[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 146 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
Calendar No. 27
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 146
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 4, 2009
Received and read the first time
March 5, 2009
Read the second time and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish a battlefield acquisition grant program for the
acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and
associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, 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 ``Revolutionary War and War of 1812
Battlefield Protection Act''.
SEC. 2. BATTLEFIELD ACQUISITION GRANT PROGRAM FOR BATTLEFIELDS OF THE
REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND WAR OF 1812.
(a) Definitions.--In this Act:
(1) Battlefield report.--The term ``battlefield report''
means the document titled ``Report to Congress on the Historic
Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the
United States'', prepared by the National Park Service, and
dated September 2007.
(2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means a
State or local government.
(3) Eligible site.--The term ``eligible site'' means a site
that--
(A) is not within the exterior boundaries of a unit
of the National Park System; and
(B) is identified in the battlefield report.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the American Battlefield
Protection Program.
(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a battlefield
acquisition grant program for nationally significant battlefields and
associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 under
which the Secretary may make grants to eligible entities to pay the
Federal share of the cost of acquiring fee-simple or lesser interests
from willing sellers in eligible sites for the preservation and
protection of those eligible sites.
(c) Nonprofit Partners.--An eligible entity may acquire an interest
in an eligible site using a grant under this section in partnership
with a nonprofit organization.
(d) Non-Federal Share.--The non-Federal share of the total cost of
acquiring an interest in an eligible site under this section shall be
not less than 50 percent.
(e) Limitations on Land Use.--An interest in an eligible site
acquired under this section shall be subject to section 6(f)(3) of the
Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (16 U.S.C. 4601-8(f)(3)).
(f) Willing Sellers.--Acquisitions of land and interests in land
under this Act shall be limited to acquisitions, from willing sellers
only, of conservation easements and fee-simple purchases of eligible
sites.
(g) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a report on the activities carried out under this
section.
(2) Update on battlefield report.--Not later than 3 years
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report that updates the battlefield
report to reflect--
(A) preservation activities carried out at the 677
battlefields and associated sites identified in the
battlefield report during the period between
publication of the battlefield report and the update;
(B) changes in the condition of the battlefields
and associated sites during that period; and
(C) any other relevant developments relating to the
battlefields and associated sites during that period.
(h) Authorizations of Appropriations.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to
provide grants under this Act $10,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2010 through 2014.
(2) Update of battlefield report.--There are authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out subsection
(g)(2), $500,000.
Passed the House of Representatives March 3, 2009.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.
Calendar No. 27
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 146
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish a battlefield acquisition grant program for the
acquisition and protection of nationally significant battlefields and
associated sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
March 5, 2009
Read the second time and placed on the calendar