Congressional Record, Volume 144 Issue 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)

[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10411-H10413]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

LOWER EAST SIDE TENEMENT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ACT OF 1998

Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on Resources be discharged from further consideration of the Senate
bill (S. 1408) to establish the Lower East Side Tenement National
Historic Site, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate
consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

S. 1408

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 ``Lower East Side Tenement
National Historic Site Act of 1998''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1)(A) immigration, and the resulting diversity of cultural
influences, is a key factor in defining the identity of the
United States; and
(B) many United States citizens trace their ancestry to
persons born in nations other than the United States;
(2) the latter part of the 19th century and the early part
of the 20th century marked a period in which the volume of
immigrants coming to the United States far exceeded that of
any time prior to or since that period;
(3) no single identifiable neighborhood in the United
States absorbed a comparable number of immigrants than the
Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City;
(4) the Lower East Side Tenement at 97 Orchard Street in
New York City is an outstanding survivor of the vast number
of humble buildings that housed immigrants to New York City
during the greatest wave of immigration in American history;
(5) the Lower East Side Tenement is owned and operated as a
museum by the Lower East Side Tenement Museum;
(6) the Lower East Side Tenement Museum is dedicated to
interpreting immigrant life within a neighborhood long
associated with the immigrant experience in the United
States, New York City's Lower East Side, and its importance
to United States history; and
(7)(A) the Director of the National Park Service found the
Lower East Side Tenement at 97 Orchard Street to be
nationally significant; and
(B) the Secretary of the Interior declared the Lower East
Side Tenement a National Historic Landmark on April 19, 1994;
and
(C) the Director of the National Park Service, through a
special resource study, found the Lower East Side Tenement
suitable and feasible for inclusion in the National Park
System.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to ensure the preservation, maintenance, and
interpretation of this site and to interpret at the site the
themes of immigration, tenement life in the latter half of
the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, the
housing reform movement, and tenement architecture in the
United States;
(2) to ensure continued interpretation of the nationally
significant immigrant phenomenon associated with New York
City's Lower East Side and the Lower East Side's role in the
history of immigration to the United States; and
(3) to enhance the interpretation of the Castle Clinton,
Ellis Island, and Statue of Liberty National Monuments.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this Act:
(1) Historic site.--The term ``historic site'' means the
Lower East Side Tenement found at 97 Orchard Street on
Manhattan Island in City of New York, State of New York, and
designated as a national historic site by section 4.
(2) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the Lower East Side
Tenement Museum, a nonprofit organization established in City
of New York, State of New York, which owns and operates the
tenement building at 97 Orchard Street and manages other
properties in the vicinity of 97 Orchard Street as
administrative and program support facilities for 97 Orchard
Street.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF HISTORIC SITE.

(a) In General.--To further the purposes of this Act and
the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the preservation of
historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities
of national significance, and for other purposes'', approved
August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.), the Lower East Side
Tenement at 97 Orchard Street, in the City of New York, State
of New York, is designated a national historic site.
(b) Coordination With National Park System.--
(1) Affiliated site.--The historic site shall be an
affiliated site of the National Park System.
(2) Coordination.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Museum, shall coordinate the operation and interpretation of
the historic site with the Statue of Liberty National
Monument, Ellis Island National Monument, and Castle Clinton
National Monument. The historic site's story and
interpretation of the immigrant experience in the United
States is directly related to the themes and purposes of
these National Monuments.
(c) Ownership.--The historic site shall continue to be
owned, operated, and managed by the Museum.

SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT OF THE SITE.

[[Page H10412]]

site that defines the role and responsibility of the
Secretary with regard to the interpretation and the
preservation of the historic site.
(2) Integration with national monuments.--The plan shall
outline how interpretation and programming for the historic
site shall be integrated and coordinated with the Statue of
Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island National Monument,
and Castle Clinton National Monument to enhance the story of
the historic site and these National Monuments.
(3) Completion.--The plan shall be completed not later than
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Limited Role of Secretary.--Nothing in this Act
authorizes the Secretary to acquire the property at 97
Orchard Street or to assume overall financial responsibility
for the operation, maintenance, or management of the historic
site.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are
necessary to carry out this Act.

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute Offered by Mr. Hansen

Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
The Clerk read as follows:

Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr.
Hansen:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:

TITLE I--LOWER EAST SIDE TENEMENT NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE, NEW YORK.

SEC. 101. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
(1)(A) immigration, and the resulting diversity of cultural
influences, is a key factor in defining the identity of the
United States; and
(B) many United States citizens trace their ancestry to
persons born in nations other than the United States;
(2) the latter part of the 19th century and the early part
of the 20th century marked a period in which the volume of
immigrants coming to the United States far exceeded that of
any time prior to or since that period;
(3) no single identifiable neighborhood in the United
States absorbed a comparable number of immigrants than the
Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City;
(4) the Lower East Side Tenement at 97 Orchard Street in
New York City is an outstanding survivor of the vast number
of humble buildings that housed immigrants to New York City
during the greatest wave of immigration in American history;
(5) the Lower East Side Tenement is owned and operated as a
museum by the Lower East Side Tenement Museum;
(6) the Lower East Side Tenement Museum is dedicated to
interpreting immigrant life within a neighborhood long
associated with the immigrant experience in the United
States, New York City's Lower East Side, and its importance
to United States history; and
(7)(A) the Director of the National Park Service found the
Lower East Side Tenement at 97 Orchard Street to be
nationally significant; and
(B) the Secretary of the Interior declared the Lower East
Side Tenement a National Historic Landmark on April 19, 1994;
and
(C) the Director of the National Park Service, through a
special resource study, found the Lower East Side Tenement
suitable and feasible for inclusion in the National Park
System.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this title are--
(1) to ensure the preservation, maintenance, and
interpretation of this site and to interpret at the site the
themes of immigration, tenement life in the latter half of
the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, the
housing reform movement, and tenement architecture in the
United States;
(2) to ensure continued interpretation of the nationally
significant immigrant phenomenon associated with New York
City's Lower East Side and the Lower East Side's role in the
history of immigration to the United States; and
(3) to enhance the interpretation of the Castle Clinton,
Ellis Island, and Statue of Liberty National Monuments.

SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this title:
(1) Historic site.--The term ``historic site'' means the
Lower East Side Tenement found at 97 Orchard Street on
Manhattan Island in City of New York, State of New York, and
designated as a national historic site by section 103.
(2) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the Lower East Side
Tenement Museum, a nonprofit organization established in City
of New York, State of New York, which owns and operates the
tenement building at 97 Orchard Street and manages other
properties in the vicinity of 97 Orchard Street as
administrative and program support facilities for 97 Orchard
Street.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.

SEC. 103. ESTABLISHMENT OF HISTORIC SITE.

(a) In General.--To further the purposes of this title and
the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the preservation of
historic American sites, buildings, objects, and antiquities
of national significance, and for other purposes'', approved
August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.), the Lower East Side
Tenement at 97 Orchard Street, in the City of New York, State
of New York, is designated a national historic site.
(b) Coordination With National Park System.--
(1) Affiliated site.--The historic site shall be an
affiliated site of the National Park System.
(2) Coordination.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Museum, shall coordinate the operation and interpretation of
the historic site with the Statue of Liberty National
Monument, Ellis Island National Monument, and Castle Clinton
National Monument. The historic site's story and
interpretation of the immigrant experience in the United
States is directly related to the themes and purposes of
these National Monuments.
(c) Ownership.--The historic site shall continue to be
owned, operated, and managed by the Museum.

SEC. 104. MANAGEMENT OF THE HISTORIC SITE.

(a) Cooperative Agreement.--The Secretary may enter into a
cooperative agreement with the Museum to ensure the marking,
interpretation, and preservation of the national historic
site designated by section 103(a).
(b) Technical and Financial Assistance.--The Secretary may
provide technical and financial assistance to the Museum to
mark, interpret, and preserve the historic site, including
making preservation-related capital improvements and repairs.
(c) General Management Plan.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Museum, shall develop a general management plan for the
historic site that defines the role and responsibility of the
Secretary with regard to the interpretation and the
preservation of the historic site.
(2) Integration with national monuments.--The plan shall
outline how interpretation and programming for the historic
site shall be integrated and coordinated with the Statue of
Liberty National Monument, Ellis Island National Monument,
and Castle Clinton National Monument to enhance the story of
the historic site and these National Monuments.
(3) Completion.--The plan shall be completed not later than
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) Limited Role of Secretary.--Nothing in this title
authorizes the Secretary to acquire the property at 97
Orchard Street or to assume overall financial responsibility
for the operation, maintenance, or management of the historic
site.

SEC. 105. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are
necessary to carry out this title.

TITLE II--OTHER MATTERS

SEC. 201. CASA MALPAIS NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, ARIZONA.

(a) Findings.--The Congress finds and declares that--
(1) the Casa Malpais National Historic Landmark was
occupied by one of the largest and most sophisticated
Mogollon communities in the United States;
(2) the landmark includes a 58-room masonry pueblo,
including stairways, Great Kiva complex, and fortification
walls, a prehistoric trail, and catacomb chambers where the
deceased were placed;
(3) the Casa Malpais was designated as a national historic
landmark by the Secretary of the Interior in 1964; and
(4) the State of Arizona and the community of Springerville
are undertaking a program of interpretation and preservation
of the landmark.
(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to assist
in the preservation and interpretation of the Casa Malpais
National Historic Landmark for the benefit of the public.
(c) Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) In general.--In furtherance of the purpose of this
section, the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to enter
into cooperative agreements with the State of Arizona and the
town of Springerville, Arizona, pursuant to which the
Secretary may provide technical assistance to interpret,
operate, and maintain the Casa Malpais National Historic
Landmark and may also provide financial assistance for
planning, staff training, and development of the Casa Malpais
National Historic Landmark, but not including other routine
operations.
(2) Additional provisions.--Any such agreement may also
contain provisions that--
(A) the Secretary, acting through the Director of the
National Park Service, shall have right to access at all
reasonable times to all public portions of the property
covered by such agreement for the purpose of interpreting the
landmark; and
(B) no changes or alterations shall be made in the landmark
except by mutual agreement between the Secretary and the
other parties to all such agreements.
(d) Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as may be necessary to provide
financial assistance in accordance with this section.

SEC. 202. PROVISION FOR ROADS IN PICTURED ROCKS NATIONAL
LAKESHORE.

Section 6 of the Act of October 15, 1966, entitled ``An Act
to establish in the State of Michigan the Pictured Rocks
National Lakeshore, and for other purposes'' (16 U.S.C. 460s-
5), is amended as follows:
(1) In subsection (b)(1) by striking ``including a scenic
shoreline drive'' and inserting

[[Page H10413]]

``including appropriate improvements to Alger County Road H-
58''.
(2) By adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Prohibition of Certain Construction.--A scenic
shoreline drive may not be constructed in the Pictured Rocks
National Lakeshore.''.

Mr. HANSEN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that the amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered as read
and printed in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Utah?
There was no objection.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 1408, the
Lower East Side Tenement Museum Historic Site.
First, I would like to thank my colleague, the gentleman from Utah,
chairman Hanson, for affording the Congress the opportunity to consider
this important measure. In addition, I would like to thank all of those
Members who have worked hard on this initiative, my friend and
colleague from New York Peter King, as well as our two distinguished
senators from New York.
S. 1408 would establish the Lower East Side Tenement Museum in New
York as a national historic site, and create an affiliation between it
and the National Park Service.
The tenement museum, a private, nonprofit organization founded in
1988 by president Ruth Abram, is devoted to preserving the history of
America's urban working-class immigrants. After considerable research
and labor, apartments have been restored and reconstructed to reflect
the lives of actual tenants.
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum serves as a window to America's
immigrant past. Visitors are introduced to the daily lives and
community building efforts of immigrant families from over 20 nations
who owned, resided, or kept shops in the tenement buildings at that
time.
Affiliated status would allow the National Park Service to join with
the museum to develop joint programs, with the Statue of Liberty and
Ellis Island for example, which could only enhance the visitors'
experience. This building is the first tenement in the Nation to be
preserved as a historic site, and represents a unique opportunity for
the public to interpret his rich cultural heritage, which has
contributed to the very fabric in the formation of America.
Finally, I would like to commend the president of the museum, Ruth
Abrams, and her staff for all of her tireless efforts in preserving an
important part of our Nation's history.
I urge all of my colleagues to support this important bill.
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, the popularity of historical sites like
Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty attests to the value of this
nation's rich immigrant history and the importance Americans place on
understanding their heritage. But the story of the immigrant experience
does not end at Ellis Island. The Lower East Side Tenement Museum
offers us a rare window into how our ancestors adapted to their new
lives in this country.
In order to help the Tenement Museum to serve the public better, I
introduced H.R. 2201, in July 1997. Senators D'Amato and Moynihan
followed by introducing the Senate equivalent in November of that year.
Our legislation would designate the Lower East Side Tenement Museum as
an affiliate of the National Park Service. The Tenement Museum is
located at 97 Orchard Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side, the heart
of America's immigrant tradition. The building was erected in 1863 and,
over the course of 69 years, served as the first American home for
thousands of immigrants from around the world.
Much of America's immigrant history begins in New York. The museum on
Ellis Island explains how families from around the world journeyed to
and arrived in the United States. While many newcomers set out to
settle our nation's rural frontiers, many more became urban pioneers--
men, women and children who settled in the city. For this reason the
next chapter of the immigrant tale, their lives in America, deserves
closer exploration and recognition. Thus, in seeking a home for this
story, the Museum sought the quintessential expression of urban,
immigrant life--the tenement.
The Lower East Side Tenement Museum bill recognizes the Museum's
efforts to preserve, maintain and interpret the themes of early
tenement life, the housing reform movement, and tenement architecture
in the United States. Affiliate status would allow this private non-
profit museum to fully participate in the programs and activities of
the National Park Service while complimenting the Park Services trinity
of Ellis Island, Clinton Castle and the Statue of Liberty at no cost to
American taxpayers.
By making the museum an affiliate of the National Park Service, the
immigrant story is personalized--linking Ellis Island, the Statue of
Liberty and a Lower East Side Tenement. As visitors understand this
story more fully, they will gain greater insight into who they are and
where they came from. I urge all of you to support this national
treasure.
The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the
table.

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