[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1604 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1604

      To establish a national historic barn preservation program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 31, 2001

 Mr. Jeffords introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To establish a national historic barn preservation program.

    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 ``National Historic Barn Preservation 
Act of 2001''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) historic barns are--
                    (A) viable elements of food production in the 
                United States; and
                    (B) a vital component of the cultural heritage of 
                the United States;
            (2) historic barns shed light on the earliest agricultural 
        achievements of the United States;
            (3) historic barns are endangered by deterioration and 
        demolition; and
            (4) the United States must--
                    (A) protect historic barns for continued 
                agricultural use so that future generations can 
                understand how the United States was built;
                    (B) keep records on the number, condition, and 
                variety of historic barns;
                    (C) develop better techniques to preserve and 
                protect historic barns; and
                    (D) take every step necessary to avoid further loss 
                of those national treasures.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Barn.--The term ``barn'' means a building (other than a 
        dwelling) on a farm, ranch, or other agricultural operation 
        for--
                    (A) housing animals;
                    (B) storing or processing crops;
                    (C) storing and maintaining agricultural equipment; 
                or
                    (D) serving an essential or useful purpose related 
                to agriculture on the adjacent land.
            (2) Historic barn.--The term ``historic barn'' means a barn 
        that--
                    (A) is at least 50 years old;
                    (B) retains sufficient integrity of design, 
                materials, and construction to clearly identify the 
                barn as an agricultural building; and
                    (C) meets the criteria for listing on National, 
                State, or local registers or inventories of historic 
                structures.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Agriculture, acting through the Undersecretary of Rural 
        Development.
            (4) Eligible applicant.--The term ``eligible applicant'' 
        means--
                    (A) a State department of agriculture (or a 
                designee);
                    (B) a national or State nonprofit organization 
                that--
                            (i) is exempt from tax under section 
                        501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986; 
                        and
                            (ii) has experience or expertise, as 
                        determined by the Secretary, in the 
                        identification, evaluation, rehabilitation, 
                        preservation, or protection of historic barns; 
                        and
                    (C) a State historic preservation office.

SEC. 4. HISTORIC BARN PRESERVATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a historic barn 
preservation program--
            (1) to assist States in developing a listing of historic 
        barns;
            (2) to collect and disseminate information on historic 
        barns;
            (3) to foster educational programs relating to the history, 
        construction techniques, rehabilitation, and contribution to 
        society of historic barns; and
            (4) to sponsor and conduct research on--
                    (A) the history of barns; and
                    (B) best practices to protect and rehabilitate 
                historic barns from the effects of decay, fire, arson, 
                and natural disasters.
    (b) Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may make grants to, or enter 
        into contracts or cooperative agreements with, eligible 
        applicants to carry out an eligible project under paragraph 
        (2).
            (2) Eligible projects.--A grant under this subsection may 
        be made to an eligible entity for a project--
                    (A) to rehabilitate or repair a historic barn;
                    (B) to preserve a historic barn through--
                            (i) the installation of a fire protection 
                        system, including fireproofing or fire 
                        detection system and sprinklers; and
                            (ii) the installation of a system to 
                        prevent vandalism; and
                    (C) to identify, document, and conduct research on 
                a historic barn to develop and evaluate appropriate 
                techniques or best practices for protecting historic 
                barns.
            (3) Requirements.--An eligible applicant that receives a 
        grant for a project under this subsection shall comply with any 
        standards established by the Secretary of the Interior for 
        historic preservation projects.

SEC. 5. FUNDING.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act, 
$25,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2002 through 2006, to remain 
available until expended.
                                 <all>