[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 171 (Tuesday, December 11, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H9179-H9180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HOMESTEAD NATIONAL MONUMENT OF AMERICA ADDITIONS ACT
Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 38) to provide for additional lands to be included within
the boundaries of the Homestead National Monument of America in the
State of Nebraska, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 38
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 ``Homestead National Monument
of America Additions Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled
``Proposed Boundary Adjustment, Homestead National Monument
of America, Gage County, Nebraska'', numbered 368/80036 and
dated March 2000.
(2) Monument.--The term ``Monument'' means the Homestead
National Monument of America, Nebraska.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. ADDITIONS TO HOMESTEAD NATIONAL MONUMENT OF AMERICA.
(a) In General.--The Secretary may acquire, by donation or
by purchase with appropriated or donated funds, from willing
sellers only, the privately-owned property described in
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b). The Secretary may
acquire, by donation only, the State-owned property described
in paragraphs (3) and (4) of subsection (b).
(b) Parcels.--The parcels referred to in subsection (a) are
the following:
(1) Graff property.--The parcel consisting of approximately
15.98 acres of privately-owned land, as depicted on the map.
(2) Pioneer acres green.--The parcel consisting of
approximately 3 acres of privately-owned land, as depicted on
the map.
(3) Segment of state highway 4.--The parcel consisting of
approximately 5.6 acres of State-owned land including
Nebraska State Highway 4, as depicted on the map.
(4) State triangle.--The parcel consisting of approximately
8.3 acres of State-owned land, as depicted on the map.
(c) Boundary Adjustment.--Upon acquisition of a parcel
described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall modify the
boundary of the Monument to include the parcel. Any parcel
included within the boundary shall be administered by the
Secretary as part of the Monument.
(d) Deadline for Acquisition of Certain Property.--If the
property described in subsection (b)(1) is not acquired by
the Secretary from a willing seller within 5 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall no
longer be authorized to acquire such property pursuant to
this Act and such property shall not become part of the
Monument pursuant to this Act.
(e) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file in the
appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this Act $400,000.
SEC. 4. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.
The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with
the State of Nebraska, Gage County, local units of
government, private groups, and individuals for operation,
maintenance, interpretation, recreation, and other purposes
related to the proposed Homestead Heritage Highway to be
located in the general vicinity of the Monument.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Johnson of Illinois). Pursuant to the
rule, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis) and the gentleman from
Colorado (Mr. Udall) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis).
{time} 2100
Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 38 introduced by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr.
Bereuter) would authorize the expansion of Homestead National Monument
of America in Beatrice, Nebraska, by 30 acres.
The monument, which currently encompasses 189 acres, was established
to commemorate the Homestead Act of 1862, one of the significant and
enduring events in the western expansion of the United States. The Act
granted 160 acres of free land to claimants willing to live on the
frontier. The monument includes the site of one of the first homesteads
claimed, located in the tallgrass prairie landscape that so many
pioneers settled and traversed.
Mr. Speaker, the 30 acres would be acquired from willing sellers, two
privately owned and two owned by the State of Nebraska. The bill also
authorizes $400,000 to purchase the parcels of land. The bill is
supported by the National Park Service and the majority and minority of
the committee.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 38, as amended.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. UDALL of Colorado asked and was given permission to revise and
extend his remarks.)
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this
legislation. The Homestead National Monument of America was created in
1936 to commemorate the Homestead Act of 1862 and its significant role
in the settlement of the American west.
The monument includes the first parcel of land claimed under the
Homestead Act as well as the Freeman School, an original, one-room
schoolhouse adjacent to that parcel. The monument is listed in the
National Register of Historic Places.
H.R. 38 authorizes the Secretary to acquire two specific parcels of
private property, either by donation or purchase from willing sellers,
and two parcels of State-owned land, by donation only. Once the land is
acquired, the Secretary would be authorized to alter the boundaries of
the monument to include these new properties.
It is our understanding that this expansion will allow the National
Park Service to better protect the monument's historic resources from
potential flood damage and aid in interpretation of the site.
Mr. Speaker, I support passage of H.R. 38.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises in strong support of
H.R. 38, a bill this Member re-introduced on January 3, 2001, as during
the prior 106th Congress, this Member introduced the same legislation.
This Member would like to begin by thanking the distinguished
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich), the Chairman of the
National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands Subcommittee, and the
distinguished gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen),
the ranking Member of the Subcommittee, for their work in bringing this
bill to the Floor. This Member would also like to express his
appreciation to the distinguished gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen), the
Chairman of the Resources Committee, and the distinguished gentleman
from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall), for their efforts to move this
legislation forward.
This legislation, the Homestead National Monument of America
Additions Act, is a straightforward bill. It is also noncontroversial.
The bill would simply adjust the boundaries of Homestead National
Monument of America and allow a small amount of additional land to be
included within its boundaries. It is also important to note that the
funding necessary to implement this bill was appropriated last fiscal
year.
The legislation being considered today reflects the recommendations
in the recently completed General Management Plan (GMP) calling for a
minor boundary expansion for Homestead National Monument.
Unfortunately, the current visitor center is located in a 100-year
flood plain. The acquisition of land outside the existing boundaries as
recommended in the GMP would allow a new ``Homestead Heritage Center''
to be constructed outside the floodplain. This location would offer
greater protection to the Monument's collections, interpretive
exhibits, public research facilities, and administrative offices.
As the bill makes clear, the land for the Heritage Center would be
acquired on a willing-seller basis It is this Member's understanding
that all of the individuals who would be involved in the boundary
adjustment have expressed a willingness to sell for a negotiated price.
Homestead National Monument of America commemorates the lives and
accomplishments of all pioneers and the changes to the land an the
people as a result of the Homestead Act of 1862, which is recognized as
one of the
[[Page H9180]]
most important laws in U.S. history. This Monument was authorized by
legislation enacted in 1936. The FY96 Interior Appropriations Act
directed the National Park Service to complete a General Management
Plan to begin planning for improvements at Homestead. The General
Management Plan, which was completed last year, made recommendations
for improvements that are needed to help ensure that Homestead is able
to reach its full potential as a place where Americans can more
effectively appreciate the Homestead Act and its effects upon the
nation.
Homestead National Monument of America is truly a unique treasure
among the National Park Service jewels. The authorizing legislation
makes it clear that Homestead was intended to have a special place
among Park Service units. According to the original legislation:
It shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Interior to
lay out said land in a suitable and enduring manner so that
the same may be maintained as an appropriate monument to
retain for posterity a proper memorial emblematic of the
hardships and the pioneer life through which the early
settlers passed in the settlement, cultivation, and
civilization of the great West. It shall be his duty to erect
suitable buildings to be used as a museum in which shall be
preserved literature applying to such settlement and
agricultural implements used in bringing the western plains
to its present state of high civilization, and to use the
said tract of land for such other objects and purposes as in
his judgment may perpetuate the history of this country
mainly developed by the homestead law.
Clearly, this authorizing legislation sets some lofty goals. This
Member believes that H.R. 38 would help the Monument achieve the
potential which was first described in its authorizing legislation.
This Member urges his colleagues to support H.R. 38.
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. McINNIS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Johnson of Illinois). The question is on
the motion offered by the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. McInnis) that
the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 38, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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