[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1306 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1306

To support the efforts of the California Missions Foundation to restore 
 and repair the Spanish colonial and mission-era missions in the State 
   of California and to preserve the artworks and artifacts of these 
                   missions, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 20, 2003

 Mrs. Boxer (for herself and Mrs. Feinstein) introduced the following 
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To support the efforts of the California Missions Foundation to restore 
 and repair the Spanish colonial and mission-era missions in the State 
   of California and to preserve the artworks and artifacts of these 
                   missions, 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 ``California Missions Preservation 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

     Congress finds the following:
            (1) The California missions represent some of our Nation's 
        oldest historical treasures.
            (2) The first of the California missions was founded in 
        1769, and eventually a chain of 21 missions and various sub-
        missions extended along the coast of California on El Camino 
        Real.
            (3) The California missions contribute greatly to the rich 
        historical, cultural, and architectural heritage of California 
        and the American West.
            (4) The knowledge and cultural influence of native 
        California Indians made a lasting contribution to the early 
        settlement of California and the development of the California 
        missions.
            (5) More than 5,300,000 people visit the California 
        missions annually, and the historical importance of the 
        California missions extends worldwide as they have become a 
        frequent destination for foreign visitors to the United States.
            (6) The history of the California missions is an important 
        educational component in California schools, and the study of 
        the California missions is part of the Statewide fourth grade 
        curricula on California history.
            (7) Restoration and repair of the California missions, and 
        the preservation of the Spanish colonial and mission-era 
        artworks and artifacts of the California missions, for the 
        public enjoyment will ensure that future generations also have 
        the benefit of experiencing and appreciating these great 
        symbols of the spirit of exploration and discovery in the 
        American West.

SEC. 3. SUPPORT FOR THE RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION OF THE CALIFORNIA 
              MISSIONS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) California missions.--The term ``California missions'' 
        means the following historic Spanish missions located in the 
        State of California and designated as California Registered 
        Historical Landmarks:
                    (A) Mission La Purisima Concepcion, Lompoc.
                    (B) Mission La Soledad, Soledad.
                    (C) Mission San Antonio de Padua, Jolon.
                    (D) Mission San Buenaventura, Ventura.
                    (E) Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo, 
                Carmel.
                    (F) Mission San Diego Alcala, San Diego.
                    (G) Mission San Fernando Rey de Espana, Mission 
                Hills.
                    (H) Mission San Francisco de Asis, San Francisco.
                    (I) Mission San Francisco Solano, Sonoma.
                    (J) Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, San Gabriel.
                    (K) Mission San Jose, Fremont.
                    (L) Mission San Juan Bautista, San Juan Bautista.
                    (M) Mission San Juan Capistrano, San Juan 
                Capistrano.
                    (N) Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa and its 
                Asistencia (sub-mission) of Santa Margarita de Cortona, 
                San Luis Obispo.
                    (O) Mission San Luis Rey de Francia and its 
                Asistencia (sub-mission), Oceanside.
                    (P) Mission San Miguel Arcangel, San Miguel.
                    (Q) Mission San Rafael Arcangel, San Rafael.
                    (R) Mission Santa Barbara Virgen y Martir, Santa 
                Barbara.
                    (S) Mission Santa Clara de Asis, Santa Clara.
                    (T) Mission Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz.
                    (U) Mission Santa Ines Virgen y Martir, Solvang.
                    (V) Asistencia San Antonio de Pala, Pala.
            (2) California missions foundation.--The term ``California 
        Missions Foundation'' means the charitable corporation 
        established in the State of California in 1998 to fund the 
        restoration and repair of the California missions and the 
        preservation of the Spanish colonial and mission-era artworks 
        and artifacts of the California missions. The Foundation is 
        exempt from State franchise and income tax and is organized and 
        operated exclusively for charitable purposes under section 
        501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
    (b) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary of the Interior may make 
grants to the California Missions Foundation to support the efforts of 
the California Missions Foundation to restore and repair the California 
missions and to preserve the artworks and artifacts associated with the 
California missions. As provided in section 101(e)(4) of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470a(e)(4)), the Secretary shall 
ensure that the purpose of a grant under this section is secular, does 
not promote religion, and seeks to protect those qualities that are 
historically significant.
    (c) Application.--In order to receive a grant under this section 
for the preservation of the California missions, the California 
Missions Foundation shall submit to the Secretary an application that 
includes--
            (1) a status report on the condition of the infrastructure 
        and artifacts for each of the California missions; and
            (2) a comprehensive program for restoration, repair, and 
        preservation of such infrastructure and artifacts, including 
        prioritized preservation efforts to be conducted over a 5-year 
        period and the estimated costs of such preservation efforts.
    (d) Matching Fund Requirement.--The Secretary shall require the 
California Missions Foundation to match grant funds provided under this 
section.
    (e) Report.--As a condition of a grant under this section, the 
California Missions Foundation shall submit to the Secretary an annual 
report on the status of the preservation efforts undertaken using grant 
funds provided under this section. The Secretary shall submit a copy of 
each report to Congress.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary a total of $10,000,000 during the five-
fiscal year period beginning October 1, 2003, to make grants under this 
section. Funds appropriated pursuant to the authorization of 
appropriations in this section shall be in addition to any funds made 
available for preservation efforts in the State of California under the 
National Historic Preservation Act.

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