[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 77 (Thursday, May 22, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7001-S7003]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JEFFORDS (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Schumer, and Mrs. 
        Clinton):
  S. 1118. A bill to establish the Champlain Valley National Heritage 
Partnership in the States of Vermont and New York, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. JEFFORDS. Mr. President, I am very pleased to introduce the 
Champlain Valley National Heritage Act of 2003. I am joined by Senator 
Leahy and Senators Schumer and Clinton of New York. This bill will 
establish a National Heritage Partnership within the Champlain Valley. 
Passage of this bill will culminate a process to enhance the incredible 
cultural resources of the Champlain Valley.
  The Champlain Valley of Vermont and New York has one of the richest 
and most intact collections of historic resources in the United States. 
Fort Ticonderoga still stands where it has for centuries, at the scene 
of numerous battles critical to the birth of our Nation. Revolutionary 
gunboats have recently been found fully intact on the bottom of Lake 
Champlain. Our cemeteries are the permanent resting place for great 
explorers, soldiers and sailors. The United States and Canada would not 
exist today but for events that occurred in this region.
  We in Vermont and New York take great pride in our history. We 
preserve it, honor it and show it off to visitors from around the 
world. These visitors are also very important to our economy. Tourism 
is among the most important industries in this region and has much 
potential for growth.
  The Champlain Valley Heritage Partnership will bring together more 
than one hundred local groups working to preserve and promote our 
heritage. Up to $2 million a year will be made available from the 
National Park Service through the Lake Champlain Basin Program to 
support local efforts to preserve and interpret our heritage and 
present it to the world. Most of the funding will be given to small 
communities to help preserve their heritage and develop economic 
opportunities.
  This project has taken many years for me to bring to the point of 
introducing legislation. This has been time well spent working at the 
grass-roots level to develop a framework to direct federal resources to 
where it will do the most good. I am confident that we have found the 
best model. This will be a true partnership that supports each member 
but does not impose any new federal requirements.
  The Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership will preserve our 
historic resources, interpret and teach about the events that shaped 
our nation and will be an engine for economic growth. I am hopeful that 
this bill, which was considered by the Senate last year, will become 
law during this Congress.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1118

       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 ``Champlain Valley National 
     Heritage Partnership Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Champlain Valley and its extensive cultural and 
     natural resources have played a significant role in the 
     history of the United States and the individual States of 
     Vermont and New York;
       (2) archaeological evidence indicates that the Champlain 
     Valley has been inhabited by humans since the last retreat of 
     the glaciers, with the Native Americans living in the area at 
     the time of European discovery being primarily of Iroquois 
     and Algonquin descent;
       (3) the linked waterways of the Champlain Valley, including 
     the Richelieu River in Canada, played a unique and 
     significant role in the establishment and development of the 
     United States and Canada through several distinct eras, 
     including--
       (A) the era of European exploration, during which Samuel de 
     Champlain and other explorers used the waterways as a means 
     of access through the wilderness;
       (B) the era of military campaigns, including highly 
     significant military campaigns of the French and Indian War, 
     the American Revolution, and the War of 1812; and
       (C) the era of maritime commerce, during which canals 
     boats, schooners, and steamships formed the backbone of 
     commercial transportation for the region;
       (4) those unique and significant eras are best described by 
     the theme ``The Making of Nations and Corridors of 
     Commerce'';
       (5) the artifacts and structures associated with those eras 
     are unusually well-preserved;
       (6) the Champlain Valley is recognized as having one of the 
     richest collections of historical resources in North America;
       (7) the history and cultural heritage of the Champlain 
     Valley are shared with Canada and the Province of Quebec;
       (8) there are benefits in celebrating and promoting this 
     mutual heritage;
       (9) tourism is among the most important industries in the 
     Champlain Valley, and heritage tourism in particular plays a 
     significant role in the economy of the Champlain Valley;
       (10) it is important to enhance heritage tourism in the 
     Champlain Valley while ensuring that increased visitation 
     will not impair the historical and cultural resources of the 
     region;
       (11) according to the 1999 report of the National Park 
     Service entitled ``Champlain Valley Heritage Corridor 
     Project'', ``the Champlain Valley contains resources and 
     represents a theme `The Making of Nations and Corridors of 
     Commerce', that is of outstanding importance in U.S. 
     history''; and
       (12) it is in the interest of the United States to preserve 
     and interpret the historical and cultural resources of the 
     Champlain Valley for the education and benefit of present and 
     future generations.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to establish the Champlain Valley National Heritage 
     Partnership in the States of Vermont and New York to 
     recognize the importance of the historical, cultural, and 
     recreational resources of the Champlain Valley region to the 
     United States;
       (2) to assist the State of Vermont and New York, including 
     units of local government and nongovernmental organizations 
     in the States, in preserving, protecting, and interpreting 
     those resources for the benefit of the people of the United 
     States;
       (3) to use those resources and the theme ``The Making of 
     Nations and Corridors of Commerce'' to--
       (A) revitalize the economy of communities in the Champlain 
     Valley; and
       (B) generate and sustain increased levels of tourism in the 
     Champlain Valley;
       (4) to encourage--
       (A) partnerships among State and local governments and 
     nongovernmental organizations in the United States; and
       (B) collaboration with Canada and the Province of Quebec 
     to--
       (i) interpret and promote the history of the waterways of 
     the Champlain Valley region;
       (ii) form stronger bonds between the United States and 
     Canada; and
       (iii) promote the international aspects of the Champlain 
     Valley region; and
       (5) to provide financial and technical assistance for the 
     purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (4).

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:

[[Page S7002]]

       (1) Heritage partnership.--The term ``Heritage 
     Partnership'' means the Champlain Valley National Heritage 
     Partnership established by section 4(a).
       (2) Management entity.--The term ``management entity'' 
     means the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
       (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the management plan developed under section 4(b)(B)(i).
       (4) Region.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``region'' means any area or 
     community in 1 of the States in which a physical, cultural, 
     or historical resource that represents the theme is located.
       (B) Inclusions.--The term ``region'' includes
       (i) the linked navigable waterways of--

       (I) Lake Champlain;
       (II) Lake George;
       (III) the Champlain Canal; and
       (IV) the portion of the Upper Hudson River extending south 
     to Saratoga;

       (ii) portions of Grand Isle, Franklin, Chittenden, Addison, 
     Rutland, and Bennington Counties in the State of Vermont; and
       (iii) portions of Clinton, Essex, Warren, Saratoga and 
     Washington Counties in the State of New York.
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (6) State.--the term ``State'' means--
       (A) the State of Vermont; and
       (B) the State of New York.
       (7) Theme.--The term ``theme'' means the theme ``The Making 
     of Nations and Corridors of Commerce'', as the term is used 
     in the 1999 report of the National Park Service entitled 
     ``Champlain Valley Heritage Corridor Project'', that 
     describes the periods of international conflict and maritime 
     commerce during which the region played a unique and 
     significant role in the development of the United States and 
     Canada.

     SEC. 4. HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the regional 
     the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership.
       (b) Management Entity.--
       (1) Duties.--
       (A) In general.--The management entity shall implement the 
     Act.
       (B) Management plan.--
       (i) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the management entity shall develop a 
     management plan for the Heritage Partnership.
       (ii) Existing plan.--Pending the completion and approval of 
     the management plan, the management entity may implement the 
     provisions of this Act based on its federally authorized plan 
     ``Opportunities for Action, an Evolving Plan For Lake 
     Champlain''.
       (iii) Contents.--The management plan shall include--

       (I) recommendations for funding, managing, and developing 
     the Heritage Partnership;
       (II) a description of activities to be carried out by 
     public and private organizations to protect the resources of 
     the Heritage Partnership;
       (III) a list of specific, potential sources of funding for 
     the protection, management, and development of the Heritage 
     Partnership;
       (IV) an assessment of the organizational capacity of the 
     management entity to achieve the goals for implementation; 
     and
       (V) recommendations of ways in which to encourage 
     collaboration with Canada and the Province of Quebec in 
     implementing this Act.

       (iv) Considerations.--In developing the management plan 
     under clause (i), the management entity shall take into 
     consideration existing Federal, State, and local plans 
     relating to the region.
       (v) Submission to secretary for approval.--

       (I) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the management entity shall submit the 
     management plan to the Secretary for approval.
       (II) Effect of failure to submit.--If a management plan is 
     not submitted to the Secretary by the date specified in 
     paragraph (I), the Secretary shall not provide any additional 
     funding under this Act until a management plan for the 
     Heritage Partnership is submitted to the Secretary.

       (vi) Approval.--Not later than 90 days after receiving the 
     management plan submitted under subparagraph (V)(I), the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the States, shall approve or 
     disapprove the management plan.
       (vii) Action following disapproval.--

       (I) General.--If the Secretary disapproves a management 
     plan under subparagraph (vi), the Secretary shall--

       (aa) advise the management entity in writing of the reasons 
     for the disapproval;
       (bb) make recommendations for revisions to the management 
     plan; and
       (cc) allow the management entity to submit to the Secretary 
     revisions to the management plan.

       (II) Deadline for approval of revision.--Not later than 90 
     days after the date on which a revision is submitted under 
     subparagraph (vii)(I)(cc), the Secretary shall approve or 
     disapprove the revision.

       (viii) Amendment.--

       (I) In general.--After approval by the Secretary of the 
     management plan, the management entity shall periodically--

       (aa) review the management plan; and
       (bb) submit to the Secretary, for review and approval by 
     the Secretary, the recommendations of the management entity 
     for any amendments to the management plan that the management 
     entity considers to be appropriate.

       (II) Expenditure of funds.--No funds made available under 
     this Act shall be used to implement any amendment proposed by 
     the management entity under subparagraph (viii)(1) until the 
     Secretary approves the amendments.

       (2) Partnerships.--
       (A) In general.--In carrying out this Act, the management 
     entity may enter into partnerships with--
       (i) the States, including units of local governments in the 
     States;
       (ii) nongovernmental organizations;
       (iii) Indian Tribes; and
       (iv) other persons in the Heritage Partnership.
       (B) Grants.--Subject to the availability of funds, the 
     management entity may provide grants to partners under 
     subparagraph (A) to assist in implementing this Act.
       (3) Prohibition on the acquisition of real property.--The 
     management entity shall not use Federal funds made available 
     under this Act to acquire real property or any interest in 
     real property.
       (c) Assistance From Secretary.--To carry out the purposes 
     of this Act, the Secretary may provide technical and 
     financial assistance to the management entity.

     SEC. 5. EFFECT.

       Nothing in this Act--
       (1) grants powers of zoning or land use to the management 
     entity;
       (2) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes the authority of the 
     Federal Government or a State or local government to manage 
     or regulate any use of land under any law (including 
     regulations); or
       (3) obstructs or limits private business development 
     activities or resource development activities.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act not more than a total of $10,000,000, of 
     which not more than $1,000,000 may be made available for any 
     fiscal year.
       (b) Non-Federal Share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
     of any activities carried out using Federal funds made 
     available under subsection (a) not be less than 50 percent.

     SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
     this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am very pleased to join with my Senate 
colleagues from Vermont and New York as we reintroduce the Lake 
Champlain Heritage Act of 2003. Last year, we took a significant step 
in helping all Americans better appreciate Lake Champlain with the 
passage of Daniel Patrick Moynihan Lake Champlain Basin Program Act. 
Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the continuing preservation of 
Lake Champlain's important historic sites and artifacts.
  The role of Lake Champlain cannot be overlooked. From the earliest 
human habitation 10,000 years ago, to the Revolutionary War and the 
conduct of trade in the 19th and 20th centuries, this 120-mile-long 
basin has played a pivotal role in the Course of American history.
  It was on Lake Champlain that Benedict Arnold's motley group of 15 
American ships engaged a much larger and far superior British fleet in 
the Battle at Valcour Island. While the battle ended in a loss for the 
Americans, it successfully delayed the British fleet and became known 
as one of the most crucial engagements of the American Revolution.
  This act is intended to promote and preserve these centuries of 
struggle in the Lake Champlain Valley. It will advance the cultural 
heritage goals of ``Opportunities for Action,'' a comprehensive 
pollution prevention, control, and restoration plan developed by the 
Lake Champlain Basin Program. And it will also promote such things as 
locally planned and managed heritage networks and a management strategy 
for the lake's underwater cultural resources. With the 400th 
anniversary of Samuel De Champlain's arrival in the valley coming up in 
2009, this bill could not be more needed.
  Vermonters and New Yorkers have a serious responsibility to preserve 
the historical and cultural heritage of the Lake Champlain Valley for 
future generations. Local communities on both sides of the lake have 
helped us develop a bold vision to enhance the conservation, 
interpretation, and enjoyment of our shared history. We can help 
revitalize local economies, promote heritage tourism, and improve the 
valley's cultural legacy by making additional resources available to 
communities and organizations through the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
  It is with great pride that I stand here today with my colleagues 
from

[[Page S7003]]

Vermont and New York to reassert our partnership for Champlain Valley 
National Heritage Act and continue our cooperative effort to conserve, 
interpret, and honor our common heritage.
                                 ______