[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 524 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 524

    To establish the Crossroads of the American Revolution National 
   Heritage Area in the State of New Jersey, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 4, 2003

Mr. Frelinghuysen (for himself, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. Pallone, Mr. Saxton, 
  Mr. Ferguson, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Pascrell, Mr. Holt, Mr. 
 Payne, Mr. Rothman, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Garrett of New 
   Jersey) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                         Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To establish the Crossroads of the American Revolution National 
   Heritage Area in the State of New Jersey, 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 ``Crossroads of the American 
Revolution National Heritage Area Act of 2003''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) New Jersey was of critical importance during the 
        American Revolution due to its strategic location between the 
        British armies headquartered in New York City and the 
        Continental Congress sitting in the City of Philadelphia.
            (2) General George Washington spent almost half of the 
        period of the American Revolution personally commanding troops 
        of the Continental Army in New Jersey including 2 severe winter 
        encampments at what is now Morristown National Historical Park, 
        a unit of the National Park System.
            (3) It was during the 10 crucial days of the American 
        Revolution between December 25, 1776, and January 3, 1777, when 
        General Washington, after retreating across New Jersey from New 
        York City to Pennsylvania in the face of total defeat for the 
        Nation``s cause, recrossed the Delaware River on Christmas 
        night, 1776, and won crucial battles at Trenton and Princeton. 
        Thomas Paine, who accompanied the troops during the retreat, 
        described the events as, `the times that try men's souls''.
            (4) There are situated in the State of New Jersey the sites 
        of 296 engagements including several important battles of the 
        American Revolution, which collectively are of significant 
        importance to the outcome of the overall conflict and the 
        history of the United States. Among these are National Historic 
        Landmarks including Washington's Crossing, the Old Trenton 
        Barracks, and Princeton, Monmouth and Red Bank Battlefields.
            (5) Additional national Historic Landmarks include the 
        homes of Richard Stockton, Joseph Hewes, John Witherspoon, and 
        Francis Hopkinson, all signers of the Declaration of 
        Independence, Elias Boudinout, President of the Continental 
        Congress and William Livingston, patriot and Governor of New 
        Jersey from 1776 to 1790.
            (6) Portions of the landscapes important to the strategies 
        of both armies including waterways, mountains, farms, wetlands, 
        villages and roadways retain integrity of the period of the 
        American Revolution and offer outstanding opportunities for 
        conservation, education, and recreation.
            (7) The National Register of Historic Places lists 251 
        buildings and sites in the National Park Service study area for 
        Crossroads of the American Revolution associated with the 
        period of the American Revolution.
            (8) Civilian populations residing in New Jersey suffered 
        extreme hardships during the American Revolution due to the 
        continuous conflict within its borders, foraging armies, and 
        marauding contingents of loyalist Tories and rebel 
        sympathizers.
            (9) Because of the important role that New Jersey played in 
        the successful outcome of the American Revolution there is a 
        Federal interest for the development of a regional framework to 
        assist the State of New Jersey, other local organizations and 
        governments, and private citizens to preserve and protect 
        natural, cultural, and historic resources of the period and to 
        bring recognition to this important heritage for the 
        educational and recreational benefit of this and future 
        generations of Americans.
            (10) The National Park Service has conducted a National 
        Heritage Feasibility Study in the State of New Jersey that 
        demonstrates the sufficient assemblage of nationally 
        distinctive natural, cultural, and historic resources necessary 
        to establish the Crossroads of the American Revolution National 
        Heritage Area.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
            (1) To build the capacity of communities, organizations, 
        and citizens in New Jersey to preserve the special historic 
        identity of the region and its importance to the Nation.
            (2) To foster a close working relationship with all levels 
        of government, the private sector, and the local communities in 
        New Jersey.
            (3) To provide for the management, preservation, 
        protection, and interpretation of the natural, historic, and 
        cultural resources of the region for the educational and 
        inspirational benefit of future generations.
            (4) To strengthen the value of Morristown National 
        Historical Park as an asset to the region by establishing a 
        network of related historic resources, protected landscapes, 
        educational opportunities, and events depicting the 
        revolutionary landscape of New Jersey.
            (5) To strengthen partnerships among Morristown National 
        Historical Park and other public and privately owned resources 
        in the heritage area, that together represent the strategic 
        fulcrum of the American Revolution, as assets in the quality of 
        life in the region.
            (6) To authorize Federal financial and technical assistance 
        to serve these purposes.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

     For the purposes of this Act:
            (1) Association.--The term ``Association'' means the 
        Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Inc., a 
        nonprofit corporation in the State of New Jersey.
            (2) Boundaries.--The term ``boundaries'' means the 
        boundaries of the heritage area specified in section 4.
            (3) Heritage area.--The term ``heritage area'' means the 
        Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area as 
        established in section 4.
            (4) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
        the management plan submitted under section 5.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

SEC. 4. CROSSROADS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established in the State of New Jersey 
the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area.
    (b) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the heritage area shall include 
all those lands and waters depicted on a map entitled ``Crossroads of 
the American Revolution National Heritage Area'', numbered CRREL80,000 
and dated April 2002. The map shall be on file in the appropriate 
offices of the National Park Service.
    (c) Management Entity.--The management entity for the heritage area 
shall be the Association.

SEC. 5. AUTHORITIES, PROHIBITIONS, AND DUTIES OF THE ASSOCIATION.

    (a) Duties of the Association.--To further the purposes of the 
heritage area, the Association shall--
            (1) prepare and submit a management plan for the heritage 
        area to the Secretary in accordance with section 6;
            (2) assist units of local government, regional planning 
        organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing the 
        approved management plan by--
                    (A) carrying out programs and projects that 
                recognize, protect, and enhance important resource 
                values within the heritage area;
                    (B) establishing and maintaining interpretive 
                exhibits and programs within the heritage area;
                    (C) developing recreational and educational 
                opportunities in the heritage area;
                    (D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation 
                for natural, historic, and cultural resources of the 
                heritage area;
                    (E) protecting and restoring historic sites and 
                buildings in the heritage area that are consistent with 
                heritage area themes;
                    (F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and 
                appropriate signs identifying points of public access 
                and sites of interest are posted throughout the 
                heritage area; and
                    (G) promoting a wide range of partnerships among 
                governments, organizations, and individuals to further 
                the purposes of the heritage area;
            (3) consider the interests of diverse units of government, 
        businesses, organizations, and individuals in the heritage area 
        in the preparation and implementation of the management plan;
            (4) conduct Association meetings open to the public at 
        least semiannually regarding the development and implementation 
        of the management plan;
            (5) submit an annual report to the Secretary for any fiscal 
        year in which the Association receives Federal funds under this 
        Act, setting forth its accomplishments, expenses, and income, 
        including grants to any other entities during the year for 
        which the report is made;
            (6) make available for audit for any fiscal year in which 
        it receives Federal funds under this Act, all information 
        pertaining to the expenditure of such funds and any matching 
        funds, and require in all agreements authorizing expenditures 
        of Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving 
        organizations make available for such audit all records and 
        other information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds;
            (7) encourage by appropriate means economic viability that 
        is consistent with the purposes of the heritage area; and
            (8) maintain its headquarters at Morristown National 
        Historical Park and in Mercer County.
    (b) Authorities.--The Association may, for the purposes of 
preparing and implementing the management plan for the heritage area, 
use Federal funds made available through this Act to__
            (1) make grants to the State of New Jersey, its political 
        subdivisions, nonprofit organizations and other persons;
            (2) enter into cooperative agreements with or provide 
        technical assistance to the State of New Jersey, its political 
        jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, and other interested 
        parties;
            (3) hire and compensate staff which shall include 
        individuals with expertise in natural, cultural, historic 
        resources protection, and heritage programming;
            (4) obtain money or services from any source, including any 
        that are provided under any other Federal law or program;
            (5) contract for goods or services; and
            (6) undertake to be a catalyst for any other activity that 
        furthers the purposes of the heritage area and is consistent 
        with the approved management plan.
    (c) Prohibitions on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The 
Association may not use Federal funds received under this Act to 
acquire real property, but may use any other source of funding, 
including other Federal funding, intended for the acquisition of real 
property.

SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

    (a) In General.--The management plan for the heritage area shall--
            (1) include comprehensive polices, strategies and 
        recommendations for conservation, funding, management, and 
        development of the heritage area;
            (2) take into consideration existing State, county, and 
        local plans in the development of the management plan and its 
        implementation;
            (3) include a description of actions that governments, 
        private organizations, and individuals have agreed to take to 
        protect the natural, historic, and cultural resources of the 
        heritage area;
            (4) specify the existing and potential sources of funding 
        to protect, manage, and develop the heritage area in the first 
        5 years of implementation;
            (5) include an inventory of the natural, historical, 
        cultural, educational, scenic and recreational resources of the 
        heritage area related to the themes of the heritage area that 
        should be preserved, restored, managed, developed, or 
        maintained;
            (6) recommend policies and strategies for resource 
        management which consider and detail the application of 
        appropriate land and water management techniques including, but 
        not limited to, the development of intergovernmental and 
        interagency cooperative agreements to protect the heritage 
        area's natural, historical, cultural, educational, scenic and 
        recreational resources;
            (7) describe a program of implementation for the management 
        plan including plans for resource protection, restoration, 
        construction, and specific commitments for implementation that 
        have been made by the Association or any government, 
        organization, or individual for the first 5 years of 
        implementation;
            (8) include an analysis and recommendations for ways in 
        which local, State, and Federal programs, including the role of 
        the National Park Service in the heritage area, may best be 
        coordinated to further the purposes of this Act; and
            (9) include an interpretive plan for the heritage area.
    (b) Deadline and Termination of Funding.--
            (1) Deadline.--The Association shall submit the management 
        plan to the Secretary for approval within 3 years after funds 
        are made available for this Act.
            (2) Termination of funding.--Upon completion of the 3-year 
        period in this subsection, further funding pursuant to this Act 
        shall only be made available to the Association for the 
        implementation of the management plan upon approval by the 
        Secretary as provided in Section 7 of this Act.

SEC. 7. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY.

    (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may, upon the request of the 
        Association provide technical assistance on a reimbursable or 
        nonreimbursable basis and financial assistance to the heritage 
        area to develop and implement the approved management plan. The 
        Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements 
        with the Association and other public or private entities for 
        this purpose. In assisting the heritage area, the Secretary 
        shall give priority to actions that in general assist in--
                    (A) conserving the significant natural, historic, 
                cultural, and scenic resources of the heritage area; 
                and
                    (B) providing educational, interpretive, and 
                recreational opportunities consistent with the purposes 
                of the heritage area.
            (2) Other assistance.--Upon request, the Superintendent of 
        Morristown National Historical Park may provide to public and 
        private organizations within the heritage area, including the 
        Association, such operational assistance as appropriate to 
        support the implementation of the management plan for the 
        heritage area, subject to the availability of appropriated 
        funds. The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative 
        agreements with public and private organizations for the 
        purpose of implementing this subsection.
            (3) Preservation of historic properties.--The Secretary may 
        provide assistance to State or local government or nonprofit 
        organizations for appropriate treatment of historic objects or 
        structures listed or eligible for listing on the National 
        Register of Historic Places to further the purposes of this 
        Act.
    (b) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall approve or disapprove 
        the management plan not later than 90 days after receiving the 
        management plan.
            (2) Criteria for approval.--In determining to approve the 
        management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether--
                    (A) the Board of Directors of the Association is 
                representative of the diverse interests of the heritage 
                area including governments, natural and historic 
                resource protection organizations, education, business, 
                and recreation;
                    (B) the Association has afforded adequate 
                opportunity, including public hearings, for public and 
                governmental involvement in the preparation of the 
                management plan;
                    (C) the resource protection and interpretation 
                strategies contained in the management plan, if 
                implemented, would adequately protect the natural, 
                historic, and cultural resources of the heritage area; 
                and
                    (D) the Secretary has received adequate assurances 
                from the appropriate State and local officials whose 
                support is needed to ensure the effective 
                implementation of the State and local aspects of the 
                management plan.
            (3) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary 
        disapproves the management plan, the Secretary shall advise the 
        Association in writing of the reasons therefore and shall make 
        recommendations for revisions to the management plan. The 
        Secretary shall approve or disapprove a proposed revision 
        within 60 days after the date it is submitted.
            (4) Approval of amendments.--Substantial amendments to the 
        management plan shall be reviewed by the Secretary and approved 
        in the same manner as provided for the original management 
        plan. The Association shall not use Federal funds authorized by 
        this Act to implement any amendments until the Secretary has 
        approved the amendments.

SEC. 8. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.

     Any Federal agency conducting or supporting activities directly 
affecting the heritage area shall--
            (1) consult with the Secretary and the Association with 
        respect to such activities;
            (2) cooperate with the Secretary and the Association in 
        carrying out their duties under this Act and, to the maximum 
        extent practicable, coordinate such activities with the 
        carrying out of such duties; and,
            (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or support 
        such activities in a manner which the association determines 
        will not have an adverse effect on the heritage area.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated for the 
purposes of this Act not more than $1,000,000 for any fiscal year. Not 
more than a total of $10,000,000 may be appropriated for the 
Association under this Act.
    (b) Matching Funds.--Federal funding provided under this Act may 
not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of any assistance or grant 
provided or authorized under this Act.

SEC. 10. SUNSET.

     The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this 
Act shall terminate on the day occurring 15 years after the date of the 
enactment of the Act.
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