[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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