[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 7, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11816-S11817]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             GEORGE WASHINGTON BIRTHPLACE NATIONAL MONUMENT

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 2086) to revise the 
boundaries of the George Washington Birthplace National Monument, which 
had been reported from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
with an amendment to strike all after the enacting

[[Page S11817]]

clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. ADDITION TO NATIONAL MONUMENT.

       (a) Addition.--The boundaries of the George Washington 
     Birthplace National Monument are modified to include the 
     property generally know as George Washington's Boyhood Home, 
     Ferry Farm, located in Stafford County, Virginia, across the 
     Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg, Virginia, comprising 
     approximately 8 acres. The boundary modification is generally 
     depicted on the map entitled ``George Washington Birthplace 
     National Monument Boundary Map'', numbered 322/80, 020 and 
     dated April 1998. The Secretary of the Interior shall keep 
     the map on file and available for public inspection in 
     appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
       (b) Acquisition of Easement.--After the enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of the Interior may acquire a conservation 
     easement for the property described in subsection (a) to 
     ensure the preservation of this important cultural and 
     natural resources associated with Ferry Farm.

     SEC. 2. RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this section, the 
     Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Committee on 
     Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee 
     on Resources of the House of Representatives a resource study 
     of the property described in section 1(a).
       (b) Contents.--The study under subsection (a) shall--
       (1) identify the full range of resources and historic 
     themes associated with Ferry Farm, including those associated 
     with George Washington's tenure at the property described in 
     section 1(a) and those associated with the Civil War period;
       (2) identify alternatives for further National Park Service 
     involvement at the property described in section 1(a) beyond 
     those that may be provided for in the acquisition authorized 
     under section 1(b); and
       (3) include cost estimates for any necessary acquisition, 
     development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance 
     associated with the alternatives identified.

     SEC. 3. AGREEMENTS.

       Upon completion of the resource study under section 2, the 
     Secretary of the Interior may enter into agreements with the 
     owner of the property described in section 1(a) or other 
     entities for the purpose of providing programs, services, 
     facilities, or technical assistance that further the 
     preservation and public use of the property.

  The committee amendment was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 2086), as amended, was considered read the third time 
and passed.

                          ____________________