[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4944 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.4944

                      One Hundred Seventh Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

         Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
          the twenty-third day of January, two thousand and two


                                 An Act


 
To designate the Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park as 
       a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National 
Historical Park Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this Act is to establish the Cedar Creek and Belle 
Grove National Historical Park in order to--
        (1) help preserve, protect, and interpret a nationally 
    significant Civil War landscape and antebellum plantation for the 
    education, inspiration, and benefit of present and future 
    generations;
        (2) tell the rich story of Shenandoah Valley history from early 
    settlement through the Civil War and beyond, and the Battle of 
    Cedar Creek and its significance in the conduct of the war in the 
    Shenandoah Valley;
        (3) preserve the significant historic, natural, cultural, 
    military, and scenic resources found in the Cedar Creek Battlefield 
    and Belle Grove Plantation areas through partnerships with local 
    landowners and the community; and
        (4) serve as a focal point to recognize and interpret important 
    events and geographic locations within the Shenandoah Valley 
    Battlefields National Historic District representing key Civil War 
    battles in the Shenandoah Valley, including those battlefields 
    associated with the Thomas J. (Stonewall) Jackson campaign of 1862 
    and the decisive campaigns of 1864.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
        (1) The Battle of Cedar Creek, also known as the battle of 
    Belle Grove, was a major event of the Civil War and the history of 
    this country. It represented the end of the Civil War's Shenandoah 
    Valley campaign of 1864 and contributed to the reelection of 
    President Abraham Lincoln and the eventual outcome of the war.
        (2) 2,500 acres of the Cedar Creek Battlefield and Belle Grove 
    Plantation were designated a national historic landmark in 1969 
    because of their ability to illustrate and interpret important eras 
    and events in the history of the United States. The Cedar Creek 
    Battlefield, Belle Grove Manor House, the Heater House, and Harmony 
    Hall (a National Historic Landmark) are also listed on the Virginia 
    Landmarks Register.
        (3) The Secretary of the Interior has approved the Shenandoah 
    Valley Battlefields National Historic District Management Plan and 
    the National Park Service Special Resource Study, both of which 
    recognized Cedar Creek Battlefield as the most significant Civil 
    War resource within the historic district. The management plan, 
    which was developed with extensive public participation over a 3-
    year period and is administered by the Shenandoah Valley 
    Battlefields Foundation, recommends that Cedar Creek Battlefield be 
    established as a new unit of the National Park System.
        (4) The Cedar Creek Battlefield Foundation, organized in 1988 
    to preserve and interpret the Cedar Creek Battlefield and the 1864 
    Valley Campaign, has acquired 308 acres of land within the 
    boundaries of the National Historic Landmark. The foundation 
    annually hosts a major reenactment and living history event on the 
    Cedar Creek Battlefield.
        (5) Belle Grove Plantation is a Historic Site of the National 
    Trust for Historic Preservation that occupies 383 acres within the 
    National Historic Landmark. The Belle Grove Manor House was built 
    by Isaac Hite, a Revolutionary War patriot married to the sister of 
    President James Madison, who was a frequent visitor at Belle Grove. 
    President Thomas Jefferson assisted with the design of the house. 
    During the Civil War Belle Grove was at the center of the decisive 
    battle of Cedar Creek. Belle Grove is managed locally by Belle 
    Grove, Incorporated, and has been open to the public since 1967. 
    The house has remained virtually unchanged since it was built in 
    1797, offering visitors an experience of the life and times of the 
    people who lived there in the 18th and 19th centuries.
        (6) The panoramic views of the mountains, natural areas, and 
    waterways provide visitors with an inspiring setting of great 
    natural beauty. The historic, natural, cultural, military, and 
    scenic resources found in the Cedar Creek Battlefield and Belle 
    Grove Plantation areas are nationally and regionally significant.
        (7) The existing, independent, not-for-profit organizations 
    dedicated to the protection and interpretation of the resources 
    described above provide the foundation for public-private 
    partnerships to further the success of protecting, preserving, and 
    interpreting these resources.
        (8) None of these resources, sites, or stories of the 
    Shenandoah Valley are protected by or interpreted within the 
    National Park System.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
        (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Cedar Creek 
    and Belle Grove National Historical Park Advisory Commission 
    established by section 9.
        (2) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``Boundary 
    Map Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park'', 
    numbered CEBE-80,001, and dated September 2002.
        (3) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Cedar Creek and Belle 
    Grove National Historical Park established under section 5 and 
    depicted on the Map.
        (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    the Interior.

SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF CEDAR CREEK AND BELLE GROVE NATIONAL 
              HISTORICAL PARK.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the Cedar Creek and Belle 
Grove National Historical Park, consisting of approximately 3,000 
acres, as generally depicted on the Map.
    (b) Availability of Map.--The Map shall be on file and available 
for public inspection in the offices of the National Park Service, 
Department of the Interior.

SEC. 6. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.

    (a) Real Property.--The Secretary may acquire land or interests in 
land within the boundaries of the Park, from willing sellers only, by 
donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.
    (b) Boundary Revision.--After acquiring land for the Park, the 
Secretary shall--
        (1) revise the boundary of the Park to include newly acquired 
    land within the boundary; and
        (2) administer newly acquired land subject to applicable laws 
    (including regulations).
    (c) Personal Property.--The Secretary may acquire personal property 
associated with, and appropriate for, interpretation of the Park.
    (d) Conservation Easements and Covenants.--The Secretary is 
authorized to acquire conservation easements and enter into covenants 
regarding lands in or adjacent to the Park from willing sellers only. 
Such conservation easements and covenants shall have the effect of 
protecting the scenic, natural, and historic resources on adjacent 
lands and preserving the natural or historic setting of the Park when 
viewed from within or outside the Park.
    (e) Support Facilities.--The National Park Service is authorized to 
acquire from willing sellers, land outside the Park boundary but in 
close proximity to the Park, for the development of visitor, 
administrative, museum, curatorial, and maintenance facilities.

SEC. 7. ADMINISTRATION.

    The Secretary shall administer the Park in accordance with this Act 
and the provisions of law generally applicable to units of the National 
Park System, including--
        (1) the Act entitled ``An Act to establish a National Park 
    Service, and for other purposes'', approved August 25, 1916 (16 
    U.S.C. 1 et seq.); and
        (2) the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the preservation 
    of historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities of 
    national significance, and for other purposes'', approved August 
    21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).

SEC. 8. MANAGEMENT OF PARK.

    (a) Management Plan.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Commission, shall prepare a management plan for the Park. In 
particular, the management plan shall contain provisions to address the 
needs of owners of non-Federal land, including independent nonprofit 
organizations within the boundaries of the Park.
    (b) Submission of Plan to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit the 
management plan for the Park to the Committee on Resources of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate.

SEC. 9. CEDAR CREEK AND BELLE GROVE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK ADVISORY 
              COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established the Cedar Creek and Belle 
Grove National Historical Park Advisory Commission.
    (b) Duties.--The Commission shall--
        (1) advise the Secretary in the preparation and implementation 
    of a general management plan described in section 8; and
        (2) advise the Secretary with respect to the identification of 
    sites of significance outside the Park boundary deemed necessary to 
    fulfill the purposes of this Act.
    (c) Membership.--
        (1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 15 
    members appointed by the Secretary so as to include the following:
            (A) 1 representative from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
            (B) 1 representative each from the local governments of 
        Strasburg, Middletown, Frederick County, Shenandoah County, and 
        Warren County.
            (C) 2 representatives of private landowners within the 
        Park.
            (D) 1 representative from a citizen interest group.
            (E) 1 representative from the Cedar Creek Battlefield 
        Foundation.
            (F) 1 representative from Belle Grove, Incorporated.
            (G) 1 representative from the National Trust for Historic 
        Preservation.
            (H) 1 representative from the Shenandoah Valley 
        Battlefields Foundation.
            (I) 1 ex-officio representative from the National Park 
        Service.
            (J) 1 ex-officio representative from the United States 
        Forest Service.
        (2) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Commission shall be 
    elected by the members to serve a term of one year renewable for 
    one additional year.
        (3) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Commission shall be filled in 
    the same manner in which the original appointment was made.
        (4) Terms of service.--
            (A) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for a term 
        of 3 years and may be reappointed for not more than 2 
        successive terms.
            (B) Initial members.--Of the members first appointed under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall appoint--
                (i) 4 members for a term of 1 year;
                (ii) 5 members for a term of 2 years; and
                (iii) 6 members for a term of 3 years.
        (5) Extended service.--A member may serve after the expiration 
    of that member's term until a successor has taken office.
        (6) Majority rule.--The Commission shall act and advise by 
    affirmative vote of a majority of its members.
        (7) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at least quarterly at 
    the call of the chairperson or a majority of the members of the 
    Commission.
        (8) Quorum.--8 members shall constitute a quorum.
    (d) Compensation.--Members shall serve without pay. Members who are 
full-time officers or employees of the United States, the Commonwealth 
of Virginia, or any political subdivision thereof shall receive no 
additional pay on account of their service on the Commission.
    (e) Travel Expenses.--While away from their homes or regular places 
of business in the performance of service for the Commission, members 
shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed intermittently in 
the Government service are allowed expenses under section 5703 of title 
5, United States Code.
    (f) Hearings; Public Involvement.--The Commission may, for purposes 
of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times 
and places, take such public testimony, and receive such evidence, as 
the Commission considers appropriate. The Commission may not issue 
subpoenas or exercise any subpoena authority.

SEC. 10. CONSERVATION OF CEDAR CREEK AND BELLE GROVE NATIONAL 
              HISTORICAL PARK.

    (a) Encouragement of Conservation.--The Secretary and the 
Commission shall encourage conservation of the historic and natural 
resources within and in proximity of the Park by landowners, local 
governments, organizations, and businesses.
    (b) Provision of Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide 
technical assistance to local governments, in cooperative efforts which 
complement the values of the Park.
    (c) Cooperation by Federal Agencies.--Any Federal entity conducting 
or supporting activities directly affecting the Park shall consult, 
cooperate, and, to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate its 
activities with the Secretary in a manner that--
        (1) is consistent with the purposes of this Act and the 
    standards and criteria established pursuant to the general 
    management plan developed pursuant to section 8;
        (2) is not likely to have an adverse effect on the resources of 
    the Park; and
        (3) is likely to provide for full public participation in order 
    to consider the views of all interested parties.

SEC. 11. ENDOWMENT.

    (a) In General.--In accordance with the provisions of subsection 
(b), the Secretary is authorized to receive and expend funds from an 
endowment to be established with the National Park Foundation, or its 
successors and assigns.
    (b) Conditions.--Funds from the endowment referred to in subsection 
(a) shall be expended exclusively as the Secretary, in consultation 
with the Commission, may designate for the interpretation, 
preservation, and maintenance of the Park resources and public access 
areas. No expenditure shall be made pursuant to this section unless the 
Secretary determines that such expenditure is consistent with the 
purposes of this Act.

SEC. 12. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

    (a) In General.--In order to further the purposes of this Act, the 
Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with 
interested public and private entities and individuals (including the 
National Trust for Historic Preservation, Belle Grove, Inc., the Cedar 
Creek Battlefield Foundation, the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields 
Foundation, and the Counties of Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren), 
through technical and financial assistance, including encouraging the 
conservation of historic and natural resources of the Park.
    (b) Technical and Financial Assistance.--The Secretary may provide 
to any person, organization, or governmental entity technical and 
financial assistance for the purposes of this Act, including the 
following:
        (1) Preserving historic structures within the Park.
        (2) Maintaining the natural or cultural landscape of the Park.
        (3) Local preservation planning, interpretation, and management 
    of public visitation for the Park.
        (4) Furthering the goals of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields 
    Foundation related to the Park.

SEC. 13. ROLES OF KEY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) In General.--In recognition that central portions of the Park 
are presently owned and operated for the benefit of the public by key 
partner organizations, the Secretary shall acknowledge and support the 
continued participation of these partner organizations in the 
management of the Park.
    (b) Park Partners.--Roles of the current key partners include the 
following:
        (1) Cedar creek battlefield foundation.--The Cedar Creek 
    Battlefield Foundation may--
            (A) continue to own, operate, and manage the lands acquired 
        by the Foundation within the Park;
            (B) continue to conduct reenactments and other events 
        within the Park; and
            (C) transfer ownership interest in portions of their land 
        to the National Park Service by donation, sale, or other means 
        that meet the legal requirements of National Park Service land 
        acquisitions.
        (2) National trust for historic preservation and belle grove 
    incorporated.--The National Trust for Historic Preservation and 
    Belle Grove Incorporated may continue to own, operate, and manage 
    Belle Grove Plantation and its structures and grounds within the 
    Park boundary. Belle Grove Incorporated may continue to own the 
    house and grounds known as Bowman's Fort or Harmony Hall for the 
    purpose of permanent preservation, with a long-term goal of opening 
    the property to the public.
        (3) Shenandoah county.--Shenandoah County may continue to own, 
    operate, and manage the Keister park site within the Park for the 
    benefit of the public.
        (4) Park community partners.--The Secretary shall cooperate 
    with the Park's adjacent historic towns of Strasburg and 
    Middletown, Virginia, as well as Frederick, Shenandoah, and Warren 
    counties in furthering the purposes of the Park.
        (5) Shenandoah valley battlefields foundation.--The Shenandoah 
    Valley Battlefields Foundation may continue to administer and 
    manage the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic 
    District in partnership with the National Park Service and in 
    accordance with the Management Plan for the District in which the 
    Park is located.

SEC. 14. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.