[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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