this section, the Secretary shall submit a report 
describing the findings of the study to--
            (1) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
        Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Resources of the House of 
        Representatives.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this title $1,500,000.

             TITLE II--MISSISSIPPI CIVIL RIGHTS TRAIL STUDY

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Mississippi Civil Rights Trail 
Study Act of 1999''.

SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date that funds 
are made available to carry out this title, the Secretary of the 
Interior (hereinafter in this title referred to as the ``Secretary'') 
shall complete a study identifying sites within the boundaries of the 
State of Mississippi that are significant to the modern civil rights 
movement for the purpose of historical interpretation and recognition. 
The study shall include an evaluation of the feasibility of 
establishing a Civil Rights Trail by linking the identified sites for 
interpretive purposes.
    (b) Criteria; Emphasis.--In conducting the study pursuant to 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            (1) use the criteria for the study of areas for potential 
        inclusion in the National Park System contained in section 8 of 
        Public Law 91-383 (commonly known as the National Park System 
        General Authorities Act); and
            (2) place special emphasis on studying the sites on the 
        Mississippi delta and within the Mississippi counties of 
        Hindes, Lauderdale, Neshoba, Amite, Adams, Harrison, Jackson, 
        Marshall, Lafayette, Clay, Lowndess, and Noxubee.

SEC. 203. REPORT.

    Not later than 60 days after the date of completion of the study 
under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on 
Resources of the House of Representatives a report on the findings, 
conclusions, and recommendations of the study.

SEC. 204. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this title 
$2,000,000.
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