[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5254 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5254

 To authorize funds for the planning, design, and construction of the 
         Oklahoma Land Run Memorial in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 21, 2000

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize funds for the planning, design, and construction of the 
         Oklahoma Land Run Memorial in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that:
            (1) In March of 1889, President Benjamin Harris established 
        the Oklahoma Land Runs through Presidential proclamations. 
        These proclamations opened up almost 3,000,000 acres in 
        Oklahoma territory for settlement via a series of land runs 
        conducted by the Department of the Interior and supervised by 
        the United States Army. The first of the six runs was April 22, 
        1889, and the last was in 1895.
            (2) Preserving that historic event will be the focal point 
        of Oklahoma's Centennial in 2007, marking 100 years of 
        statehood. The Oklahoma Land Runs are the focal point of State 
        history. The races literally began with a gunshot to signal the 
        start, as thousands who came from all across America and the 
        world rushed to be the first to claim their chosen new 
        homestead. The land runs rank with the most vibrant of all 
        events in settling the West, claiming a unique place in 
        American history.
            (3) To enshrine vibrancy for future generations, the 
        Oklahoma State Centennial Commission has approved of the 
        creation of 35 heroic-sized bronze statues of land run 
        participants, frozen in motion as they race to claim their new 
        homesteads. The statues will include riders on horseback, 
        covered wagons, a buckboard, a carriage, figures on foot, 
        superintending soldiers, individuals and families, even a 
        faithful dog, and a surprised and scared rabbit, racing 
        literally to be the first to stake a claim on their chosen spot 
        to create their home.
            (4) The bronze statues will be appropriately spaced in an 
        area about the size of a football field, prominently located 
        next to the interchange of Interstate 35 and Interstate 235, at 
        the edge of downtown Oklahoma City, the city that was created 
        in one day by the Land Run of 1889.
            (5) Funding for this project will be divided evenly between 
        Federal, State, and private sources. The total cost of the 
        project is $5,100,000. The Federal share will be $1,700,000.
            (6) There would be no further nor continuing Federal 
        obligation. The property is being provided through the city of 
        Oklahoma City. With official centennial support, the city will 
        handle all future obligations and maintenance.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to 
grant to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, $1,700,000 for the Federal share of 
the total cost of planning, design, and construction of the Oklahoma 
Land Run Memorial in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
    (b) Non-Federal Share.--The non-Federal share of the total cost of 
planning, design, and construction of the Oklahoma Land Run Memorial in 
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, shall be $3,400,000.
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