[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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