[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 277 Referred in House (RFH)]
1st Session
S. 277
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 20, 2007
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To modify the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park to include
certain land within the GT Park Subdivision, 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 ``Grand Teton National Park Extension
Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Grand Teton National
Park.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(3) Subdivision.--The term ``Subdivision'' means the GT
Park Subdivision, with an area of approximately 49.67 acres, as
generally depicted on--
(A) the plat recorded in the Office of the Teton
County Clerk and Recorder on December 16, 1997,
numbered 918, entitled ``Final Plat GT Park
Subdivision'', and dated June 18, 1997; and
(B) the map entitled ``2006 Proposed Grand Teton
Boundary Adjustment'', numbered 136/80,198, and dated
March 21, 2006, which shall be on file and available
for inspection in appropriate offices of the National
Park Service.
SEC. 3. ACQUISITION OF LAND.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may accept from any willing donor
the donation of any land or interest in land of the Subdivision.
(b) Administration.--On acquisition of land or an interest in land
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
(1) include the land or interest in the boundaries of the
Park; and
(2) administer the land or interest as part of the Park, in
accordance with all applicable laws (including regulations).
(c) Deadline for Acquisition.--It is the intent of Congress that
the acquisition of land or an interest in land under subsection (a) be
completed not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act.
(d) Restriction on Transfer.--The Secretary shall not donate, sell,
exchange, or otherwise transfer any land acquired under this section
without express authorization from Congress.
SEC. 4. CRAIG THOMAS DISCOVERY AND VISITOR CENTER.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1) Craig Thomas was raised on a ranch just outside of
Cody, Wyoming, near Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton
National Park, where he--
(A) began a lifelong association with those parks;
and
(B) developed a deep and abiding dedication to the
values of the public land of the United States;
(2) during his 18-year tenure in Congress, including
service in both the Senate and the House of Representatives,
Craig Thomas forged a distinguished legislative record on
issues as diverse as public land management, agriculture,
fiscal responsibility, and rural health care;
(3) as Chairman and Ranking Member of the National Parks
Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate and a frequent visitor to many units of the
National Park System, including Yellowstone National Park and
Grand Teton National Park, Craig Thomas was a strong proponent
for ensuring that people of all ages and abilities had a wide
range of opportunities to learn more about the natural and
cultural heritage of the United States;
(4) Craig Thomas authored legislation to provide critical
funding and management reforms to protect units of the National
Park System into the 21st century, ensuring quality visits to
units of the National Park System and the protection of natural
and cultural resources;
(5) Craig Thomas strongly supported public-private
partnerships and collaboration between the National Park
Service and other organizations that foster new opportunities
for providing visitor services while encouraging greater
citizen involvement in the stewardship of units of the National
Park System;
(6) Craig Thomas was instrumental in obtaining the Federal
share for a public-private partnership with the Grand Teton
National Park Foundation and the Grand Teton Natural History
Association to construct a new discovery and visitor center at
Grand Teton National Park;
(7) on June 4, 2007, Craig Thomas passed away after
battling cancer for 7 months;
(8) Craig Thomas is survived by his wife, Susan, and
children, Patrick, Greg, Peter, and Lexie; and
(9) in memory of the distinguished career of service of
Craig Thomas to the people of the United States, the dedication
of Craig Thomas to units of the National Park System,
generally, and to Grand Teton National Park, specifically, and
the critical role of Craig Thomas in the new discovery and
visitor center at Grand Teton National Park, the Grand Teton
Discovery and Visitor Center should be designated as the
``Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center''.
(b) The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.--
(1) Designation.--The Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor
Center located in Moose, Wyoming, and scheduled for completion
in August 2007 shall be known and designated as the ``Craig
Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center''.
(2) Reference.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
Grand Teton Discovery and Visitor Center referred to in
paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Craig
Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center''.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary such sums
as are necessary to carry out this Act.
Passed the Senate June 19, 2007.
Attest:
NANCY ERICKSON,
Secretary.