[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 140 (Monday, October 30, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H11572-H11573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATCHEZ TRACE PARKWAY, MISSISSIPPI BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 2020) to adjust the boundary of the Natchez Trace 
Parkway, Mississippi, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 2020

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Parkway.--The term ``Parkway'' means the Natchez Trace 
     Parkway, Mississippi.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 2. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT AND LAND ACQUISITION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall adjust the boundary of 
     the Parkway to include approximately--
       (1) 150 acres of land, as generally depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Alternative Alignments/Area'', numbered 604-20062A 
     and dated May 1998; and
       (2) 80 acres of land, as generally depicted on the map 
     entitled ``Emerald Mound Development Concept Plan'', numbered 
     604-20042E and dated August 1987.
       (b) Maps.--The maps referred to in subsection (a) shall be 
     on file and available for public inspection in the office of 
     the Director of the National Park Service.
       (c) Acquisition.--The Secretary may acquire the land 
     described in subsection (a) by donation, purchase with 
     donated or appropriated funds, or exchange (including 
     exchange with the State of Mississippi, local governments, 
     and private persons).
       (d) Administration.--Land acquired under this section shall 
     be administered by the Secretary as part of the Parkway.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF LEASING.

       The Secretary, acting through the Superintendent of the 
     Parkway, may lease land within the boundary of the Parkway to 
     the city of Natchez, Mississippi, for any purpose compatible 
     with the Parkway.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 2020, introduced by Senator Lott from Mississippi, 
would adjust the boundary of the Natchez Trace Parkway to include 
approximately an additional 230 acres of land to the parkway. The bill 
also authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to administer the land as 
part of the parkway. Furthermore, the bill would allow the Secretary to 
lease land within the boundary of the parkway to the city of Natchez, 
Mississippi, for any purpose compatible with the parkway.
  The Natchez Trace Parkway runs 444 miles from Natchez in southern 
Mississippi to a point just south of Nashville, Tennessee. The parkway 
commemorates Native American paths that were later used by white 
settlers to extend their commerce and trade. It is a scenic road built 
and maintained by the National Park Service with 15 major interpretive 
locations, historic sites, camping and picnic facilities.

                              {time}  1430

  Expanding the parkway as proposed by this legislation is a good idea, 
and I urge my colleagues to support S. 2020.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows).
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 2020, a bill to 
adjust the boundary of Natchez Trace Parkway in the City of Natchez, 
Mississippi.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 2020 will allow the Secretary of the Interior to 
acquire land in the City of Natchez to complete the southern terminus 
of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
  This is a simple, noncontroversial bipartisan measure. S. 2020 was 
sponsored by Mississippi Senators Lott and Cochran. I appreciate the 
House leadership agreeing to my request to expedite S. 2020 and place 
it on the Suspension Calendar.
  The Natchez Trace Parkway was established as a unit of the National 
Park System in 1938. S. 2020 authorizes the acquisition of 150 acres to 
provide for the completion of the Parkway's southern terminus in the 
city of Natchez.
  In addition, 80 acres would be acquired to provide access to the 
Emerald Mound, a prehistoric Natchez Indian ceremonial mound. This 
would accommodate the construction of a short spur road to the mound 
site and new and improved exhibits, trails and park facilities at the 
Emerald Mound.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is a win-win for everybody, and I appreciate 
the spirit of bipartisanship that has made this happen. Indeed, we can 
do good things for our people when Democrats and Republicans work 
together.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 2020 is a noncontroversial bill which the National 
Park Service supports. It provides for the acquisition of 230 acres of 
the Natchez Trace National Parkway, and we support this legislation.

[[Page H11573]]

  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Barrett of Nebraska). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 2020.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on 
the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order 
that a quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________