[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1627 Referred in House (RFH)]


109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1627


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 17, 2005

                 Referred to the Committee on Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
    To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 
 resources study to evaluate resources along the coastal region of the 
 State of Delaware and to determine the suitability and feasibility of 
      establishing a unit of the National Park System in Delaware.

    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 ``Delaware National Coastal Special 
Resources Study Act''.

SEC. 2. STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this 
Act as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a special resources study of 
the national significance, suitability, and feasibility of including 
sites in the coastal region of the State of Delaware in the National 
Park System.
    (b) Inclusion of Sites in the National Park System.--The study 
under subsection (a) shall include an analysis and any recommendations 
of the Secretary concerning the suitability and feasibility of 
designating 1 or more of the sites along the Delaware coast, including 
Fort Christina, as a unit of the National Park System that relates to 
the themes described in section 3.
    (c) Study Guidelines.--In conducting the study authorized under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall use the criteria for the study of 
areas for potential inclusion in the National Park System contained in 
section 8 of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
    (d) Consultation.--In preparing and conducting the study under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with--
            (1) the State of Delaware;
            (2) the coastal region communities; and
            (3) the general public.

SEC. 3. THEMES.

    The study authorized under section 2 shall evaluate sites along the 
coastal region of the State of Delaware that relate to--
            (1) the history of indigenous peoples, which would explore 
        the history of Native American tribes of Delaware, such as the 
        Nanticoke and Lenni Lenape;
            (2) the colonization and establishment of the frontier, 
        which would chronicle the first European settlers in the 
        Delaware Valley who built fortifications for the protection of 
        settlers, such as Fort Christina;
            (3) the founding of a nation, which would document the 
        contributions of Delaware to the development of our 
        constitutional republic;
            (4) industrial development, which would investigate the 
        exploitation of water power in Delaware with the mill 
        development on the Brandywine River;
            (5) transportation, which would explore how water served as 
        the main transportation link, connecting Colonial Delaware with 
        England, Europe, and other colonies;
            (6) coastal defense, which would document the collection of 
        fortifications spaced along the river and bay from Fort 
        Delaware on Pea Patch Island to Fort Miles near Lewes;
            (7) the last stop to freedom, which would detail the role 
        Delaware has played in the history of the Underground Railroad 
        network; and
            (8) the coastal environment, which would examine natural 
        resources of Delaware that provide resource-based recreational 
        opportunities such as crabbing, fishing, swimming, and boating.

SEC. 4. REPORT.

    Not later than 1 year after funds are made available to carry out 
this Act under section 5, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on 
Resources of the House of Representatives a report containing the 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study conducted under 
section 2.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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

            Passed the Senate November 16, 2005.

            Attest:

                                             EMILY J. REYNOLDS,

                                                             Secretary.