[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6866 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6866

 To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
 study to evaluate the significance of the Newtown Battlefield located 
in Chemung County, New York, and the suitability and feasibility of its 
    inclusion in the National Parks System, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 10, 2008

Mr. Kuhl of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                 to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 
 study to evaluate the significance of the Newtown Battlefield located 
in Chemung County, New York, and the suitability and feasibility of its 
    inclusion in the National Parks System, 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. 1779 BATTLE OF NEWTOWN STUDY.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds as follows:
            (1) In 1973 the Battle of Newtown was recognized by the 
        Federal Government as a significant historic resource by the 
        establishment of the Newtown Battlefield National Historic 
        Landmark, consisting of approximately 2,100 acres in the towns 
        of Ashland, Chemung, and Elmira in the County of Chemung, New 
        York.
            (2) The Sullivan Campaign of 1779 was a significant event 
        in the history of American Revolutionary War.
            (3) The Battle of Newtown, held August 29, 1779, was the 
        most significant military engagement of the Sullivan Campaign.
            (4) The National Park Service's 2005 Report on the Historic 
        Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the 
        United States categorized Newtown Battlefield as a Class A 
        site.
            (5) The designation of Newtown Battlefield as a Class A 
        site evinces a conclusion that the battlefield is a site of a 
        military action with a vital objective or result that shaped 
        the strategy, direction, outcome, or perception of the 
        Revolutionary War.
            (6) The report also found that Newtown Battlefield is a 
        site that has experienced little alteration since the 
        Revolutionary War and that it is largely unprotected by other 
        public historic preservation agencies or nonprofit 
        organizations.
    (b) Definitions.--For purposes of this Act:
            (1) Newtown battlefield.--The term ``Newtown Battlefield'' 
        means the area encompassed by the 1973 designation of the 
        Newtown Battlefield National Historic Landmark, and located in 
        the towns of Elmira, Chemung, and Ashland, in Chemung County, 
        New York.
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
    (c) Study.--Not later than 2 years after the date that funds are 
made available for this section, the Secretary shall conduct a special 
resource study to evaluate the significance of the Newtown Battlefield 
in Chemung County, New York, as well as the suitability and feasibility 
of its inclusion in the National Park System.
    (d) Content of Study.--The study shall include an analysis of the 
following:
            (1) The significance of the Battle of Newtown to the 
        Sullivan Campaign and the significance of the Campaign in 
        relation to the military objectives of the Continental Army in 
        1779.
            (2) Opportunities for public enjoyment of the Newtown 
        Battlefield.
            (3) Any operational, management, and private property 
        issues that need to be considered if the Newtown Battlefield 
        were added to the National Park System.
            (4) A determination of the feasibility of administering the 
        Newtown Battlefield considering its size, configuration, 
        ownership, costs, and other factors.
            (5) An evaluation of the adequacy of other alternatives for 
        the management and resource protection of the Newtown 
        Battlefield.
            (6) An analysis of the impact, economic and otherwise, on 
        the Chemung County community, of the inclusion of Newtown 
        Battlefield into the National Park System.
    (e) Submission of Report.--Upon completion of the study, the 
Secretary shall submit a report on the findings of the study to 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and to 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
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