[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 710 Referred in House (RFH)]

  2d Session
                                 S. 710


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 27, 2000

                 Referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 1999''.

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.

            Passed the Senate November 19, 1999.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.