[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 64 (Monday, May 22, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H3478-H3479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT AMENDMENTS OF 2000

  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 834) to extend the 
authorization for the National Historic Preservation Fund, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:
       Senate Amendments:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Historic 
     Preservation Act Amendments of 2000''.

[[Page H3479]]

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND.

       Section 108 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 
     U.S.C. 470h) is amended by striking ``1997'' and inserting 
     ``2005''.

     SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HISTORIC 
                   PRESERVATION.

       Section 212(a) of the National Historic Preservation Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 470t(a)) is amended by striking ``2000'' and 
     inserting ``2005''.

     SEC. 4. LOCATION OF FEDERAL FACILITIES ON HISTORIC 
                   PROPERTIES.

       Section 110(a)(1) of the National Historic Preservation Act 
     (16 U.S.C. 470h-2(a)(1)) is amended in the second sentence by 
     striking ``agency.'' and inserting ``agency, in accordance 
     with Executive Order 13006, issued May 21, 1996 (61 F.R. 
     26071).''.

     SEC. 5. TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.

       (a) The National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 
     et seq.) is amended as follows--
       (1) in section 101(d)(2)(D)(ii) (16 U.S.C. 
     470a(d)(2)(D)(ii)) by striking ``Officer;'' and inserting 
     ``Officer; and'';
       (2) by amending section 101(e)(2) (16 U.S.C. 470a(e)(2)) to 
     read as follows:
       ``(2) The Secretary may administer grants to the National 
     Trust for Historic Preservation in the United States, 
     chartered by an Act of Congress approved October 26, 1949 (63 
     Stat. 947) consistent with the purposes of its charter and 
     this Act.'';
       (3) in section 101(e)(3)(A)(iii) (16 U.S.C. 
     470a(e)(3)(A)(iii)) by striking ``preservation; and'' and 
     inserting ``preservation, and'';
       (4) in section 101(j)(2)(C) (16 U.S.C. 470a(j)(2)(C)) by 
     striking ``programs;'' and inserting ``programs; and'';
       (5) in section 102(a)(3) (16 U.S.C. 470b(a)(3)) by striking 
     ``year.'' and inserting ``year;'';
       (6) in section 103(a) (16 U.S.C. 470c(a))--
       (A) by striking ``purposes this Act'' and inserting 
     ``purposes of this Act''; and
       (B) by striking ``him:.'' and inserting ``him.'';
       (7) in section 108 (16 U.S.C. 470h)) by striking ``(43 
     U.S.C. 338)'' and inserting ``(43 U.S.C. 1338)'';
       (8) in section 110(1) (16 U.S.C. 470h-2(1)) by striking 
     ``with the Council'' and inserting ``pursuant to regulations 
     issued by the Council'';
       (9) in section 112(b)(3) (16 U.S.C. 470h-4(b)(3)) by 
     striking ``(25 U.S.C. 3001(3) and (9))'' and inserting ``(25 
     U.S.C. 3001 (3) and (9)))'';
       (10) in section 301(12)(C)(iii) (16 U.S.C. 
     470w(12)(C)(iii)) by striking ``Officer, and'' and inserting 
     ``Officer; and'';
       (11) in section 307(a) (16 U.S.C. 470w-6(a)) by striking 
     ``Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no'' 
     and inserting ``No'';
       (12) in section 307(c) (16 U.S.C. 470w-6(c)) by striking 
     ``Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the'' 
     and inserting ``The'';
       (13) in section 307 (16 U.S.C. 470w-6) by redesignating 
     subsections (c) through (f), as amended, as subsections (b) 
     through (e), respectively; and
       (14) in subsection 404(c)(2) (16 U.S.C. 470x-3(c)(2)) by 
     striking ``organizations, and'' and inserting 
     ``organizations; and''.
       (b) Section 114 of Public Law 96-199 (94 Stat. 71) is 
     amended by striking ``subsection 6(c)'' and inserting 
     ``subsection 206(c)''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Colorado (Mr. Hefley) and the gentleman from Guam (Mr. Underwood) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Hefley).
  Mr. HEFLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that one of the basic purposes of 
government is to preserve the cultural fabric of the Nation. Since 
1966, one way this Nation has tried to accomplish that goal is through 
the National Historic Preservation Act.
  The bill before us reauthorizes that act through 2000 at its present 
level of $150 million a year.
  It is a tribute to the program that it has achieved the success it 
has despite the fact that it has seldom received more than $40 million 
a year in appropriations.
  State historic preservation agencies have used these Federal funds to 
attract three times that amount in State and private investment.
  The bill also reaffirms the Nation's commitment to the use of 
historic properties by Federal agencies.
  It also provides an authorization by which the Interior Department 
may administer grants to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. 
This does not mean we are putting the trust back on the public payroll. 
Instead, it will allow Interior to respond quickly to emergency 
situations such as hurricanes or flooding.
  There were some things left undone in this bill. While we retained 
the exemptions for the Capitol, the Supreme Court building, and the 
White House from historic preservation law, we were unable to agree on 
language that aimed at making the Architect of the Capitol more 
responsive to local preservation concerns.
  This was largely due to the fact that the architect is not a 
government agency.
  I believe this is an issue that needs to be revisited in the future. 
We have gotten a lot of mileage out of the Defense Department's record 
in historic preservation, particularly at some old cavalry posts out 
West.
  If these facilities can honor their heritage and yet serve an 
evolving role in today's warfighting, I fail to see why the homes of 
the three branches of government need special treatment.
  This bill is already 3 years overdue, and we must move ahead.
  In conclusion, this is the bill that makes no sweeping changes, only 
incremental changes to what has become a mature and successful program. 
It works and for those reasons, I move the bill and urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. UNDERWOOD asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 834 reauthorizes funding for the 
National Historic Preservation Fund and the Advisory Council on 
Historic Preservation. The bill also makes several minor changes to the 
National Historic Preservation Act. The legislation was originally 
considered by the House in September of last year and passed by voice 
vote. Subsequently, the Senate took up the legislation on April 13, 
2000 and returned it to the House with an amendment.
  The Senate amendment makes several technical and conforming changes 
to the bill. In addition, the bill deletes a provision that was in the 
original bill dealing with historic properties under the jurisdiction 
of the Architect of the Capitol.
  Mr. Speaker, the extension of funds for the Historic Preservation 
Fund and the reauthorization of the Advisory Council on National 
Preservation are important matters that need to be acted on now. As 
such, we support H.R. 834, as amended, and would encourage our 
colleagues to do likewise.
  Just as a personal note, the very first public service appointment I 
had was to the Guam Review Board on Historic Preservation. These are 
very vital programs, very important programs, for communities and have 
an impact upon communities in ways that many people sometimes even in 
this body are not familiar with.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HEFLEY. 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 Colorado (Mr. Hefley) that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill, H.R. 834.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendments were 
concurred in.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read:

       ``An Act to extend the authorization for the Historic 
     Preservation Fund and the Advisory Council on Historic 
     Preservation, and for other purposes.''.

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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