[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 77 (Monday, June 19, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S5361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REID:
  S. 2749. A bill to establish the California Trail Interpretive Center 
in Elko, Nevada, to facilitate the interpretation of the history of 
development and use of trails in the setting of the western portion of 
the United States; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.


                   california trail interpretive act

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the California 
Trail Interpretive Act.
  The nineteenth century westward emigration on the California National 
Historic Trail, which occurred from 1840 until the completion of the 
transcontinental railroad in 1869, was an important cultural and 
historical era in the settlement of the West. This influx of settlers 
contributed to the development of lands in the western United States by 
Americans and immigrants and to the prevention of colonization of the 
west coast by Russia and the British Empire. More than 300,000 settlers 
traveled the California Trail and many documented their amazing 
experiences in detailed journals. Under the National Trails System Act, 
the Secretary of Interior may establish interpretation centers to 
document and celebrate pioneer trails such as the California National 
Historic Trail. In Nevada, Elko County alone contains over 435 miles of 
National Historic Trails.
  Mr. President, recognition and interpretation of the pioneer 
experience on the Trail is appropriate in light of Americans' strong 
interest in understanding our history and heritage. Those who pursue 
Western Americana, and thousands do, will find physical evidence of the 
documented hardships facing the original pioneers. One pioneer journal 
bemoaned the death of an elderly lady traveling west with her family. 
Her grave and its marker are in evidence in the Beowawe Cemetery near 
the trail river crossing known as Gravely Ford for those searching for 
historical confirmation. And, if the present-day explorers choose to 
walk part of the California Trail, they may do so at this place. To the 
east of this river crossing is around five miles of undisturbed trail 
that leads down from what is known as ``Emigrant Pass''.
  This Act authorizes the planning, construction and operation of a 
visitor center. The cooperative parties include the State of Nevada, 
the Advisory Board for the National Historic California Emigrant Trails 
Interpretive Center, Elko County, the City of Elko, and Bureau of Land 
Management.
  This interpretive center will be located near the city of Elko, in 
northeastern Nevada. The location is the junction of the California 
Trail and the Hastings Cutoff. The ill-fated Reed-Donner party spent an 
additional 31 days meandering over the so-called Hastings Cutoff route; 
precious time wasted that kept them from crossing the deadly Sierra 
Nevada before winter struck in 1846.
  This act will recognize the California Trail, including the Hastings 
Cutoff, for its national historical and cultural significance through 
the construction of an interpretive facility devoted to the vital role 
of Pioneer trails in the West in the development of the United States.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the full text of the bill 
be printed in the Record.
  Thank you, Mr. President, I yield the floor
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2749

       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 ``California Trail 
     Interpretive Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the nineteenth century westward movement in the United 
     States over the California National Historic Trail, which 
     occurred from 1840 until the completion of the 
     transcontinental railroad in 1869, was an important cultural 
     and historical event in--
       (A) the development of the western land of the United 
     States; and
       (B) the prevention of colonization of the west coast by 
     Russia and the British Empire;
       (2) the movement over the California Trail was completed by 
     over 300,000 settlers, many of whom left records or stories 
     of their journeys; and
       (3) additional recognition and interpretation of the 
     movement over the California Trail is appropriate in light 
     of--
       (A) the national scope of nineteenth century westward 
     movement in the United States; and
       (B) the strong interest expressed by people of the United 
     States in understanding their history and heritage.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to recognize the California Trail, including the 
     Hastings Cutoff and the trail of the ill-fated Donner-Reed 
     Party, for its national, historical, and cultural 
     significance; and
       (2) to provide the public with an interpretive facility 
     devoted to the vital role of trails in the West in the 
     development of the United States.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) California trail.--The term ``California Trail'' means 
     the California National Historic Trail, established under 
     section 5(a)(18) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 
     1244(a)(18)).
       (2) Center.--The term ``Center'' means the California Trail 
     Interpretive Center established under section 4(a).
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the Bureau of 
     Land Management.
       (4) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Nevada.

     SEC. 4. CALIFORNIA TRAIL INTERPRETIVE CENTER.

       (a) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--In furtherance of the purposes of section 
     7(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1246(c)), 
     the Secretary may establish an interpretation center to be 
     known as the ``California Trail Interpretive Center'', near 
     the city of Elko, Nevada.
       (2) Purpose.--The Center shall established be for the 
     purpose of interpreting the history of development and use of 
     the California Trail in the settling of the West.
       (b) Master Plan Study.--To carry out subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall--
       (1) consider the findings of the master plan study for the 
     California Trail Interpretive Center in Elko, Nevada, as 
     authorized by page 15 of Senate Report 106-99; and
       (2) initiate a plan for the development of the Center that 
     includes--
       (A) a detailed description of the design of the Center;
       (B) a description of the site on which the Center is to be 
     located;
       (C) a description of the method and estimated cost of 
     acquisition of the site on which the Center is to be located;
       (D) the estimated cost of construction of the Center;
       (E) the cost of operation and maintenance of the Center; 
     and
       (F) a description of the manner and extent to which non-
     Federal entities shall participate in the acquisition and 
     construction of the Center.
       (c) Implementation.--To carry out subsection (a), the 
     Secretary may--
       (1) acquire land and interests in land for the construction 
     of the Center by--
       (A) donation;
       (B) purchase with donated or appropriated funds; or
       (C) exchange;
       (2) provide for local review of and input concerning the 
     development and operation of the Center by the Advisory Board 
     for the National Historic California Emigrant Trails 
     Interpretive Center of the city of Elko, Nevada;
       (3) periodically prepare a budget and funding request that 
     allows a Federal agency to carry out the maintenance and 
     operation of the Center;
       (4) enter into a cooperative agreement with--
       (A) the State, to provide assistance in--
       (i) removal of snow from roads;
       (ii) rescue, firefighting, and law enforcement services; 
     and
       (iii) coordination of activities of nearby law enforcement 
     and firefighting departments or agencies; and
       (B) a Federal, State, or local agency to develop or operate 
     facilities and services to carry out this Act; and
       (5) notwithstanding any other provision of law, accept 
     donations of funds, property, or services from an individual, 
     foundation, corporation, or public entity to provide a 
     service or facility that is consistent with this Act, as 
     determined by the Secretary, including 1-time contributions 
     for the Center (to be payable during construction funding 
     periods for the Center after the date of enactment of this 
     Act) from--
       (A) the State, in the amount of $3,000,000;
       (B) Elko County, Nevada, in the amount of $1,000,000; and
       (C) the city of Elko, Nevada, in the amount of $2,000,000.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act $12,000,000.
                                 ______