[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15166-S15168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN TRAIL BATTLEFIELDS PRESERVATION ACT OF 1999

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (S. 710) to authorize a 
feasibility study on the preservation of certain Civil War battlefields 
along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail, which had been reported from the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, with amendments; as follows:
  (The parts of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in boldface 
brackets and the parts of the bill intended to be inserted are shown in 
italic.)

                                 S. 710

       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 ``Vicksburg Campaign Trail 
     Battlefields Preservation Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) there are situated along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail 
     in the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and 
     Tennessee the sites of several key Civil War battles;
       (2) the battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail are 
     collectively of national significance in the history of the 
     Civil War; and
       (3) the preservation of those battlefields would vitally 
     contribute to the understanding of the heritage of the United 
     States.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize a 
     feasibility study to determine what measures should be taken 
     to preserve

[[Page S15167]]

     certain Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign 
     Trail.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Campaign trail state.--The term ``Campaign Trail 
     State'' means each of the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, 
     Arkansas, and Tennessee, including political subdivisions of 
     those States.
       (2) Civil war battlefield.--The term ``Civil War 
     battlefield'' includes the following sites (including related 
     structures adjacent to or thereon):
       [(A) In general.--The term ``Civil War battlefield'' means 
     the land and interests in land that is the site of a Civil 
     War battlefield, including structures on or adjacent to the 
     land, as generally depicted on the Map.
       [(B) Inclusions.--The term ``Civil War battlefield'' 
     includes--
       [(i)] (A) the battlefields at Helena and Arkansas Post, 
     Arkansas;
       [(ii)] (B) Goodrich's Landing near Transylvania, and sites 
     in and around Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, 
     Louisiana;
       [(iii)] (C) the battlefield at Milliken's Bend, Madison 
     Parish, Louisiana;
       [(iv)] (D) the route of Grant's march through Louisiana 
     from Milliken's Bend to Hard Times, Madison and Tensas 
     Parishes, Louisiana;
       [(v)] (E) the Winter Quarters at Tensas Parish, Louisiana;
       [(vi)] (F) Grant's landing site at Bruinsburg, and the 
     route of Grant's march from Bruinsburg to Vicksburg, 
     Claiborne, Hinds, and Warren Counties, Mississippi;
       [(vii)] (G) the battlefield at Port Gibson (including 
     Shaifer House, Bethel Church, and the ruins of Windsor), 
     Claiborne County, Mississippi;
       [(viii)] (H) the battlefield at Grand Gulf, Claiborne 
     County, Mississippi;
       [(ix)] (I) the battlefield at Raymond (including Waverly, 
     (the Peyton House)), Hinds County, Mississippi;
       [(x)] (J) the battlefield at Jackson, Hinds County, 
     Mississippi;
       [(xi)] (K) the Union siege lines around Jackson, Hinds 
     County, Mississippi;
       [(xii)] (L) the battlefield at Champion Hill (including 
     Coker House), Hinds County, Mississippi;
       [(xiii)] (M) the battlefield at Big Black River Bridge, 
     Hinds and Warren Counties, Mississippi;
       [(xiv)] (N) the Union fortifications at Haynes Bluff, 
     Confederate fortifications at Snyder's Bluff, and remnants of 
     Federal exterior lines, Warren County, Mississippi;
       [(xv)] (O) the battlefield at Chickasaw Bayou, Warren 
     County, Mississippi;
       [(xvi)] (P) Pemberton's Headquarters at Warren County, 
     Mississippi;
       [(xvii)] (Q) the site of actions taken in the Mississippi 
     Delta and Confederate fortifications near Grenada, Grenada 
     County, Mississippi;
       [(xviii)] (R) the site of the start of Greirson's Raid and 
     other related sites, LaGrange, Tennessee; and
       [(xix)] (S) any other sites considered appropriate by the 
     Secretary.
       [(3) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled 
     ``Vicksburg Campaign Trail National Battlefields'', numbered 
     ___, and dated ___.
       [(4)] (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the 
     Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the 
     National Park Service.

     SEC. 4. FEASIBILITY STUDY.

       [(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall complete a 
     feasibility study to determine what measures should be taken 
     to preserve Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg 
     Campaign Trail.]
       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after funds are 
     made available for this Act, the Secretary shall complete a 
     feasibility study to determine what measures should be taken 
     to preserve Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg 
     Campaign Trail.
       (b) Components.--In completing the study, the Secretary 
     shall--
       [(1) enter into contracts with entities to use advanced 
     technology such as remote sensing, river modeling, and flow 
     analysis to determine which property included in the Civil 
     War battlefields should be preserved, restored, managed, 
     maintained, or acquired due to the national historical 
     significance of the property;]
       (1) review current National Park Service programs, policies 
     and criteria to determine the most appropriate means of 
     ensuring the Civil War battlefields and associated natural, 
     cultural, and historical resources are preserved;
       (2) evaluate options for the establishment of a management 
     entity for the Civil War battlefields consisting of a unit of 
     government or a private nonprofit organization that--
       (A) administers and manages the Civil War battlefields; and
       (B) possesses the legal authority to--
       (i) receive Federal funds and funds from other units of 
     government or other organizations for use in managing the 
     Civil War battlefields;
       (ii) disburse Federal funds to other units of government or 
     other nonprofit organizations for use in managing the Civil 
     War battlefields;
       (iii) enter into agreements with the Federal government, 
     State governments, or other units of government and nonprofit 
     organizations; and
       (iv) acquire land or interests in land by gift or devise, 
     by purchase from a willing seller using donated or 
     appropriated funds, or by donation;
       (3) make recommendations to the Campaign Trail States for 
     the management, preservation, and interpretation of the 
     natural, cultural, and historical resources of the Civil War 
     battlefields;
       (4) identify appropriate partnerships among Federal, State, 
     and local governments, regional entities, and the private 
     sector, including nonprofit organizations and the 
     organization known as ``Friends of the Vicksburg Campaign and 
     Historic Trail'', in furtherance of the purposes of this Act; 
     and
       (5) recommend methods of ensuring continued local 
     involvement and participation in the management, protection, 
     and development of the Civil War battlefields.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     completion of the study under this section, the Secretary 
     shall submit a report describing the findings of the study 
     to--
       (1) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this Act $1,500,000.

  The committee amendments were agreed to.
  The bill (S. 710), as amended, was passed, as follows:

                                 S. 710

       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 ``Vicksburg Campaign Trail 
     Battlefields Preservation Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) there are situated along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail 
     in the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and 
     Tennessee the sites of several key Civil War battles;
       (2) the battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail are 
     collectively of national significance in the history of the 
     Civil War; and
       (3) the preservation of those battlefields would vitally 
     contribute to the understanding of the heritage of the United 
     States.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize a 
     feasibility study to determine what measures should be taken 
     to preserve certain Civil War battlefields along the 
     Vicksburg Campaign Trail.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Campaign trail state.--The term ``Campaign Trail 
     State'' means each of the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, 
     Arkansas, and Tennessee, including political subdivisions of 
     those States.
       (2) Civil war battlefield.--The term ``Civil War 
     battlefield'' includes the following sites (including related 
     structures adjacent to or thereon)--
       (A) the battlefields at Helena and Arkansas Post, Arkansas;
       (B) Goodrich's Landing near Transylvania, and sites in and 
     around Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, Louisiana;
       (C) the battlefield at Milliken's Bend, Madison Parish, 
     Louisiana;
       (D) the route of Grant's march through Louisiana from 
     Milliken's Bend to Hard Times, Madison and Tensas Parishes, 
     Louisiana;
       (E) the Winter Quarters at Tensas Parish, Louisiana;
       (F) Grant's landing site at Bruinsburg, and the route of 
     Grant's march from Bruinsburg to Vicksburg, Claiborne, Hinds, 
     and Warren Counties, Mississippi;
       (G) the battlefield at Port Gibson (including Shaifer 
     House, Bethel Church, and the ruins of Windsor), Claiborne 
     County, Mississippi;
       (H) the battlefield at Grand Gulf, Claiborne County, 
     Mississippi;
       (I) the battlefield at Raymond (including Waverly, (the 
     Peyton House)), Hinds County, Mississippi;
       (J) the battlefield at Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi;
       (K) the Union siege lines around Jackson, Hinds County, 
     Mississippi;
       (L) the battlefield at Champion Hill (including Coker 
     House), Hinds County, Mississippi;
       (M) the battlefield at Big Black River Bridge, Hinds and 
     Warren Counties, Mississippi;
       (N) the Union fortifications at Haynes Bluff, Confederate 
     fortifications at Snyder's Bluff, and remnants of Federal 
     exterior lines, Warren County, Mississippi;
       (O) the battlefield at Chickasaw Bayou, Warren County, 
     Mississippi;
       (P) Pemberton's Headquarters at Warren County, Mississippi;
       (Q) the site of actions taken in the Mississippi Delta and 
     Confederate fortifications near Grenada, Grenada County, 
     Mississippi;
       (R) the site of the start of Greirson's Raid and other 
     related sites, LaGrange, Tennessee; and
       (S) any other sites considered appropriate by the 
     Secretary.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     SEC. 4. FEASIBILITY STUDY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after funds are 
     made available for this Act,

[[Page S15168]]

     the Secretary shall complete a feasibility study to determine 
     what measures should be taken to preserve Civil War 
     battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail.
       (b) Components.--In completing the study, the Secretary 
     shall--
       (1) review current National Park Service programs, policies 
     and criteria to determine the most appropriate means of 
     ensuring the Civil War battlefields and associated natural, 
     cultural, and historical resources are preserved;
       (2) evaluate options for the establishment of a management 
     entity for the Civil War battlefields consisting of a unit of 
     government or a private nonprofit organization that--
       (A) administers and manages the Civil War battlefields; and
       (B) possesses the legal authority to--
       (i) receive Federal funds and funds from other units of 
     government or other organizations for use in managing the 
     Civil War battlefields;
       (ii) disburse Federal funds to other units of government or 
     other nonprofit organizations for use in managing the Civil 
     War battlefields;
       (iii) enter into agreements with the Federal government, 
     State governments, or other units of government and nonprofit 
     organizations; and
       (iv) acquire land or interests in land by gift or devise, 
     by purchase from a willing seller using donated or 
     appropriated funds, or by donation;
       (3) make recommendations to the Campaign Trail States for 
     the management, preservation, and interpretation of the 
     natural, cultural, and historical resources of the Civil War 
     battlefields;
       (4) identify appropriate partnerships among Federal, State, 
     and local governments, regional entities, and the private 
     sector, including nonprofit organizations and the 
     organization known as ``Friends of the Vicksburg Campaign and 
     Historic Trail'', in furtherance of the purposes of this Act; 
     and
       (5) recommend methods of ensuring continued local 
     involvement and participation in the management, protection, 
     and development of the Civil War battlefields.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     completion of the study under this section, the Secretary 
     shall submit a report describing the findings of the study 
     to--
       (1) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this Act $1,500,000.

                          ____________________