[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 76 (Thursday, June 16, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TALIESIN PRESERVATION ACT OF 1994

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 150) to provide for 
assistance in the preservation of Taliesin in the State of Wisconsin, 
and for other purposes, which had been reported from the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources, with an amendment to strike all after the 
enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Taliesin Preservation Act of 
     1994''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
       (1) ``Taliesin'', the nationally significant 600-acre site 
     located in the State of Wisconsin, together with its 
     structures and improvements, was the home and studio of the 
     exceptionally gifted and outstanding artist, architect Frank 
     Lloyd Wright, from 1911 until 1959, and was designated as a 
     National Historic Landmark in 1976; and
       (2) Taliesin is the preeminent single site in the Nation 
     for interpreting the life, work and ideas of Wright, and can 
     best be protected and interpreted through designation as an 
     affiliated area of the National Park System, while remaining 
     under private ownership and management.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide for the 
     preservation and interpretation of the Taliesin site by the 
     Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the 
     ``Secretary''), for the benefit of present and future 
     generations.

     SEC. 3. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND PLAN.

       (a) Cooperative Agreements.--(1) In furtherance of this 
     Act, the Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative 
     agreements with the owner or operator of the Taliesin site, 
     pursuant to which agreements the Secretary may mark, 
     interpret, restore, and provide technical assistance for the 
     preservation of the site, in accordance with the 
     comprehensive plan described in subsection (b).
       (2) Each cooperative agreement shall provide that the 
     Secretary shall have the right of access at reasonable times 
     to all public portion of the property covered by the 
     agreement, for the purpose of conducting visitors through 
     such properties and interpreting them to the public.
       (3) Such cooperative agreements shall provide that no 
     changes or alterations shall be made in the property covered 
     by the agreement except by mutual agreement between the 
     Secretary and the other party to the agreement.
       (b) Comprehensive Plan.--(1) As a condition of entering 
     cooperative agreements and receiving financial assistance 
     under this Act, the owner or operator shall prepare and adopt 
     a comprehensive plan for the continued preservation and 
     public use of the Taliesin site and submit such plan to the 
     Secretary for approval.
       (2) The plan may be amended or revised from time to time, 
     but no assistance, financial or otherwise, in conjunction 
     with this Act, may be made available by the Secretary 
     pursuant to any cooperative agreement unless the amendment or 
     revision is approved by the Secretary.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.;

       There are authorized to be appropriated not more than 
     $8,000,000 to carry out the purpose of this Act: Provided, 
     That with respect to the cooperative agreements authorized in 
     subsection 3(a), the Secretary may not provide more than one-
     third of the aggregate cost of implementing those agreements. 
     The remainder of the cost shall be borne by State and private 
     entities.

  So the bill (S. 150) was deemed read the third time and passed.

                                 S. 150

       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 ``Taliesin Preservation Act of 
     1994''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
       (1) ``Taliesin'', the nationally significant 600-acre site 
     located in the State of Wisconsin, together with its 
     structures and improvements, was the home and studio of the 
     exceptionally gifted and outstanding artist, architect Frank 
     Lloyd Wright, from 1911 until 1959, and was designated as a 
     National Historic Landmark in 1976; and
       (2) Taliesin is the preeminent single site in the Nation 
     for interpreting the life, work, and ideas of Wright, and can 
     best be protected and interpreted through designation as an 
     affiliated area of the National Park System, while remaining 
     under private ownership and management.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to provide for the 
     preservation and interpretation of the Taliesin site by the 
     Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the 
     ``Secretary''), for the benefit of present and future 
     generations.

     SEC. 3. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND PLAN.

       (a) Cooperative Agreements.--(1) In furtherance of this 
     Act, the Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative 
     agreements with the owner or operator of the Taliesin site, 
     pursuant to which agreements the Secretary may mark, 
     interpret, restore, and provide technical assistance for the 
     preservation of the site, in accordance with the 
     comprehensive plan described in subsection (b).
       (2) Each cooperative agreement shall provide that the 
     Secretary shall have the right of access at reasonable times 
     to all public portions of the property covered by the 
     agreement, for the purpose of conducting visitors through 
     such properties and interpreting them to the public.
       (3) Such cooperative agreements shall provide that no 
     changes or alterations shall be made in the property covered 
     by the agreement except by mutual agreement between the 
     Secretary and the other party to the agreement.
       (b) Comprehensive Plan.--(1) As a condition of entering 
     into cooperative agreements and receiving financial 
     assistance under this Act, the owner or operator shall 
     prepare and adopt a comprehensive plan for the continued 
     preservation and public use of the Taliesin site and submit 
     such plan to the Secretary for approval.
       (2) The plan may be amended or revised from time to time, 
     but no assistance, financial or otherwise, in conjunction 
     with this Act, may be made available by the Secretary 
     pursuant to any cooperative agreement unless the amendment or 
     revision is approved by the Secretary.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated not more than 
     $8,000,000 to carry out the purpose of this Act: Provided, 
     That with respect to the cooperative agreements authorized in 
     subsection 3(a), the Secretary may not provide more than one-
     third of the aggregate cost of implementing those agreements. 
     The remainder of the cost shall be borne by State and private 
     entities.
  Mr. KOHL. Mr. President, I am very pleased that the Senate has acted 
today to pass the Taliesin Preservation Act, to make the birthplace of 
Frank Lloyd Wright in Spring Green, WI, an affiliate of the National 
Park Service.
  This legislation represents years of work and commitment on the part 
of the many students and admirers of the art of Frank Lloyd Wright 
nationwide.
  Frank Lloyd Wright's influence on architecture in this century will 
surely go on into future centuries. His work is not only recognized 
through this Nation, but internationally as well. As one of his finest 
works, Taliesin is deserving of restoration and preservation.
  But the cost of the preservation must be shared. Because this 
legislation requires that two-thirds of the funding for the 
preservation come from non-Federal sources, I believe that it is one of 
the most fiscally conservative park bills ever to be passed by this 
body. Further, because the site will be an affiliate of the National 
Park Service, and not an actual unit, it will not be an ongoing 
financial responsibility of the Federal Government, nor will it 
required park service employees to be on-site
  Two years ago we celebrated the 125th anniversary of Frank Lloyd 
Wright's birth. And last week, Taliesin's Frank Lloyd Wright Visitors 
Center was dedicated in Spring Green, WI, kicking off 4 days of events 
focusing on Wright's architectural accomplishments. I believe that the 
passage of this legislation today adds a timely recognition of the 
contributions of this fine artist to the Nation as a whole.
  In closing, I would like to add that while this legislation has been 
moving through the legislative process, a significant amount of State 
funds have been spent on projects envisioned to be within the context 
of this bill's overall funding plan. Therefore, it is only fitting that 
these expenditures should be considered as part of the two-thirds non-
Federal match required by the legislation.
  I thank my colleagues for their support, and look to the House for 
its timely consideration of this legislation.

                          ____________________