[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 130 (Tuesday, October 17, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H9979-H9980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
UPPER HOUSATONIC NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY ACT OF 2000
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4312) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing an Upper
Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area in the State of Connecticut
and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4312
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 ``Upper Housatonic National
Heritage Area Study Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF STUDY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (``the
Secretary'') shall conduct a study of the Upper Housatonic
National Heritage Area (``Study Area''). The study shall
include analysis, documentation, and determinations regarding
whether the Study Area--
(1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural
resources that together represent distinctive aspects of
American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation,
interpretation, and continuing use, and are best managed
through partnerships among public and private entities and by
combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and
active communities;
(2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs and folklife that
are a valuable part of the national story;
(3) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural,
historic, cultural, and/or scenic features;
(4) provides outstanding recreational and educational
opportunities;
(5) contains resources important to the identified theme or
themes of the Study Area that retain a degree of integrity
capable of supporting interpretation;
(6) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit
organizations, and local and State governments who are
involved in the planning, have developed a conceptual
financial plan that outlines the roles for all participants
including the Federal Government, and have demonstrated
support for the concept of a national heritage area;
(7) has a potential management entity to work in
partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit
organizations, and local and State Governments to develop a
national heritage area consistent with continued local and
State economic activity; and
(8) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the
public.
(b) Consultation.--In conducting the study, the Secretary
shall consult with the State historic preservation officers,
State historical societies and other appropriate
organizations.
SEC. 3. BOUNDARIES OF THE STUDY AREA.
The Study Area shall be comprised of--
(1) part of the Housatonic River's watershed, which extends
60 miles from Lanesboro, Massachusetts to Kent, Connecticut;
(2) the towns of Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, Norfolk, North
Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, and Warren in Connecticut; and
(3) the towns of Alford, Dalton, Egremont, Great
Barrington, Hinsdale, Lanesboro, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount
Washington, New Marlboro, Pittsfield, Richmond, Sheffield,
Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, and West Stockbridge in
Massachusetts.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds
are first available for this Act, the Secretary shall submit
to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the
Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives a report on the findings, conclusions, and
recommendations of the study.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $300,000 to carry
out the provisions of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Calvert) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert).
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 4312 introduced by the gentlewoman from
Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson) directs the Secretary of Interior to conduct
a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing an Upper
Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area in the State of Connecticut
and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Housatonic River and
associated valley lie in the southwestern corner of Massachusetts and
the northwestern corner of Connecticut. The river flows approximately
148 miles eventually emptying into Long Island Sound. The proposed
study area would consist of a 60-mile segment of the Housatonic River's
watershed extending from Lanesboro, Massachusetts south to Kent,
Connecticut.
H.R. 4312 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study
to determine whether the area has an assemblage of resources that
represent distinctive assets of American heritage, reflects traditions
and customs that are valuable national history, provides conservation
and recreational opportunities, and contains important resources
important to the identity of the area.
The study would include demonstrated local support for the heritage
area, identifies a lead management entity and has a conceptual boundary
map supported by the public. This is a bipartisan bill. I urge my
colleagues to support H.R. 4312.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. HOLT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, H.R. 4312 sponsored by the gentlewoman from
Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson) directs the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study to determine the feasibility and suitability of
creating the Upper Housatonic National Heritage Area. The study would
cover a 60-mile stretch of the Upper Housatonic River's watershed,
including 9 towns in Connecticut and 18 towns in Massachusetts, as the
gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) has laid out.
While no statutory standards exist for national heritage areas, the
National Park Service has developed a list of resources all NHAs should
exhibit, and H.R. 4312 includes each of the MPS requirements as a
component of the study. As one who has canoed portions of the
Housatonic, I personally support this legislation and we in the
minority also urge passage of this study legislation.
[[Page H9980]]
It should be noted that the companion legislation, S. 2421 sponsored
by Senator Lieberman of Connecticut passed the Senate in July and is
currently pending in the House. Had we approved that bill today, we
could be sending completed legislation to the President rather than
sending this House companion over to the Senate so late in the session,
but I will accept the assurances of my colleagues on the majority side
that politics played no part in setting aside Senator Lieberman's bill
and advancing this particular bill.
We regret the decision, but we certainly support H.R. 4312 on its
merits.
Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank
Chairman James Hansen and Chairman Don Young for their support of my
proposal and for bringing it before the House for consideration. H.R.
4312 will authorize a feasibility study to determine if part of my
district, and our colleague John Olver's district, qualify for
designation as a National Heritage Area.
The Park Service defines a National Heritage Area as an area in which
natural, cultural, historic and scenic resources combine to form a
distinctive, national landscape and reflect patterns of human activity
shaped by geography. These areas present our national experience
through physical features and the traditions they birthed,
demonstrating the deep tie between natural history and cultural
history.
The people of my district believe this small section of New England
is more than qualified to be a National Heritage Area. It is an area
rich in history and environmental significance consisting largely of
the watershed of the Housatonic. From the 1730s to the 1920s, it was
home to many of the nation's earliest iron industries. The first blast
furnace was built in 1862 by Ethan Allen and supplied the iron for the
cannons that helped George Washington's army to win the American
Revolutionary War. The Beckley Furnace in Canaan, Connecticut has been
designated an official project by the Millennium Committee to Save
America's Treasures.
Among the other historic sites in the area is the Sloane-Stanley
Museum of Early American Tools. As you may know, Stanley Tools is one
of the few remaining manufacturers in Connecticut and is one of the
nation's oldest tool makers. Further, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the
Mount (home of Edith Wharton) and Arrowhead (the home of Herman
Melville) are all in what would be the Upper Housatonic Valley National
Heritage Area. It is also home to over 30 sites on the National
Register of Historic Places. The iron furnaces, pre-revolution farms
and its many historic structures reflect the deep historical tie
between natural resources, culture and American's history, epitomizing
some of our earliest and most enduring accomplishments.
The Housatonic Valley is also rich with environmental and
recreational treasures. The Housatonic River, just below Falls Village,
Connecticut, is one of the prized fly-fishing centers in the Northeast
and is enjoyed by fishermen from not only Connecticut and Massachusetts
but the entire eastern seaboard. Olympic rowers have trained in this
river as children have learned to swim, boat and fish and value its
ecosystem.
New England often brings to mind grand colonial farmhouses scattered
between small towns which still revolve around the local town hall and
the annual town meeting on the budget. While much of the farmland and
open space are now lost to development, elected and volunteer land
trusts are working hard to preserve the scenic and historic resources
that are so much a part of Connecticut's and our country's heritage.
However, a coordinated and strong investment is essential to enable
this preservation effort to succeed. A National Heritage Designation
will enable us to save remaining farmhouses, furnaces and historic and
natural wonders and advance the states' aggressive new initiative to
preserve these historic open spaces. I believe the Park Service will
find this area to be the embodiment of what Congress intended when it
created the National Heritage Area. This small region of New England is
deserving of at least a feasibility study.
Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. CALVERT. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Calvert) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4312.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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