[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 22, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S686-S687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DeWINE (for himself, Mr. Warner, and Mr. Robb):
  S. 2082. A bill to establish a program to award grants to improve and 
maintain sites honoring Presidents of the United States; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


               presidential sites improvement act of 2000

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today to honor not only the 
birthday of our great nation's first president, George Washington, but 
all presidents who followed in his foot steps. I am introducing the 
Presidential Sites Improvement Act of 2000, which would create a new 
and innovative partnership with public and private entities to preserve 
and maintain Presidential birthplaces, homes, memorials, and tombs. Our 
Presidents have contributed so much to our country, and we have much to 
learn from them. It is fitting that we recognize their contributions as 
leaders of our country.
  Mr. President, there are numerous sites across the nation that pay 
tribute to our nation's chief executives, but the majority of these 
sites are not owned by the National Park Service. This means that these 
sites generally do not receive federal support. These sites must rely 
on donations, state and local assistance, and private endowments to pay 
for staff, maintenance, and restoration projects. Some of these sites 
have large endowments for operation expenses. Unfortunately, many other 
sites have a very difficult time making ends meet. In fact, many of 
these sites delay necessary capital improvement projects because site 
managers simply don't have the resources to pay for them. Over time, 
maintenance neglect will cause these historic sites to slowly fall 
apart.
  I have visited many of the Presidential historic sites throughout my 
home state of Ohio, a state that has been the home of eight presidents. 
It is disturbing to see at the Ulysses S. Grant birthplace the 
discoloration throughout the house and falling plaster because of water 
damage. At the home of President Warren Harding, the famous front porch 
where then candidate Harding gave his campaign speeches actually began 
to pull away from the house. Fortunately, we were able to obtain the 
funding to prevent these two historic treasures from deteriorating 
further. However, by providing some federal assistance for maintenance 
projects today, we can help prevent larger maintenance problems 
tomorrow.
  Mr. President, these Presidential sites are far too important to let 
them slowly decay. My legislation would authorize grants, administered 
by the National Park Service, for maintenance and improvement projects 
on presidential sites that are not federally owned or managed. A 
portion of the funds would be set aside for sites that are in need of 
emergency assistance. To administer this new program, this legislation 
would establish a five member committee, including the Director of the 
National Park Service, a member of the Trust for Historic Preservation, 
and a state historic preservation officer. This committee would make 
grant recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior. Each grant 
would require that half of the funds come from non-federal sources. Up 
to $5 million would be made available annually.
  With this legislation, we can do more than just set one day aside to 
honor our country's dedicated leaders. We can make a lasting commitment 
to preserve their memory and contributions for generations to come. Our 
children and grandchildren should have the opportunity to understand 
the richness of our country's history. If we do not make efforts to 
maintain these Presidential sites, we will lose these treasures 
forever. The funds given to these sites would be a great tribute to our 
nation's past and a lasting asset to our nation's future.
  Our Presidents have shaped this country, so it is fitting that we 
recognize their contributions as leaders. I invite my colleagues to 
join me, along with my colleagues from Virginia, Senators Warner and 
Robb, in cosponsoring this legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the legislation be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2082

       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 ``Presidential Sites 
     Improvement Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) there are many sites honoring Presidents located 
     throughout the United States, including Presidential 
     birthplaces, homes, museums, burial sites, and tombs;
       (2) most of the sites are owned, operated, and maintained 
     by non-Federal entities such as State and local agencies, 
     family foundations, colleges and universities, libraries, 
     historical societies, historic preservation organizations, 
     and other nonprofit organizations;
       (3) Presidential sites are often expensive to maintain;
       (4) many Presidential sites are in need of capital, 
     technological, and interpretive display improvements for 
     which funding is insufficient or unavailable; and
       (5) to promote understanding of the history of the United 
     States by recognizing and preserving historic sites linked to 
     Presidents of the United States, the Federal Government 
     should provide grants for the maintenance and improvement of 
     Presidential sites.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Grant commission.--The term ``Grant Commission'' means 
     the Presidential Site Grant Commission established by section 
     4(d).
       (2) Presidential site.--The term ``Presidential site'' 
     means a Presidentially-related site of national significance 
     that is--
       (A) managed, maintained, and operated for and is accessible 
     to, the public; and
       (B) owned or operated by--
       (i) a State; or
       (ii) a private institution, organization, or person.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR PRESIDENTIAL SITES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants for major 
     maintenance and improvement projects at Presidential sites to 
     owners or operators of Presidential sites in accordance with 
     this section.
       (b) Use of Grant Funds.--
       (1) In general.--A grant awarded under this section may be 
     used for--
       (A) repairs or capital improvements at a Presidential site 
     (including new construction for necessary modernization) such 
     as--

[[Page S687]]

       (i) installation or repair of heating or air conditioning 
     systems, security systems, or electric service; or
       (ii) modifications at a Presidential site to achieve 
     compliance with requirements under titles II and III of the 
     Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et 
     seq.); and
       (B) interpretive improvements to enhance public 
     understanding and enjoyment of a Presidential site.
       (2) Allocation of funds.--
       (A) In general.--Of the funds made available to award 
     grants under this Act--
       (i) 15 percent shall be used for emergency projects, as 
     determined by the Secretary;
       (ii) 65 percent shall be used for grants for Presidential 
     sites with--

       (I) a 3-year average annual operating budget of less than 
     $700,000 (not including the amount of any grant received 
     under this section); and
       (II) an endowment in an amount that is less than 3 times 
     the annual operating budget of the site; and

       (iii) 20 percent shall be used for grants for Presidential 
     sites with--

       (I) an annual operating budget of $700,000 or more (not 
     including the amount of any grant received under this 
     section); and
       (II) an endowment in an amount that is equal to or more 
     than 3 times the annual operating budget of the site.

       (B) Unexpended funds.--If any funds allocated for a 
     category of projects described in subparagraph (A) are 
     unexpended, the Secretary may use the funds to award grants 
     for another category of projects described in that 
     subparagraph.
       (c) Application and Award Procedure.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than a date to be determined by 
     the Secretary, an owner or operator of a Presidential site 
     may submit to the Secretary an application for a grant under 
     this section.
       (2) Involvement of grant commission.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall forward each 
     application received under paragraph (1) to the Grant 
     Commission.
       (B) Consideration by grant commission.--Not later than 60 
     days after receiving an application from the Secretary under 
     subparagraph (A), the Grant Commission shall return the 
     application to the Secretary a recommendation of whether the 
     proposed project should be awarded a Presidential site grant.
       (C) Recommendation of grant commission.--In making a 
     decision to award a Presidential site grant under this 
     section, the Secretary shall take into consideration any 
     recommendation of the Grant Commission.
       (3) Award.--Not later than 180 days after receiving an 
     application for a Presidential site grant under paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary shall--
       (A) award a Presidential site grant to the applicant; or
       (B) notify the applicant, in writing, of the decision of 
     the Secretary not to award a Presidential site grant.
       (4) Matching requirements.--
       (A) In general.--The Federal share of the cost of a project 
     at a Presidential site for which a grant is awarded under 
     this section shall not exceed 50 percent.
       (B) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
     of a project at a Presidential site for which a grant is 
     awarded under this section may be provided in cash or in 
     kind.
       (d) Presidential Site Grant Commission.--
       (1) In general.--There is established the Presidential Site 
     Grant Commission.
       (2) Composition.--The Grant Commission shall be composed 
     of--
       (A) the Director of the National Park Service; and
       (B) 4 members appointed by the Secretary as follows:
       (i) A State historic preservation officer.
       (ii) A representative of the National Trust for Historic 
     Preservation.
       (iii) A representative of a site described in subsection 
     (b)(2)(A)(ii).
       (iv) A representative of a site described in subsection 
     (b)(2)(A)(iii).
       (3) Term.--A member of the Grant Commission shall serve a 
     term of 2 years.
       (4) Duties.--The Grant Commission shall--
       (A) review applications for Presidential site grants 
     received under subsection (c); and
       (B) recommend to the Secretary projects for which 
     Presidential site grants should be awarded.
       (5) Ineligibility of sites during term of representative.--
     A site described in clause (iii) or (iv) of paragraph (2)(B) 
     shall be ineligible for a grant under this Act during the 2-
     year period in which a representative of the site serves on 
     the Grant Commission.
       (6) Nonapplicability of faca.--The Grant Commission shall 
     not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
     U.S.C. App.).
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this Act $5,000,000 for each 
     of fiscal years 2001 through 2005, to remain available until 
     expended.

  Mr. ROBB. Mr. President, I rise today to join my colleagues Senators 
DeWine and Warner to introduce a bill aimed at preserving an important 
part of our national heritage. The Presidential Sites Improvement Act 
will help preserve and protect some of our nation's greatest historical 
treasures, homes and other places close to the lives of U.S. 
Presidents. Mr. President, the Commonwealth of Virginia is the 
birthplace and home of some of our most illustrious presidents. We have 
honored those Presidents by preserving their homes, and we honor our 
history by maintaining those homes and using them to educate and remind 
ourselves of what has gone before. Mount Vernon, Monticello, and 
Montpelier are famous for providing historic perspective on what the 
nation was like during the years when their owners served our country.
  Not all Presidential homes are as grand as Mount Vernon, nor were all 
Presidents as well remembered and honored as George Washington. But 
each President has an important place in American history, and their 
homes and other sites related to their lives, remain an important part 
of our nation's story.
  Many of these sites are owned by private citizens, small community 
organizations, universities, and historical societies. These 
organizations don't always have the funds available to keep the sites 
in good repair, provide fire protection, handicap access, and develop 
interpretive displays that teach our nation's history. The Presidential 
Sites Improvement Act is aimed primarily at those sites. We want to 
lend a hand to those local organizations and individuals who work to 
preserve the story of individual Presidents in order to preserve the 
story of America's growth, and America's greatness.
  Mr. President, I also want to thank each of these organizations for 
preserving our country's history, and for providing our generation and 
future generations with information on the backgrounds and influences 
that tie each President to his time in history, and his place in the 
national mosaic of our great democracy.
  I am pleased to be an original sponsor of this bill, and I hope the 
Senate will join us in supporting this legislation, and moving it to 
quick passage.
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