II 109th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 4120 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 8, 2006 Ms. Snowe introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate resources at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Brunswick, Maine, to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing the site as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Harriet Beecher Stowe House Special Resource Study Act.

2.

Findings

Congress finds that— (1)Harriet Beecher Stowe, who lived from 1811 to 1896, was an important author, humanitarian, and abolitionist during the 19th century; (2)from the period beginning in 1850 and ending in 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe lived at the house located at 63 Federal Street in Brunswick, Maine (referred to in this Act as the Harriet Beecher Stowe House); (3)while living in that house, Harriet Beecher Stowe penned Uncle Tom's Cabin, one of the most influential antislavery novels that introduced to the citizens of the United States the horrors of slavery; (4)the influence of that novel proved to be so great that it prompted President Abraham Lincoln, when meeting with Harriet Beecher Stowe, to remark So you’re the little lady who wrote the book that started this Great War.; (5)Uncle Tom’s Cabin— (A)has been translated into 23 languages; and (B)is still considered by many critics and academics to be the most famous example of antislavery literature; and (6)the Harriet Beecher Stowe House was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1963.

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 Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Brunswick, Maine, to evaluate— (1)the national significance of the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and surrounding land; and (2)the suitability and feasibility of designating the Harriet Beecher Stowe House and surrounding land as a unit of the National Park System. (b)

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(c) of Public Law 91–383 (16 U.S.C. 1a–5(c)).

4.

Report

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this Act, 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 3.

5.

Authorization of appropriations

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