[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 233 Referred in House (RFH)]
1st Session
S. 233
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 5, 2003
Referred to the Committee on Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of
Coltsville in the State of Connecticut for potential inclusion in the
National Park System.
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 ``Coltsville Study Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) Hartford, Connecticut, home to Colt Manufacturing
Company (referred to in this Act as ``Colt''), played a major
role in the Industrial Revolution;
(2) Samuel Colt, founder of Colt, and his wife, Elizabeth
Colt, inspired Coltsville, a community in the State of
Connecticut that flourished during the Industrial Revolution
and included Victorian mansions, an open green area, botanical
gardens, and a deer park;
(3) the residence of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt in Hartford,
Connecticut, known as ``Armsmear'', is a national historic
landmark, and the distinctive Colt factory is a prominent
feature of the Hartford, Connecticut, skyline;
(4) the Colt legacy is not only about firearms, but also
about industrial innovation and the development of technology
that would change the way of life in the United States,
including--
(A) the development of telegraph technology; and
(B) advancements in jet engine technology by
Francis Pratt and Amos Whitney, who served as
apprentices at Colt;
(5) Coltsville--
(A) set the standard for excellence during the
Industrial Revolution; and
(B) continues to prove significant--
(i) as a place in which people of the
United States can learn about that important
period in history; and
(ii) by reason of the close proximity of
Coltsville to the Mark Twain House, Trinity
College, Old North Cemetery, and many historic
homesteads and architecturally renowned
buildings;
(6) in 1998, the National Park Service conducted a special
resource reconnaissance study of the Connecticut River Valley
to evaluate the significance of precision manufacturing sites;
and
(7) the report on the study stated that--
(A) no other region of the United States contains
an equal concentration of resources relating to the
precision manufacturing theme that began with firearms
production;
(B) properties relating to precision manufacturing
encompass more than merely factories; and
(C) further study, which should be undertaken, may
recommend inclusion of churches and other social
institutions.
SEC. 3. STUDY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which
funds are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary of the
Interior (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall complete
a study of the site in the State of Connecticut commonly known as
``Coltsville'' to evaluate--
(1) the national significance of the site and surrounding
area;
(2) the suitability and feasibility of designating the site
and surrounding area as a unit of the National Park System; and
(3) the importance of the site to the history of precision
manufacturing.
(b) Applicable Law.--The study required under subsection (a) shall
be conducted in accordance with Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-1 et
seq.).
SEC. 4. REPORT.
Not later than 30 days after the date on which the study under
section 3(a) is completed, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee
on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes--
(1) the findings of the study; and
(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this Act.
Passed the Senate March 4, 2003.
Attest:
EMILY J. REYNOLDS,
Secretary.