[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 139 (Thursday, October 14, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12649-S12650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PENNSYLVANIA BATTLEFIELDS PROTECTION ACT OF 1999

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that H.R. 659 be 
discharged from the Energy Committee, and further, the Senate proceed 
to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative assistant read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 659) to authorize appropriations for 
     protection of Paoli and Brandywine Battlefields in 
     Pennsylvania, to direct the National Park Service to conduct 
     a special resource study of Paoli and Brandywine 
     Battlefields, to authorize the Valley Forge Museum of the 
     American Revolution at Valley Forge National Historical Park, 
     and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.


                           Amendment No. 2295

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask 
for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative assistant read as follows:

       The Senator from Pennsylvania [Mr. Santorum], for Mr. 
     Murkowski, proposes an amendment numbered 2295.

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of 
the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:
       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     ``SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Pennsylvania Battlefields 
     Protection Act of 1999''.

               TITLE I--PAOLI AND BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELDS

     SEC. 101. PAOLI BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION.

       (a) Paoli Battlefield.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     (hereinafter referred to as the ``Secretary'') is authorized 
     to provide funds to the borough of Malvern, Pennsylvania, for 
     the acquisition of the area known as the ``Paoli 
     Battlefield'', located in the borough of Malvern, 
     Pennsylvania, as generally depicted on the map entitled 
     ``Paoli Battlefield'' numbered 80,000 and dated April 1999 
     (referred to in this title as the ``Paoli Battlefield''). The 
     map shall be on file and available for public inspection in 
     the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.

[[Page S12650]]

       (b) Cooperative Agreement and Technical Assistance.--The 
     Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the 
     borough of Malvern, Pennsylvania, for the management by the 
     borough of the Paoli Battlefield. The Secretary may provide 
     technical assistance to the borough of Malvern to assure the 
     preservation and interpretation of the Paoli Battlefield's 
     resources.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated $1,250,000 to carry out this section. Such 
     funds shall be expended in the ratio of one dollar of Federal 
     funds for each dollar of funds contributed by non-Federal 
     sources. Any funds provided by the Secretary shall be subject 
     to an agreement that provides for the protection of the Paoli 
     Battlefields's resources.

     SEC. 102. BRANDYWINE BATTLEFIELD PROTECTION.

       (A) Brandywine Battlefield.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to provide 
     funds to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a political 
     subdivision of the Commonwealth, or the Brandywine 
     Conservancy, for the acquisition, protection, and 
     preservation of land in an area generally known as the 
     Meetinghouse Road Corridor, located in Chester County, 
     Pennsylvania, as depicted on a map entitled ``Brandywine 
     Battlefield--Meetinghouse Road Corridor'', numbered 80,000 
     and dated April 1999 (referred to in this title as the 
     ``Brandywine Battlefield''). The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (2) Willing sellers or donors.--Lands and interests in land 
     may be acquired pursuant to this section only with the 
     consent of the owner thereof.
       (b) Cooperative Agreement and Technical Assistance.--The 
     Secretary shall enter into a cooperative agreement with the 
     same entity that is provided funds under subsection (a) for 
     the management by the entity of the Brandywine Battlefield. 
     The Secretary may also provide technical assistance to the 
     entity to assure the preservation and interpretation of the 
     Brandywine Battlefield's resources.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated $3,000,000 to carry out this section. Such 
     funds shall be expended in the ratio of one dollar of Federal 
     funds for each dollar of funds contributed by non-Federal 
     sources. Any funds provided by the Secretary shall be subject 
     to an agreement that provides for the protection of the 
     battlefield's resources.

            TITLE II--VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

     SEC. 201. PURPOSE.

       (a) The purpose of this title is to authorize the Secretary 
     of the Interior to enter into an agreement with the Valley 
     Forge Historical Society (hereinafter referred to as the 
     ``Society''), to construct and operate a museum within the 
     boundary of Valley Forge National Historical Park in 
     cooperation with the Secretary.

     SEC. 202. VALLEY FORGE MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 
                   AUTHORIZATION.

       (a) Agreement Authorized.--The Secretary of the Interior, 
     in administering the Valley Forge National Historical Park, 
     is authorized to enter into an agreement under appropriate 
     terms and conditions with the Society to facilitate the 
     planning, construction, and operation of Valley Forge Museum 
     of the American Revolution on Federal land within the 
     boundary of Valley Forge National Historical Park.
       (b) Contents and Implementation of Agreement.--An agreement 
     entered into under subsection (a) shall--
       (1) authorize the Society to develop and operate the museum 
     pursuant to plans developed by the Secretary and to provide 
     at the museum appropriate and necessary programs and services 
     to visitors to Valley Forge National Historical Park related 
     to the story of Valley Forge and the American Revolution;
       (2) only be carried out in a manner consistent with the 
     General Management Plan and other plans for the preservation 
     and interpretation of the resources and values of Valley 
     Forge National Historical Park;
       (3) authorize the Secretary to undertake at the museum 
     activities related to the management of Valley Forge National 
     Historical Park, including, but not limited to, provision of 
     appropriate visitor information and interpretive facilities 
     and programs related to Valley Forge National Historical 
     Park;
       (4) authorize the Society, acting as a private nonprofit 
     organization, to engage in activities appropriate for 
     operation of the museum that may include, but are not limited 
     to, charging appropriate fees, conducting events, and selling 
     merchandise, tickets, and food to visitors to the museum;
       (5) provide that the Society's revenues from the museum's 
     facilities and services shall be used to offset the expenses 
     of the museum's operation; and
       (6) authorize the Society to occupy the museum so 
     constructed for the term specified in the Agreement and 
     subject to the following terms and conditions:
       (A) The conveyance by the Society to the United States of 
     all right, title, and interest in the museum to be 
     constructed at Valley Forge National Historical Park.
       (B) The Society's right to occupy and use the museum shall 
     be for the exhibition, preservation, and interpretation of 
     artifacts associated with the Valley Forge story and the 
     American Revolution, to enhance the visitor experience of 
     Valley Forge National Historical Park, and to conduct 
     appropriately related activities of the society consistent 
     with its mission and with the purposes for which the Valley 
     Forge National Historical Park was established. Such right 
     shall not be transferred or conveyed without the express 
     consent of the Secretary.
       (C) Any other terms and conditions the Secretary determines 
     to be necessary.

     SEC. 203. PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION.

       Nothing in this title authorizes the Secretary or the 
     Society to take any actions in derogation of the preservation 
     and protection of the values and resources of Valley Forge 
     National Historical Park. An agreement entered into under 
     section 203 shall be construed and implemented in light of 
     the high public value and integrity of the Valley Forge 
     National Historical Park and the National Park System.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to authorize 
     appropriations for the protection of Paoli and Brandywine 
     Battlefields in Pennsylvania, to authorize the Valley Forge 
     Museum of the American Revolution at Valley Forge National 
     Historical Park, and for other purposes.''.
  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I thank all of those who have been 
involved in trying to clear this piece of legislation. This is a very 
important piece of legislation for the preservation of the Paoli and 
Brandywine Battlefields. There is money in the Interior Appropriations 
bill to help with the State and local funds to combine to purchase a 
piece of the battlefield that would otherwise be sold for development. 
It would be a real tragedy to lose a Revolutionary War battlefield 
because of inaction in the Senate.
  I appreciate the bipartisan support we had to clear this particular 
bill because the deadline is tomorrow. The development contract would 
have been exercised, and we would not have been able to purchase this 
land by clearing this bill today in time to get that done. It is very 
important to the people in that community.
  I thank the minority leader, Senator Daschle, Senator Bingaman, 
Senator Johnson, and many others who were involved in helping to clear 
this issue on the Democratic side, and I certainly thank Senator 
Murkowski for his effort in putting that together on the Republican 
side. Obviously, the sponsors of the bill, Senator Specter and myself, 
are appreciative of the work that was done to take this bill out of 
what is a very big stack of bills that I know many Members want to have 
moved in the Senate and to treat this specially because of the time 
sensitivity. At a time when comity is short because of how difficult 
these last few weeks have been, people have put those kinds of 
differences aside and recognized what is in the best interest of all 
involved. That speaks volumes for both sides of the aisle. So I want to 
commend, in a time of difficulty, and maybe even rancor, the people who 
put their differences aside and did do what is right. It is a 
heartening thing to me personally, and it is certainly something that I 
will long remember and appreciate.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed 
to, the bill, as amended, be read the third time and passed, the title 
amendment be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2295) was agreed to.
  The bill (H.R. 659), as amended, was read the third time and passed.
  The bill will be printed in a future edition of the Record.
  The title was amended so as to read:
       An Act to authorize appropriations for the protection of 
     Paoli and Brandywine Battlefields in Pennsylvania, to 
     authorize the Valley Forge Museum of the American Revolution 
     at Valley Forge National Historical Park, and for other 
     purposes.

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