[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 118 (Wednesday, September 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H7435-H7437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THOMAS COLE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ACT
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3109) to establish the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in
the State of New York, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3109
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Thomas
Cole National Historic Site Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 4. Establishment of Thomas Cole National Historic Site.
Sec. 5. Retention of ownership and management of historic site by
Greene County Historical Society.
Sec. 6. Administration of historic site.
Sec. 7. Authorization of appropriations.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act:
(1) The term ``historic site'' means the Thomas Cole
National Historic Site established by section 4 of this Act.
(2) The term ``Hudson River artists'' means artists who
were associated with the Hudson River school of landscape
painting.
(3) The term ``plan'' means the general management plan
developed pursuant to section 6(d).
(4) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Interior.
(5) The term ``Society'' means the Greene County Historical
Society of Greene County, New York, which owns the Thomas
Cole home, studio, and other property comprising the historic
site.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The Hudson River school of landscape painting was
inspired by Thomas Cole and was characterized by a group of
19th century landscape artists who recorded and celebrated
the landscape and wilderness of America, particularly in the
Hudson River Valley region in the State of New York.
(2) Thomas Cole is recognized as America's most prominent
landscape and allegorical painter of the mid-19th century.
(3) Located in Greene County, New York, the Thomas Cole
House, also known as Thomas Cole's Cedar Grove, is listed on
the National Register of Historic Places and has been
designated as a National Historic Landmark.
(4) Within a 15 mile radius of the Thomas Cole House, an
area that forms a key part of the rich cultural and natural
heritage of the Hudson River Valley region, significant
landscapes and scenes painted by Thomas Cole and other Hudson
River artists, such as Frederic Church, survive intact.
(5) The State of New York has established the Hudson River
Valley Greenway to promote the preservation, public use, and
enjoyment of the natural and cultural resources of the Hudson
River Valley region.
(6) Establishment of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site
will provide opportunities for the illustration and
interpretation of cultural themes of the heritage of the
United States and unique opportunities for education, public
use, and enjoyment.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to preserve and interpret the home and studio of Thomas
Cole for the benefit, inspiration, and education of the
people of the United States;
[[Page H7436]]
(2) to help maintain the integrity of the setting in the
Hudson River Valley region that inspired artistic expression;
(3) to coordinate the interpretive, preservation, and
recreational efforts of Federal, State, and other entities in
the Hudson Valley region in order to enhance opportunities
for education, public use, and enjoyment; and
(4) to broaden understanding of the Hudson River Valley
region and its role in American history and culture.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THOMAS COLE NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established, as an affiliated
area of the National Park System, the Thomas Cole National
Historic Site in the State of New York.
(b) Description.--The historic site shall consist of the
home and studio of Thomas Cole, comprising approximately 3.4
acres, located at 218 Spring Street, in the village of
Catskill, New York, as generally depicted on the boundary map
numbered TCH/80002, and dated March 1992.
SEC. 5. RETENTION OF OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF HISTORIC
SITE BY GREENE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
The Greene County Historical Society of Greene County, New
York, shall continue to own, manage, and operate the historic
site.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION OF HISTORIC SITE.
(a) Applicability of National Park System Laws.--The
historic site shall be administered by the Society in a
manner consistent with this Act and all laws generally
applicable to units of the National Park System, including
the Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.; commonly
known as the National Park Service Organic Act), and the Act
of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.; commonly known as
the Historic Sites, Buildings, and Antiquities Act).
(b) Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) Assistance to society.--The Secretary may enter into
cooperative agreements with the Society to preserve the
Thomas Cole House and other structures in the historic site
and to assist with education programs and research and
interpretation of the Thomas Cole House and associated
landscapes.
(2) Other assistance.--To further the purposes of this Act,
the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with the
State of New York, the Society, the Thomas Cole Foundation,
and other public and private entities to facilitate public
understanding and enjoyment of the lives and works of the
Hudson River artists through the provision of assistance to
develop, present, and fund art exhibits, resident artist
programs, and other appropriate activities related to the
preservation, interpretation, and use of the historic site.
(c) Artifacts and Property.--
(1) Personal property generally.--The Secretary may acquire
personal property associated with, and appropriate for, the
interpretation of the historic site.
(2) Works of art.--The Secretary may acquire works of art
associated with Thomas Cole and other Hudson River artists
for the purpose of display at the historic site.
(d) General Management Plan.--Within two complete fiscal
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
Secretary shall develop a general management plan for the
historic site with the cooperation of the Society. Upon the
completion of the plan, the Secretary shall provide a copy of
the plan to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of
the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives. The plan shall include recommendations for
regional wayside exhibits, to be carried out through
cooperative agreements with the State of New York and other
public and private entitles. The plan shall be prepared in
accordance with section 12(b) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C.
1a-1 et seq.; commonly known as the National Park System
General Authorities Act).
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are
necessary to carry out this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
{time} 1215
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3109 is a bill introduced by my long-time friend
and colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon). Unfortunately
for many of us here in the House, the gentleman from New York has
decided to bring his distinguished and energetic representation in the
House to a close this year. I truly regret his departure, but wish him
well in the years to come. He will surely be missed here in Congress.
As for H.R. 3109, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon) deserves
credit for a bill that establishes, as an affiliated area of the
National Park Service, the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in the
State of New York. Thomas Cole is recognized as America's most
prominent landscape artist who inspired the Hudson River School of
landscape painting.
The Thomas Cole house where Cole lived while painting his
masterpieces is currently listed on the National Register of Historic
Places, and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark. The
actual site will still be owned, managed, and operated by the Greene
County Historical Society, who will enter into a cooperative agreement
with the National Park Service relating to the preservation,
interpretation, and use of this historic site.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important bill which creates an affiliated
area of the Park Service and protects an important historical site so
that the public could admire the life of, and the beautiful landscapes
created by, Thomas Cole. I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R.
3109, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3109. This measure, introduced
by our colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon),
establishes the Thomas Cole National Historical Site in the State of
New York.
Thomas Cole was the founder of the American artistic movement known
as the Hudson River school. His beautiful paintings are available for
Americans who come to the mall to see some of the fine work of our
American painters, and indeed, they are scattered in museums across
this country.
Students and followers of the Hudson River school included such
artists as Frederick Church, Alfred Bierstadt, and Thomas Moran. This
school of painting, with its focus on natural landscapes, is closely
associated with theconservation movement in this country. The Thomas
Cole property, known as Cedar Grove, located in upper New York State,
has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
The National Park Service has completed a suitability and feasibility
study of the property. The National Park Service testimony in our
Committee on Resources on H.R. 3109 recommended affiliated status for
the site with the current owner, the Greene County Historical Society,
continuing to manage the site.
This bill, as reported by our Committee on Resources, reflects the
affiliated status recommended by the National Park Service, and as
reported, H.R. 3109 is noncontroversial, and I urge its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Solomon), the distinguished chairman of
the Committee on Rules.
Mr. SOLOMON. I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me, Mr.
Speaker. I thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett) for his
remarks, also.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to come before the House today to speak for
this bill, which I introduced, establishing the Thomas Cole National
Historic Site in the State of New York as an affiliated area of the
National Park Service. As a representative of the Catskill Mountains as
well as the Adirondack Mountains, I have been a strong supporter of a
measure that would protect the Thomas Cole house since I came here 20
years ago.
As has been said, Thomas Cole was one of this country's preeminent
landscape painters of the early 19th century. His work inspired several
generations of artists, including Frederick Church--whose work I have
brought with me today--and Thomas Moran, to chronicle the growth of a
young United States and help to generate interest in our country's
natural beauty.
I would invite all Members to come here and take a look at this later
on. It is a reproduction of one of the most magnificent paintings that
I have ever seen. It was viewed by Frederick Church from the east side
of the Hudson River, just above West Point, where our military academy
is, looking west over the Hudson River and into the Catskill Mountains.
It is the sunset, and it looks exactly like a tattered American flag.
It is truly magnificent, and I would invite all to come and take a look
at it, as well as at the postcards
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that illustrate some of the most magnificent painting we have ever seen
of the Hudson River Valley.
With the broad landscape paintings that I have just talked about,
Thomas Cole's students and followers dominated the visual arts in this
country as have no painters before or since. Today their paintings
provide insight and reflect the growth of a uniquely American spirit.
In passing this bill today, we will preserve this school of art, the
residence that Thomas Cole worked from in creating many of his
paintings, as well as the very landscapes which these artists painted,
especially the beautiful Hudson River.
Again, I just want to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Alaska
(Mr. Don Young), and certainly the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman
from Utah (Mr. Jim Hansen), and all of their staffs on both sides of
the aisle for bringing this bill out here in a timely manner. I really
appreciate it, and so do the people that enjoy one of the most scenic
beauties in the entire world, and that is the Hudson River Valley of
New York.
Mr. DOGGETT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gillmor). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend
the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3109, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof), the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was
passed.
The title was amended so as to read:
``A bill to establish the Thomas Cole National Historic
Site in the State of New York as an affiliated area of the
National Park System.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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