[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 23 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1587-S1588]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. SPECTER:
  S. 391. A bill to establish the Steel Industry National Historic Park 
in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; to the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources.
  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to introduce 
legislation that will honor the importance of the steel industry in the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the nation by creating the ``Steel 
Industry National Historic Park'' to be operated by the National Park 
Service in southwestern Pennsylvania.
  The importance of steel to the industrial development of the United 
States cannot be understated. A national park devoted to the history of 
the steel industry will afford all Americans the opportunity to 
celebrate this rich heritage, which is symbolic of the work ethic 
endemic to this great nation. There is no better place for such a site 
than in southwestern Pennsylvania, which played a significant role in 
early industrial America.
  I have long supported efforts to preserve and enhance this historical 
steel-related heritage through the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area, which 
includes the City of Pittsburgh, and seven southwestern Pennsylvania 
counties: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Fayette, Greene, Washington and 
Westmoreland. I have been very pleased with congressional support for 
the important work within the Rivers of Steel Heritage Area expressed 
through appropriations levels of $1 million annually since Fiscal Year 
1998. I am hopeful that this support will continue however, more than 
just resources are necessary. That is why I am introducing this 
important legislation today.
  It is important to note why southwestern Pennsylvania should be the 
home to the national park that my legislation authorizes. The 
combination of a strong workforce, valuable natural

[[Page S1588]]

resources, and Pennsylvania's strategic location in the heavily 
populated northeastern United States allowed the steel industry to 
thrive. Today, the remaining buildings and sites devoted to steel 
production are threatened with further deterioration or destruction. 
Many of these sites are nationally significant and perfectly suited for 
the study and interpretation of this crucial period in our nation's 
development. Some of these sites include the Carrie Furnace complex, 
the Hot Metal Bridge, and the Unites States Steel Homestead Works, 
which would all become a part of the Steel Industry National Historic 
Park under my legislation.
  Highlights of such a national park would commemorate a wide range of 
accomplishments and topics for historical preservation and 
interpretation from industrial process advancements to labor-management 
relations. It is important to note that the site I seek to become a 
national park under this bill includes the location of the Battle of 
Homestead, waged in 1892 between steelworkers and Pinkerton guards. The 
Battle of Homestead marked an important period in our nation's workers' 
rights movement. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, individuals, and 
public and private entities have attempted to protect and preserve 
resources such as the Homestead battleground and the Hot Metal Bridge. 
For the benefit and inspiration of present and future generations, it 
is time for the federal government to join this effort to recognize 
their importance with the additional protection I provide in this bill.
  I would like to commend my colleague, Representative Mike Doyle, who 
has been a longstanding leader in this preservation effort and who will 
sponsor the companion legislation in the House of Representatives. I 
look forward to working with southwestern Pennsylvania officials and 
Mr. August Carlino, Executive Director of the Steel Industry Heritage 
Corporation, in order to bring this national park to fruition. I urge 
my colleagues in the United States Congress to cosponsor this 
legislation and I will work for its swift passage. I ask unanimous 
consent that the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 391

       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 ``Steel Industry National 
     Historic Park Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) certain sites and structures in the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania symbolize in physical form the heritage of the 
     United States steel industry;
       (2) a large proportion of the buildings and other 
     structures in the Commonwealth are nationally significant 
     historical resources, including the United States Steel 
     Homestead Works, the Carrie Furnace complex, and the Hot 
     Metal Bridge; and
       (3) despite substantial efforts by the Commonwealth, as 
     well as individuals and public and private entities in the 
     Commonwealth, to preserve and interpret these significant 
     historical and cultural buildings and structures, such 
     buildings and structures may be lost without the assistance 
     of the Federal Government.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to provide for 
     the preservation, development, interpretation, and use of the 
     nationally significant historical and cultural buildings, 
     structures, and sites described in subsection (a) for the 
     benefit and inspiration of present and future generations.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Commonwealth.--The term ``Commonwealth'' means the 
     Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
       (2) Park.--The term ``park'' means the Steel Industry 
     National Historic Park established by section 4.
       (3) Plan.--The term ``plan'' means the management plan for 
     the park required under section 7.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 4. STEEL INDUSTRY NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established as a unit of the 
     National Park System the Steel Industry National Historic 
     Park in the Commonwealth.
       (b) Components.--The park shall consist of land and 
     interests in land comprising the former United States Steel 
     Homestead Works, including--
       (1) the Battle of Homestead site in the borough of Munhall, 
     Pennsylvania, consisting of approximately 3 acres of land, 
     including the pumphouse and water tower and related 
     structures, within the property bounded by the Monongahela 
     River, the CSX railroad, Waterfront Drive, and the Damascus-
     Marcegaglia Steel Mill;
       (2) the Carrie Furnace complex in the boroughs of Swissvale 
     and Rankin, Pennsylvania, consisting of approximately 35 
     acres of land, including blast furnaces 6 and 7, the ore 
     yard, the cast house, the blowing engine house, the AC power 
     house, and related structures, within the property bounded by 
     the proposed southwesterly right-of-way line needed to 
     accommodate the Mon/Fayette Expressway and the relocated CSX 
     railroad right-of-way, the Monongahela River, and a property 
     line drawn northeast to southwest approximately 100 yards 
     east of the AC power house;
       (3) the Hot Metal Bridge, consisting of the Union railroad 
     bridge and its approaches, spanning the Monongahela River and 
     connecting the mill sites in the boroughs of Rankin and 
     Munhall; and
       (4) all other property included in the park--
       (A) by Federal law; or
       (B) acquired by the Secretary for inclusion in the park 
     under section 5 or other Federal law.

     SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.

       (a) Real Property.--The Secretary may acquire--
       (1) land and interests in land described in paragraphs (1), 
     (2), or (3) of section 4(b); and
       (2) not more than 10 acres of land adjacent to, or in the 
     general vicinity of, the property described in paragraphs 
     (1), (2), or (3) of section 4(b), for the development of 
     visitor, administrative, museum, curatorial, and maintenance 
     facilities.
       (b) Personal Property.--The Secretary may acquire personal 
     property associated with, and appropriate for, the 
     interpretation of the park.
       (c) Means.--An acquisition of real property or personal 
     property shall be made by donation.

     SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer the park in 
     accordance with this Act and the provisions of law generally 
     applicable to units of the National Park System, including--
       (1) the Act entitled ``An Act to establish a National Park 
     Service, and for other purposes'', approved August 25, 1916 
     (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.); and
       (2) the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the 
     preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, 
     and antiquities of national significance, and for other 
     purposes'', approved August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).
       (b) Cooperative Agreements.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative 
     agreements with interested public and private entities and 
     individuals to carry out this Act.
       (2) Reimbursement.--A payment made by the Secretary under 
     the terms of a cooperative agreement entered into under this 
     subsection shall be subject to an agreement that if at any 
     time the project assisted is converted, used, or disposed of 
     in a manner that is contrary to the purposes of this Act, as 
     determined by the Secretary, the interested entity or 
     individual shall reimburse the Secretary for the greater of--
       (A) the amount of assistance provided for the project; or
       (B) the portion of the increased value of the project that 
     is attributable to that assistance, determined as of the date 
     of the conversion, use, or disposal.
       (c) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary may provide to any 
     person technical assistance for--
       (1) preserving historic structures of the park;
       (2) maintaining the cultural landscape of the park; and
       (3) local preservation planning for the park.

     SEC. 7. GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall--
       (1) prepare a plan for the park; and
       (2) submit the plan to the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the 
     House of Representatives.
       (b) Consultation With Local Officials.--In preparing the 
     plan under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall consult 
     with--
       (1) a representative of each political subdivision of the 
     Commonwealth that has jurisdiction over all or a portion of 
     the park; and
       (2) a representative of the Steel Industry Heritage 
     Corporation.

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