[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 86 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7259-S7260]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MURKOWSKI:
  S. 2240. A bill to establish the Adams National Historical Park in 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                    admas national park legislation

 Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, on behalf of the Administration, 
today I introduce legislation to establish the Adams National 
Historical Park in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and for other 
purposes.
  I ask unanimous consent that the Administration's letter of 
transmittal and a section-by-section analysis of the legislation be 
printed in the Record for the information of my colleagues.
  There being no objection, the items were ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:
                                       Department of the Interior,


                                      Office of the Secretary,

                                Washington, DC. February 23, 1998.
     Hon. Albert Gore, Jr.
     President of the Senate, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: Enclosed is a draft bill ``To establish 
     the Adams National Historical Park in the Commonwealth of 
     Massachusetts and for other purposes.''
       We recommend the bill be introduced, referred to the 
     appropriate committee, and enacted.
       The legislation would establish the Adams National 
     Historical Park in Quincy, Massachusetts. Currently the 
     proposed Adams National Historical Park is designated as a 
     National Historic Site. It was established by Secretarial 
     Order in 1935 based on the Historic Sites Act. It was 
     expanded in 1952 again by Secretarial Order. In 1972, 1978 
     and 1980, Congress added more acreage to the site and 
     authorized the addition of two separate properties to the 
     historic site. The continued expansion of the historic site 
     with the addition of separate properties all focused on the 
     life and history of John Adams, Abigail Adams, John Quincy 
     Adams, and their descendants, qualifies the existing National 
     Park System unit for designation as a national historical 
     park.
       The legislation would authorize the acquisition of ten 
     additional acres for development of visitor and 
     administrative facilities to protect the historical setting 
     and integrity of the historical park. The legislation directs 
     that the historical park be managed in accord with the laws 
     applicable to units of the National Park System, in 
     particular the National Park Service Organic Act of 1916 and 
     the Historic Sites Act of 1935. The legislation also provides 
     specific cooperative

[[Page S7260]]

     agreement authority to the historical park to work with 
     outside entities and individuals on the preservation, 
     development, interpretation, and use of the site.
       The redesignation of Adams National Historic Site to Adams 
     National Historical Park is the important recognition that 
     the collection of sites in Quincy, Massachusetts, related to 
     the lives of John Adams, 2nd President of the United States, 
     his wife Abigail and their descendants, including their son, 
     John Quincy Adams, 6th President of the United States, 
     properly deserves. The authorities for land acquisition and 
     cooperative agreements are critical for the successful 
     protection, development, interpretation and use of the Adams 
     National Historical Park.
       The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there 
     is no objection to the enactment of the enclosed draft 
     legislation from the standpoint of the Administration's 
     program.
           Sincerely,

                                                 Donald Barry,

                                    Acting Assistant Secretary for
     Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
                                  ____


      Section-by-Section Analysis--Adams National Historical Park

       Section 1.--Provides a short title for the Act--``Adams 
     National Historical Park Act of 1998.''
       Section 2. (a) Findings.--Provides the references including 
     Secretarial Orders and Public Laws which created the Adams 
     National Historic Site in Quincy, Massachusetts and expanded 
     it from a single site to three separate sites in Quincy plus 
     additional acreage at the original site. No single piece of 
     legislation or Executive Order provides overarching authority 
     or guidance for managing the multiple sites.
       Section 2. (b) Purpose.--States the purpose of the 
     legislation, to establish the ``Adams National Historical 
     Park.''
       Section 3.--Provides definitions.
       Section 4.--Establishes the boundary of the historical park 
     which is made up of the properties currently owned by the 
     National Park Service and managed as part of the Adams 
     National Historic Site or property identified in Executive 
     Orders or Public Laws related to Adams National Historic Site 
     that are to be acquired or conveyed to the National Park 
     Service for inclusion in the historic site but that have not 
     yet been acquired or conveyed. Also provides for the 
     acquisition of up to ten additional acres for the development 
     of administrative and visitor services.
       Section 5.--Provides the authorities under which the 
     historical park is to be administered, including cooperative 
     agreement authority.
       Section 6.--Authorities that funds necessary for the 
     development, operation, and maintenance of the park be 
     provided.
                                 ______