[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 710 Reported in Senate (RS)]






                                                       Calendar No. 318
106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 710

                          [Report No. 106-184]

 To authorize a feasibility study on the preservation of certain Civil 
          War battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 24, 1999

  Mr. Lott (for himself, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. 
  Thomas, Mr. Craig, Mr. Murkowski, and Ms. Landrieu) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                      Energy and Natural Resources

                            October 14, 1999

               Reported by Mr. Murkowski, with amendments
  [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 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):
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--The term ``Civil War 
                battlefield'' 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.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Inclusions.--The term ``Civil War 
                battlefield'' includes--</DELETED>
                            (i) </DELETED>(A) the battlefields at 
                        Helena and Arkansas Post, Arkansas;
                            <DELETED>(ii) </DELETED>(B) Goodrich's 
                        Landing near Transylvania, and sites in and 
                        around Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, 
                        Louisiana;
                            <DELETED>(iii) </DELETED>(C) the 
                        battlefield at Milliken's Bend, Madison Parish, 
                        Louisiana;
                            <DELETED>(iv) </DELETED>(D) the route of 
                        Grant's march through Louisiana from Milliken's 
                        Bend to Hard Times, Madison and Tensas 
                        Parishes, Louisiana;
                            <DELETED>(v) </DELETED>(E) the Winter 
                        Quarters at Tensas Parish, Louisiana;
                            <DELETED>(vi) </DELETED>(F) Grant's landing 
                        site at Bruinsburg, and the route of Grant's 
                        march from Bruinsburg to Vicksburg, Claiborne, 
                        Hinds, and Warren Counties, Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(vii) </DELETED>(G) the 
                        battlefield at Port Gibson (including Shaifer 
                        House, Bethel Church, and the ruins of 
                        Windsor), Claiborne County, Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(viii) </DELETED>(H) the 
                        battlefield at Grand Gulf, Claiborne County, 
                        Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(ix) </DELETED>(I) the battlefield 
                        at Raymond (including Waverly, (the Peyton 
                        House)), Hinds County, Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(x) </DELETED>(J) the battlefield 
                        at Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(xi) </DELETED>(K) the Union siege 
                        lines around Jackson, Hinds County, 
                        Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(xii) </DELETED>(L) the 
                        battlefield at Champion Hill (including Coker 
                        House), Hinds County, Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(xiii) </DELETED>(M) the 
                        battlefield at Big Black River Bridge, Hinds 
                        and Warren Counties, Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(xiv) </DELETED>(N) the Union 
                        fortifications at Haynes Bluff, Confederate 
                        fortifications at Snyder's Bluff, and remnants 
                        of Federal exterior lines, Warren County, 
                        Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(xv) </DELETED>(O) the battlefield 
                        at Chickasaw Bayou, Warren County, Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(xvi) </DELETED>(P) Pemberton's 
                        Headquarters at Warren County, Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(xvii) </DELETED>(Q) the site of 
                        actions taken in the Mississippi Delta and 
                        Confederate fortifications near Grenada, 
                        Grenada County, Mississippi;
                            <DELETED>(xviii) </DELETED>(R) the site of 
                        the start of Greirson's Raid and other related 
                        sites, LaGrange, Tennessee; and
                            <DELETED>(xix) </DELETED>(S) any other 
                        sites considered appropriate by the Secretary.
        <DELETED>    (3) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled 
        ``Vicksburg Campaign Trail National Battlefields'', numbered 
        </DELETED>______<DELETED>, and dated 
        </DELETED>______<DELETED>.</DELETED>
            (4) </DELETED>(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means 
        the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of 
        the National Park Service.

SEC. 4. FEASIBILITY STUDY.

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of 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.</DELETED>
    (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--
        <DELETED>    (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;</DELETED>
            (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.
                                     





                                                       Calendar No. 318

106th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 710

                          [Report No. 106-184]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To authorize a feasibility study on the preservation of certain Civil 
          War battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail.

_______________________________________________________________________

                            October 14, 1999

                        Reported with amendments