[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 118 (Monday, September 13, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H8109-H8112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1430
          LACKAWANNA VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT OF 1999

  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 940) to establish the Lackawanna Heritage Valley American 
Heritage Area, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 940

       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 ``Lackawanna Valley National 
     Heritage Area Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
       (1) The industrial and cultural heritage of northeastern 
     Pennsylvania inclusive of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and 
     Susquehanna counties, related directly to anthracite and 
     anthracite-related industries, is nationally significant, as 
     documented in the United States Department of the Interior-
     National Parks Service, National Register of Historic Places, 
     Multiple Property Documentation submittal of the Pennsylvania 
     Historic and Museum Commission (1996).
       (2) These industries include anthracite mining, ironmaking, 
     textiles, and rail transportation.
       (3) The industrial and cultural heritage of the anthracite 
     and related industries in this region includes the social 
     history and living cultural traditions of the people of the 
     region.
       (4) The labor movement of the region played a significant 
     role in the development of the Nation including the formation 
     of many key unions such as the United Mine Workers of 
     America, and crucial struggles to improve wages and working 
     conditions, such as the 1900 and 1902 anthracite strikes.
       (5) The Department of the Interior is responsible for 
     protecting the Nation's cultural and historic resources, and 
     there are significant examples of these resources within this 
     4-county region to merit the involvement of the Federal 
     Government to develop programs and projects, in cooperation 
     with the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and other local and 
     governmental bodies, to adequately conserve, protect, and 
     interpret this heritage for future generations, while 
     providing opportunities for education and revitalization.
       (6) The Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority would be an 
     appropriate management entity for a Heritage Area established 
     in the region.
       (b) Purpose.--The objectives of the Lackawanna Valley 
     National Heritage Area are as follows:
       (1) To foster a close working relationship with all levels 
     of government, the private sector, and the local communities 
     in the anthracite coal region of northeastern Pennsylvania 
     and empower the communities to conserve their heritage while 
     continuing to pursue economic opportunities.
       (2) To conserve, interpret, and develop the historical, 
     cultural, natural, and recreational resources related to the 
     industrial and cultural heritage of the 4-county region of 
     northeastern Pennsylvania.

     SEC. 3. LACKAWANNA VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the 
     Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area (in this Act 
     referred to as the ``Heritage Area'').
       (b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall be comprised of 
     all or parts of the counties of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, 
     and Susquehanna in Pennsylvania, determined pursuant to the 
     compact under section 4.
       (c) Management Entity.--The management entity for the 
     Heritage Area shall be the Lackawanna Heritage Valley 
     Authority.

     SEC. 4. COMPACT.

       To carry out the purposes of this Act, the Secretary of the 
     Interior (in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall 
     enter into a compact with the management entity. The compact 
     shall include information relating to the objectives and 
     management of the area, including each of the following:
       (1) A delineation of the boundaries of the Heritage Area.
       (2) A discussion of the goals and objectives of the 
     Heritage Area, including an explanation of the proposed 
     approach to conservation and interpretation and a general 
     outline of the protection measures committed to by the 
     partners.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF MANAGEMENT ENTITY.

       (a) Authorities of the Management Entity.--The management 
     entity may, for purposes of preparing and implementing the 
     management plan developed under subsection (b), use funds 
     made available through this Act for the following:
       (1) To make grants to, and enter into cooperative 
     agreements with States and their political subdivisions, 
     private organizations, or any person.
       (2) To hire and compensate staff.
       (3) To enter into contracts for goods and services.
       (b) Management Plan.--The management entity shall develop a 
     management plan for the Heritage Area that presents 
     recommendations for the Heritage Area's conservation, 
     funding, management, and development. Such plan shall take 
     into consideration existing State, county, and local plans 
     and involve residents, public agencies, and private 
     organizations working in the Heritage Area. It shall include 
     recommendations for actions to be undertaken by units of 
     government and private organizations to protect the resources 
     of the Heritage Area. It shall specify the existing and 
     potential sources of funding to protect, manage, and develop 
     the Heritage Area. Such plan shall include, as appropriate, 
     the following:
       (1) An inventory of the resources contained in the Heritage 
     Area, including a list of any property in the Heritage Area 
     that is related to the themes of the Heritage Area and that 
     should be preserved, restored, managed, developed, or 
     maintained because of its natural, cultural, historic, 
     recreational, or scenic significance.
       (2) A recommendation of policies for resource management 
     which considers and details application of appropriate land 
     and water management techniques, including, but not limited 
     to, the development of intergovernmental cooperative 
     agreements to protect the Heritage Area's historical, 
     cultural, recreational, and natural resources in a manner 
     consistent with supporting appropriate and compatible 
     economic viability.
       (3) A program for implementation of the management plan by 
     the management entity, including plans for restoration and 
     construction, and specific commitments of the identified 
     partners for the first 5 years of operation.

[[Page H8110]]

       (4) An analysis of ways in which local, State, and Federal 
     programs may best be coordinated to promote the purposes of 
     this Act.
       (5) An interpretation plan for the Heritage Area.
     The management entity shall submit the management plan to the 
     Secretary for approval within 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act. If a management plan is not submitted 
     to the Secretary as required within the specified time, the 
     Heritage Area shall no longer qualify for Federal funding.
       (c) Duties of Management Entity.--The management entity 
     shall--
       (1) give priority to implementing actions set forth in the 
     compact and management plan, including steps to assist units 
     of government, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit 
     organizations in preserving the Heritage Area;
       (2) assist units of government, regional planning 
     organizations, and nonprofit organizations in establishing 
     and maintaining interpretive exhibits in the Heritage Area; 
     assist units of government, regional planning organizations, 
     and nonprofit organizations in developing recreational 
     resources in the Heritage Area;
       (3) assist units of government, regional planning 
     organizations, and nonprofit organizations in increasing 
     public awareness of and appreciation for the natural, 
     historical, and architectural resources and sites in the 
     Heritage Area; assist units of government, regional 
     planning organizations and nonprofit organizations in the 
     restoration of any historic building relating to the 
     themes of the Heritage Area;
       (4) encourage economic viability in the Heritage Area 
     consistent with the goals of the plan; encourage local 
     governments to adopt land use policies consistent with the 
     management of the Heritage Area and the goals of the plan;
       (5) assist units of government, regional planning 
     organizations, and nonprofit organizations to ensure that 
     clear, consistent, and environmentally appropriate signs 
     identifying access points and sites of interest are put in 
     place throughout the Heritage Area;
       (6) consider the interests of diverse governmental, 
     business, and nonprofit groups within the Heritage Area;
       (7) conduct public meetings at least quarterly regarding 
     the implementation of the management plan; and
       (8) for any year in which Federal funds have been received 
     under this Act, make available for audit all records 
     pertaining to the expenditure of such funds and any matching 
     funds, and require, for all agreements authorizing 
     expenditure of Federal funds by other organizations, that the 
     receiving organizations make available for audit all records 
     pertaining to the expenditure of such funds.
       (d) Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The 
     management entity may not use Federal funds received under 
     this Act to acquire real property or an interest in real 
     property. Nothing in this Act shall preclude any management 
     entity from using Federal funds from other sources for their 
     permitted purposes.
       (e) Spending for Non-Federally Owned Property.--The 
     management entity may spend Federal funds directly on non-
     federally owned property to further the purposes of this Act, 
     especially in assisting units of government in appropriate 
     treatment of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and 
     objects listed or eligible for listing on the National 
     Register of Historic Places.

     SEC. 6. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.

       (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--The Secretary may, 
     upon request of the management entity, provide technical and 
     financial assistance to the management entity to develop and 
     implement the management plan. In assisting the management 
     entity, the Secretary shall give priority to actions that in 
     general assist in--
       (1) conserving the significant natural, historic, and 
     cultural resources which support its themes; and
       (2) providing educational, interpretive, and recreational 
     opportunities consistent with its resources and associated 
     values.
       (b) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plans.--The 
     Secretary, in consultation with the Governor of Pennsylvania, 
     shall approve or disapprove a management plan submitted under 
     this Act not later than 90 days after receiving such 
     management plan.
       (c) Action Following Disapproval.--If the Secretary 
     disapproves a submitted management plan, the Secretary shall 
     advise the management entity in writing of the reasons 
     therefore and shall make recommendations for revisions in the 
     plan. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove a proposed 
     revision within 90 days after the date it is submitted.
       (d) Approving Amendments.--The Secretary shall review 
     substantial amendments to the management plan for the 
     Heritage Area. Funds appropriated pursuant to this Act may 
     not be expended to implement the changes made by such 
     amendments until the Secretary approves the amendments.

     SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL ANTHRACITE COAL REGION DESIGNATION.

       (a) Designation.--Upon publication by the Secretary in the 
     Federal Register of notice that the Secretary has signed a 
     compact (as provided for in subsection (b)) there is hereby 
     designated the Schuylkill River National Heritage Area.
       (b) Compact.--The compact submitted under this section with 
     respect to the Schuylkill River National Heritage Area shall 
     consist of an agreement between the Secretary and the 
     Schuylkill River Greenway Association (who shall serve as the 
     management entity for the area). Such agreement shall define 
     the area (including a delineation of the boundaries), 
     describe anticipated programs for the area, and include 
     information relating to the objectives and management of the 
     area. Such information shall include, but not be limited to, 
     an explanation of the proposed approach to the conservation 
     and interpretation of the area and a general outline of the 
     protection measures committed to by the partners.
       (c) Authorities and Duties.--The authorities and duties of 
     the management entity and other Federal agencies for the 
     Schuylkill River National Heritage Area shall be the same as 
     provided for by sections 5 and 6 of this Act, except that for 
     such purposes any reference in such sections to the 
     ``Heritage Area'' shall be deemed to be a reference to the 
     Schuylkill River National Heritage Area and any reference to 
     the ``management entity'' shall be deemed a reference to the 
     Schuylkill River Greenway Association.

     SEC. 8. CULTURE AND HERITAGE OF ANTHRACITE COAL REGION.

       All authorized existing and future heritage area management 
     entities in the Anthracite Coal Region in Pennsylvania are 
     authorized and directed to coordinate with one another in the 
     management of such areas. Each such management entity is 
     authorized to use funds appropriated for such heritage areas 
     for the purposes of this section.

     SEC. 9. SUNSET.

       The Secretary may not make any grant or provide any 
     assistance under this Act after September 30, 2012.

     SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     under this Act not more than $1,000,000 for any fiscal year 
     for each heritage area designated by this Act. Not more than 
     a total of $10,000,000 may be appropriated for each heritage 
     area under this Act.
       (b) 50 Percent Match.--Federal funding provided under this 
     Act, after the designation of each heritage area, may not 
     exceed 50 percent of the total cost of any assistance or 
     grant provided or authorized under this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Foley). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood) and the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood).
  (Mr. Sherwood asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I am pleased that we are considering H.R. 940, the Lackawanna Valley 
National Heritage Area Act, a similar version which was passed by the 
House in the last Congress.
  There are many excellent reasons to support the designation of this 
historic heritage area. The Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area 
Act would ensure the conservation of northeastern Pennsylvania's 
significant natural, historic and cultural resources. The Lackawanna 
Valley was the first heritage area designated by the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania and is recognized as nationally significant through its 
documentation into the U.S. Department of Interior's Register of 
Historic Places.
  In the last decade, for every dollar contributed by the National Park 
Service to the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, the ``management 
entity'' cited in my bill, has leveraged $10 in other federal, State, 
local and private sector funds to finance preservation activities. The 
Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority would continue to foster these 
important relationships with all levels of Government, the private 
sector, and local communities.
  The Lackawanna Valley encompasses the counties of Lackawanna, Wayne, 
Susquehanna, and Luzerne in northeastern Pennsylvania. The Valley tells 
the story of the development of anthracite coal, one of North America's 
greatest natural resources. From early in the 19th century, 
Pennsylvania's coal provided an extraordinary source of energy which 
fueled America's economic growth for over 100 years. At the center of 
the world's most productive anthracite field, the Lackawanna Valley 
witnessed the inception, spectacular growth, and eventual deterioration 
of an industry which led our country to unparalleled prosperity.
  The landscape of the Valley conveys the story of the industrial 
revolution most clearly. Miles of track and hundreds of industrial 
sites and abandoned mines are daily reminders of the importance of the 
regent industry. Heritage sites like Pennsylvania's Anthracite Heritage 
Museum, the Scranton Iron Furnace Historic Site, the Lackawanna County 
Coal Mine, and the Steamtown National Historic Site help to commemorate 
the hardships of the industrial revolution which has led us to our 
current prosperity. These sites provide the framework for the historic 
preservation which will be cemented by my proposed legislation.
  A hearing was held on June 10 in the Subcommittee on National Parks 
and

[[Page H8111]]

Public Lands in which testimony was heard from the National Park 
Service, private citizens, and elected officials in strong support of 
the legislation. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 940 was subsequently amended in the 
full Committee on Resources to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
designate the Schuylkill River Corridor as a national heritage area. 
This addition to the bill will allow the history and culture of the 
major anthracite coal regions in Pennsylvania to be preserved for 
future generations. The amended bill passed by voice vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), 
the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands, 
and the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young), the chairman of the full 
Committee on Resources, for their support and leadership on this 
important legislation. H.R. 940 is a bipartisan bill which deserves our 
support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. I do want to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania for his 
sponsorship of this piece of legislation.
  H.R. 940, as introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. 
Sherwood), my colleague of the Committee on Resources, would have 
established the Lackawanna Valley Heritage Area in northeastern 
Pennsylvania.
  The Lackawanna Valley covers the four counties of Lackawanna, 
Luzerne, Wayne, and Susquehanna Counties. In 1991, local citizens and 
governments established the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority to 
foster a partnership among State and local governments, business and 
civic organizations in the promotion of the Valley's historic, 
cultural, natural and economic resources.
  Unlike other proposed heritage areas, the Lackawanna Valley has 
received significant federal funding prior to its establishment. Since 
1989, a total of $3.147 million in the National Park Service funds has 
been earmarked in appropriations bills for a variety of unauthorized 
purposes.
  In hearings on H.R. 940 before the Committee on Resources, the 
National Park Service testified in general support of the legislation, 
but did note several concerns with the bill's language, especially in 
regards to the lending authority and the requirement for certain 
studies. The bill was amended by the committee to address those 
concerns.
  Mr. Speaker, in addition, the Committee on Resources adopted an 
amendment that provides for the designation of an additional heritage 
area so that the preservation and interpretation of the resources of 
the anthracite coal region will also include those resources found in 
the southern anthracite coal fields of the Schuylkill River Valley 
located in the district of our colleague, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden).
  The bill already anticipated such cooperative heritage efforts by 
directing that the various management entities to coordinate with one 
another in the management of the heritage of the anthracite coal region 
in Pennsylvania. The changes made by the amendment will provide more 
complete coverage of the heritage of this entire coal region.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 940, as amended, is a good piece of legislation for 
heritage preservation, and I do urge my colleagues to support this 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I have no more requests for time, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden).
  Mr. HOLDEN. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 940 this afternoon. I 
would like to thank the chairmen of the committee and the subcommittee 
for bringing this legislation to the floor, and I thank the ranking 
members of the committee and subcommittee for their assistance, as well 
as the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood), my good friend, for 
the way that he cooperated and extended his hand so that we were able 
to include the entire anthracite coal field in this heritage corridor, 
and I do truly appreciate the cooperation of the gentleman.
  The link between the Schuylkill Heritage Corridor and the Lackawanna 
Heritage Corridor, as the gentleman mentioned, is anthracite coal, the 
anthracite coal that fueled the industrial revolution in this country, 
first by way of the Schuylkill Canal and then by way of the railroads. 
We should all be proud of that heritage, and I am certain that our 
managing entities are going to work very closely together so that we 
can highlight that proud history of anthracite coal.
  Along with the coal fields in Pennsylvania came the first real effort 
for organized labor to set foot in the United States. I am very pleased 
to say that the work of the association started in Schuylkill County 
and was the forerunner to the United Mine Workers of America, where men 
fought long and hard for equitable pay and for working privileges and 
working rights that they were not able to have in the days when 
anthracite coal was first begun to be mined in Pennsylvania.
  Through their efforts and through their long and hard work, they were 
able to have decent salaries and decent wages and decent working 
conditions in the anthracite fields right now. We should continue to 
honor the heritage of what was done in organized labor.
  Mr. Speaker, there is much more to be told about the Schuylkill River 
Heritage. As we leave Schuylkill County and move down the Schuylkill 
River, we have a proud heritage in agriculture, a proud heritage in 
textiles, and in iron ore. All of these industries have a great 
tradition, and we all have great pride in what was accomplished right 
down the Schuylkill River as we get to Valley Forge and to 
Philadelphia. It was our link to get our goods to the marketplace, and 
we should make every effort possible to be appreciative as to what was 
done, but also try to highlight through Heritage Corridor what was done 
in the past and continue to move for economic development.
  I am absolutely positive that when this Schuylkill River Heritage 
Corridor gets into a working agreement and hits the ground running, 
that it is going to be able to model itself after the Lackawanna 
Corridor, as my friend mentioned, where they were able to leverage with 
federal money, with private money, and State money and county money to 
do so much good in the Lackawanna Valley, and I am hoping we are going 
to use that example as we do in the Schuylkill River Corridor.
  So I would just like to take this opportunity to say that this is a 
good piece of legislation. It certainly has been done in a very 
bipartisan manner. I think we all cooperated very well. Again, I would 
like to extend my gratification for that effort that was made to assist 
in making sure that anthracite coal and all of the treasures of the 
Schuylkill River can have a heritage corridor that we can work on.
  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I certainly want to thank both gentlemen from Pennsylvania for their 
introduction of this piece of legislation. I note with interest the 
mentioning of Susquehanna County as part of a very strong cultural 
heritage as part of our American history. In my little reading of 
history, I recall that the Susquehanna River has a very profound 
historical event that transpired as far as the Church of Jesus Christ 
of Latter Day Saints is concerned, and I wanted to note that as a 
matter of record. I do want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Holden) for his comments.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sherwood) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 940, 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 of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
designate the Lackawanna Valley National Heritage Area and for other 
purposes.''.

[[Page H8112]]

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________