[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 710 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]
S.710
One Hundred Sixth Congress
of the
United States of America
AT THE SECOND SESSION
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday,
the twenty-fourth day of January, two thousand
An Act
To authorize a feasibility study on the preservation of certain Civil
War battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail.
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 ``Vicksburg Campaign Trail
Battlefields Preservation Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. 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 Act 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. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(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 battlefield.--The term ``Civil War battlefield''
includes the following sites (including related structures adjacent
to or thereon)--
(A) the battlefields at Helena and Arkansas Post, Arkansas;
(B) Goodrich's Landing near Transylvania, and sites in and
around Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, Louisiana;
(C) the battlefield at Milliken's Bend, Madison Parish,
Louisiana;
(D) the route of Grant's march through Louisiana from
Milliken's Bend to Hard Times, Madison and Tensas Parishes,
Louisiana;
(E) the Winter Quarters at Tensas Parish, Louisiana;
(F) Grant's landing site at Bruinsburg, and the route of
Grant's march from Bruinsburg to Vicksburg, Claiborne, Hinds,
and Warren Counties, Mississippi;
(G) the battlefield at Port Gibson (including Shaifer
House, Bethel Church, and the ruins of Windsor), Claiborne
County, Mississippi;
(H) the battlefield at Grand Gulf, Claiborne County,
Mississippi;
(I) the battlefield at Raymond (including Waverly (the
Peyton House)), Hinds County, Mississippi;
(J) the battlefield at Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi;
(K) the Union siege lines around Jackson, Hinds County,
Mississippi;
(L) the battlefield at Champion Hill (including Coker
House), Hinds County, Mississippi;
(M) the battlefield at Big Black River Bridge, Hinds and
Warren Counties, Mississippi;
(N) the Union fortifications at Haynes Bluff, Confederate
fortifications at Snyder's Bluff, and remnants of Federal
exterior lines, Warren County, Mississippi;
(O) the battlefield at Chickasaw Bayou, Warren County,
Mississippi;
(P) Pemberton's Headquarters at Warren County, Mississippi;
(Q) the site of actions taken in the Mississippi Delta and
Confederate fortifications near Grenada, Grenada County,
Mississippi;
(R) the site of the start of Greirson's Raid and other
related sites, LaGrange, Tennessee; and
(S) any other sites considered appropriate by the
Secretary.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park
Service.
SEC. 4. FEASIBILITY STUDY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after funds are made
available for this Act, the Secretary shall complete a feasibility
study to determine what measures should be taken to preserve Civil War
battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail.
(b) Components.--In completing the study, the Secretary shall--
(1) review current National Park Service programs, policies and
criteria to determine the most appropriate means of ensuring the
Civil War battlefields and associated natural, cultural, and
historical resources are preserved;
(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 Act; 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 Act $1,500,000.
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Vice President of the United States and
President of the Senate.