[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 34 (Tuesday, March 4, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S3106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONDUCTING A STUDY OF COLTSVILLE, CONNECTICUT, FOR INCLUSION IN THE 
                          NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

  The bill (S. 233) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a study of Coltsville in the State of Connecticut for potential 
inclusion in the National Park System was considered, ordered to a 
third reading, read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                 S. 233

       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 ``Coltsville Study Act of 
     2003''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) Hartford, Connecticut, home to Colt Manufacturing 
     Company (referred to in this Act as ``Colt''), played a major 
     role in the Industrial Revolution;
       (2) Samuel Colt, founder of Colt, and his wife, Elizabeth 
     Colt, inspired Coltsville, a community in the State of 
     Connecticut that flourished during the Industrial Revolution 
     and included Victorian mansions, an open green area, 
     botanical gardens, and a deer park;
       (3) the residence of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt in Hartford, 
     Connecticut, known as ``Armsmear'', is a national historic 
     landmark, and the distinctive Colt factory is a prominent 
     feature of the Hartford, Connecticut, skyline;
       (4) the Colt legacy is not only about firearms, but also 
     about industrial innovation and the development of technology 
     that would change the way of life in the United States, 
     including--
       (A) the development of telegraph technology; and
       (B) advancements in jet engine technology by Francis Pratt 
     and Amos Whitney, who served as apprentices at Colt;
       (5) Coltsville--
       (A) set the standard for excellence during the Industrial 
     Revolution; and
       (B) continues to prove significant--
       (i) as a place in which people of the United States can 
     learn about that important period in history; and
       (ii) by reason of the close proximity of Coltsville to the 
     Mark Twain House, Trinity College, Old North Cemetery, and 
     many historic homesteads and architecturally renowned 
     buildings;
       (6) in 1998, the National Park Service conducted a special 
     resource reconnaissance study of the Connecticut River Valley 
     to evaluate the significance of precision manufacturing 
     sites; and
       (7) the report on the study stated that--
       (A) no other region of the United States contains an equal 
     concentration of resources relating to the precision 
     manufacturing theme that began with firearms production;
       (B) properties relating to precision manufacturing 
     encompass more than merely factories; and
       (C) further study, which should be undertaken, may 
     recommend inclusion of churches and other social 
     institutions.

     SEC. 3. STUDY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the 
     Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act as the 
     ``Secretary'') shall complete a study of the site in the 
     State of Connecticut commonly known as ``Coltsville'' to 
     evaluate--
       (1) the national significance of the site and surrounding 
     area;
       (2) the suitability and feasibility of designating the site 
     and surrounding area as a unit of the National Park System; 
     and
       (3) the importance of the site to the history of precision 
     manufacturing.
       (b) Applicable Law.--The study required under subsection 
     (a) shall be conducted in accordance with Public Law 91-383 
     (16 U.S.C. 1a-1 et seq.).

     SEC. 4. REPORT.

       Not later than 30 days after the date on which the study 
     under section 3(a) is completed, 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 that describes--
       (1) the findings of the study; and
       (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act.

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