[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 9, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H2051]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GREAT FALLS HISTORIC DISTRICT STUDY ACT OF 2001
Mr. HEFLEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the
Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 146) to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the
Great Falls Historic District in Paterson, New Jersey, as a unit of the
National Park System, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate
consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Colorado?
Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I will
not object, I yield to the gentleman from Colorado for purposes of
explaining the legislation.
{time} 1415
Mr. HEFLEY. Madam Speaker, H.R. 146, as introduced by the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), would authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the
Great Falls Historic District in Paterson, New Jersey as a unit of the
National Park Service. Designed by Alexander Hamilton and Pierre
L'Enfant in 1791, the Great Falls District is one of the earliest
industrial centers of America and was once considered the manufacturing
center of the United States. At 77 feet, the Great Falls is the second
highest waterfall on the East Coast, second only to Niagara Falls.
Madam Speaker, H.R. 146, I believe, is not controversial. It has
strong support from State and local officials, the residents of
Paterson and the surrounding communities, and I urge my colleagues to
support H.R. 146.
Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, continuing on my reservation, I yield to
the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell), the former
mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, and a valued member of my other
committee, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.
Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, first I would like to thank the
gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the gentleman from West Virginia
(Mr. Rahall) for this legislation. This is very significant legislation
in New Jersey and for the United States. The Great Falls Historic
District possesses an historic significance that makes it an area to be
preserved and treasured. I thank the gentleman for describing what this
district is all about.
The Falls and the surrounding neighborhoods really represent the
genesis of the American economic miracle, and increasing the presence
of the National Park Service will give the area the attention and
resources it rightfully needs.
These Falls represent our city, its people and all of its potential.
This place can be a real destination that will create jobs, grow
businesses and bring people from all over. We cannot put a velvet rope
around the district. We must make it a living, breathing attraction
that will celebrate our past.
In conclusion, I will steal the words of the National Park Service in
the Design Guidelines created for the Great Falls Historic District in
1999. ``The district bears eloquent testimony to the astounding feats
of engineering and construction, to ingenious manufacturers, and to the
courage, creativity and drudgery of untold lives spent within the
mills. It is also about the human propensity to harness the forces of
nature, to put water and gravity and stone to work. The district
retains the sense of having been one large factory driven by one
powerful engine, an image completely consistent with Hamilton's vision
of a centralized national manufactory.''
Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Morella). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Colorado?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the bill, as follows:
H.R. 146
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 ``Great Falls Historic
District Study Act of 2001''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING GREAT FALLS
HISTORIC DISTRICT, PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Great falls historic district.--The term ``Great Falls
Historic District'' means the Great Falls Historic District
in the city of Paterson, New Jersey, established as an
historic district by section 510 of the Omnibus Parks and
Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-333; 110
Stat. 4158; 16 U.S.C. 461 note).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National
Park Service.
(b) Study.--As soon as practicable after funds are made
available to carry out this section, the Secretary shall
commence a study regarding the suitability and feasibility of
further recognizing the historic and cultural significance of
the lands and structures of the Great Falls Historic District
through the designation of the Great Falls Historic District
as a unit of the National Park System.
(c) Study Process and Completion.--Section 8(c) of Public
Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)) shall apply to the study
required by this section.
(d) Submission.--The Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a
report describing the results of the study.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out
this section.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the
table.
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