[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 164 (Thursday, November 18, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H12840-H12842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FOUR CORNERS INTERPRETIVE CENTER ACT

  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the Senate bill (S. 28) to authorize an interpretive 
center and related visitor facilities within the Four Corners Monument 
Tribal Park, and for other purpose, 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?
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to 
object, I do so to yield to the gentleman to quickly explain the bill.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I yield to the gentleman from Utah.
  Mr. CANNON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 28, the Four Corners 
Interpretive Center Act. Having introduced companion legislation, H.R. 
1384,

[[Page H12841]]

S. 28 simply establishes the Four Corners Interpretive Center to 
provide a unique collection of cultural, historical and archeological 
specimens for the millions of people who visit the only geographic 
location in the nation where the boundaries of four States, Arizona, 
Colorado, New Mexico and Utah come together.
  The Four Corners Monument Tribal Park is located on lands that fall 
within the Navajo Reservation and the Ute Mountain Reservation. In 
1996, these tribes entered into a memorandum of understanding governing 
the future development of the park.
  S. 28 and H.R. 1384 reflect that agreement, providing the initial 
facility of base communities to lead to full development of the park. 
This bill represents the cooperation of Federal, State and local and 
tribal governments in an effort to reaffirm the ties of our past while 
extending those ties to the future. I urge support for this bill.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my 
reservation of objection.
  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. 28

       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 ``Four Corners Interpretive 
     Center Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Four Corners Monument is nationally significant as 
     the only geographic location in the United States where 4 
     State boundaries meet;
       (2) the States with boundaries that meet at the Four 
     Corners are Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah;
       (3) between 1868 and 1875 the boundary lines that created 
     the Four Corners were drawn, and in 1899 a monument was 
     erected at the site;
       (4) a United States postal stamp will be issued in 1999 to 
     commemorate the centennial of the original boundary marker;
       (5) the Four Corners area is distinct in character and 
     possesses important historical, cultural, and prehistoric 
     values and resources within the surrounding cultural 
     landscape;
       (6) although there are no permanent facilities or utilities 
     at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park, each year the park 
     attracts approximately 250,000 visitors;
       (7) the area of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park falls 
     entirely within the Navajo Nation or Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 
     reservations;
       (8) the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe have 
     entered into a memorandum of understanding governing the 
     planning and future development of the Four Corners Monument 
     Tribal Park;
       (9) in 1992, through agreements executed by the Governors 
     of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah, the Four Corners 
     Heritage Council was established as a coalition of State, 
     Federal, tribal, and private interests;
       (10) the State of Arizona has obligated $45,000 for 
     planning efforts and $250,000 for construction of an 
     interpretive center at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park;
       (11) numerous studies and extensive consultation with 
     American Indians have demonstrated that development at the 
     Four Corners Monument Tribal Park would greatly benefit the 
     people of the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe;
       (12) the Arizona Department of Transportation has completed 
     preliminary cost estimates that are based on field experience 
     with rest-area development for the construction of a Four 
     Corners Interpretive Center and surrounding infrastructure, 
     including restrooms, roadways, parking areas, and water, 
     electrical, telephone, and sewage facilities;
       (13) an interpretive center would provide important 
     educational and enrichment opportunities for all Americans; 
     and
       (14) Federal financial assistance and technical expertise 
     are needed for the construction of an interpretive center.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to recognize the importance of the Four Corners 
     Monument and surrounding landscape as a distinct area in the 
     heritage of the United States that is worthy of 
     interpretation and preservation;
       (2) to assist the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute 
     Tribe in establishing the Four Corners Interpretive Center 
     and related facilities to meet the needs of the general 
     public;
       (3) to highlight and showcase the collaborative resource 
     stewardship of private individuals, Indian tribes, 
     universities, Federal agencies, and the governments of States 
     and political subdivisions thereof (including counties); and
       (4) to promote knowledge of the life, art, culture, 
     politics, and history of the culturally diverse groups of the 
     Four Corners region.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this Act:
       (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the Four Corners 
     Interpretive Center established under section 4, including 
     restrooms, parking areas, vendor facilities, sidewalks, 
     utilities, exhibits, and other visitor facilities.
       (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means 
     the State of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, or Utah, or any 
     consortium of 2 or more of those States.
       (3) Four corners heritage council.--The term ``Four Corners 
     Heritage Council'' means the nonprofit coalition of Federal, 
     State, tribal, and private entities established in 1992 by 
     agreements of the Governors of the States of Arizona, 
     Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah.
       (4) Four corners monument.--The term ``Four Corners 
     Monument'' means the physical monument where the boundaries 
     of the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah 
     meet.
       (5) Four corners monument tribal park.--The term ``Four 
     Corners Monument Tribal Park'' means lands within the legally 
     defined boundaries of the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.
       (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 4. FOUR CORNERS INTERPRETIVE CENTER.

       (a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, the Secretary is authorized to establish 
     within the boundaries of the Four Corners Monument Tribal 
     Park a center for the interpretation and commemoration of the 
     Four Corners Monument, to be known as the ``Four Corners 
     Interpretive Center''.
       (b) Land Designated and Made Available.--Land for the 
     Center shall be designated and made available by the Navajo 
     Nation or the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe within the boundaries of 
     the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park in consultation with 
     the Four Corners Heritage Council and in accordance with--
       (1) the memorandum of understanding between the Navajo 
     Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe that was entered into 
     on October 22, 1996; and
       (2) applicable supplemental agreements with the Bureau of 
     Land Management, the National Park Service, and the United 
     States Forest Service.
       (c) Concurrence.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     this Act, no such center shall be established without the 
     consent of the Navajo Nation and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe.
       (d) Components of Center.--The Center shall include--
       (1) a location for permanent and temporary exhibits 
     depicting the archaeological, cultural, and natural heritage 
     of the Four Corners region;
       (2) a venue for public education programs;
       (3) a location to highlight the importance of efforts to 
     preserve southwestern archaeological sites and museum 
     collections;
       (4) a location to provide information to the general public 
     about cultural and natural resources, parks, museums, and 
     travel in the Four Corners region; and
       (5) visitor amenities including restrooms, public 
     telephones, and other basic facilities.

     SEC. 5. CONSTRUCTION GRANT.

       (a) Grant.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award a 
     grant to an eligible entity for the construction of the 
     Center in an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the cost of 
     construction of the Center.
       (2) Assurances.--To be eligible for the grant, the eligible 
     entity that is selected to receive the grant shall provide 
     assurances that--
       (A) the non-Federal share of the costs of construction is 
     paid from non-Federal sources (which may include 
     contributions made by States, private sources, the Navajo 
     Nation, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe for planning, design, 
     construction, furnishing, startup, and operational expenses); 
     and
       (B) the aggregate amount of non-Federal funds contributed 
     by the States used to carry out the activities specified in 
     subparagraph (A) will not be less than $2,000,000, of which 
     each of the States that is party to the grant will contribute 
     equally in cash or in kind.
       (3) Funds from private sources.--A State may use funds from 
     private sources to meet the requirements of paragraph (2)(B).
       (4) Funds of state of arizona.--The State of Arizona may 
     apply $45,000 authorized by the State of Arizona during 
     fiscal year 1998 for planning and $250,000 that is held in 
     reserve by the State for construction toward the Arizona 
     share.
       (b) Grant Requirements.--In order to receive a grant under 
     this Act, the eligible entity selected to receive the grant 
     shall--
       (1) submit to the Secretary a proposal that--
       (A) meets all applicable--
       (i) laws, including building codes and regulations; and
       (ii) requirements under the memorandum of understanding 
     described in paragraph (2); and
       (B) provides such information and assurances as the 
     Secretary may require; and
       (2) enter into a memorandum of understanding with the 
     Secretary providing--
       (A) a timetable for completion of construction and opening 
     of the Center;
       (B) assurances that design, architectural, and construction 
     contracts will be competitively awarded;

[[Page H12842]]

       (C) specifications meeting all applicable Federal, State, 
     and local building codes and laws;
       (D) arrangements for operations and maintenance upon 
     completion of construction;
       (E) a description of the Center collections and educational 
     programming;
       (F) a plan for design of exhibits including, but not 
     limited to, the selection of collections to be exhibited, and 
     the providing of security, preservation, protection, 
     environmental controls, and presentations in accordance with 
     professional museum standards;
       (G) an agreement with the Navajo Nation and the Ute 
     Mountain Ute Tribe relative to site selection and public 
     access to the facilities; and
       (H) a financing plan developed jointly by the Navajo Nation 
     and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe outlining the long-term 
     management of the Center, including--
       (i) the acceptance and use of funds derived from public and 
     private sources to minimize the use of appropriated or 
     borrowed funds;
       (ii) the payment of the operating costs of the Center 
     through the assessment of fees or other income generated by 
     the Center;
       (iii) a strategy for achieving financial self-sufficiency 
     with respect to the Center by not later than 5 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act; and
       (iv) appropriate vendor standards and business activities 
     at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.

     SEC. 6. SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENT.

       The Four Corners Heritage Council may make recommendations 
     to the Secretary on grant proposals regarding the design of 
     facilities at the Four Corners Monument Tribal Park.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Authorizations.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Department of the Interior to carry out 
     this Act--
       (1) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; and
       (2) $50,000 for each of fiscal years 2001 through 2005 for 
     maintenance and operation of the Center, program development, 
     or staffing in a manner consistent with the requirements of 
     section 5(b).
       (b) Carryover.--Funds made available under subsection 
     (a)(1) that are unexpended at the end of the fiscal year for 
     which those funds are appropriated, may be used by the 
     Secretary through fiscal year 2002 for the purposes for which 
     those funds are made available.
       (c) Reservation of Funds.--The Secretary may reserve funds 
     appropriated pursuant to this Act until a grant proposal 
     meeting the requirements of this Act is submitted, but no 
     later than September 30, 2001.

     SEC. 8. DONATIONS.

       Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for purposes of 
     the planning, construction, and operation of the Center, the 
     Secretary may accept, retain, and expend donations of funds, 
     and use property or services donated, from private persons 
     and entities or from public entities.

     SEC. 9. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.

       Nothing in this Act is intended to abrogate, modify, or 
     impair any right or claim of the Navajo Nation or the Ute 
     Mountain Ute Tribe, that is based on any law (including any 
     treaty, Executive order, agreement, or Act of Congress).

  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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