[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3950-S3951]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     225TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION COMMEMORATION ACT

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 1108, and the 
Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will state the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1108) to establish within the National Park 
     Service the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution 
     Commemorative Program, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
read the third time, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, 
and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1108) was read the third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1108

       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 ``225th Anniversary of the 
     American Revolution Commemoration Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the American Revolution, inspired by the spirit of 
     liberty and independence among the inhabitants of the 
     original 13 English colonies, was an event of global 
     significance having a profound and lasting effect on the 
     government, laws, culture, society, and values of the United 
     States;
       (2) the years 2000 through 2008 mark the 225th anniversary 
     of the American Revolution;
       (3) citizens of the United States should have an 
     opportunity to understand and appreciate the continuing 
     legacy of the American Revolution;
       (4) the 225th anniversary of the American Revolution 
     provides an opportunity to enhance public awareness and 
     understanding of the impact of the American Revolution on the 
     lives of citizens of the United States;
       (5) although the National Park Service administers 
     battlefields, historical parks, historic sites, and programs 
     that address elements of the story of the American 
     Revolution, there is a need to establish partnerships that 
     link those sites and programs with sites and programs of 
     other Federal and non-Federal entities to place the story of 
     the American Revolution in the broad context of the causes, 
     consequences, and significance of the American Revolution; 
     and
       (6) a national program of the National Park Service that 
     links historic structures and sites, routes, activities, 
     community projects, exhibits, and multimedia materials in a 
     manner that is unified and flexible is the best method of 
     conveying to citizens of the United States the story and 
     significance of the American Revolution.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to recognize the enduring importance of the American 
     Revolution to the lives of citizens of the United States; and
       (2) to authorize the National Park Service to coordinate, 
     connect, and facilitate Federal and non-Federal activities to 
     commemorate, honor, and interpret the history of the American 
     Revolution, including the significance and relevance of the 
     American Revolution to the shape and spirit of the Government 
     and society of the United States.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Program.--The term ``Program'' means the 225th 
     Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemoration Program 
     established under section 4(a).
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 4. 225TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 
                   COMMEMORATION PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish within the 
     National Park Service a

[[Page S3951]]

     program to be known as the ``225th Anniversary of the 
     American Revolution Commemoration Program''.
       (b) Activities.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary 
     shall--
       (1) produce and distribute to the public educational 
     materials relating to the American Revolution, such as--
       (A) handbooks;
       (B) maps;
       (C) interpretive guides; and
       (D) electronic information;
       (2) enter into appropriate cooperative agreements and 
     memoranda of understanding to provide technical assistance 
     under subsection (d);
       (3) assist in the protection of resources associated with 
     the American Revolution;
       (4) enhance communications, connections, and collaboration 
     among units and programs of the National Park Service 
     relating to the American Revolution;
       (5) expand the research base for interpretation of and 
     education on the American Revolution; and
       (6)(A) create and adopt an official, uniform symbol or 
     device for the theme ``Lighting Freedom's Flame: American 
     Revolution, 225th Anniversary''; and
       (B) promulgate regulations for the use of the symbol or 
     device.
       (c) Components.--The Program shall include--
       (1) units and programs of the National Park Service 
     relevant to the American Revolution, as determined by the 
     Secretary;
       (2) other governmental and nongovernmental--
       (A) sites and facilities that are documented to be directly 
     related to the American Revolution; and
       (B) programs of an educational, research, or interpretive 
     nature relating to the American Revolution; and
       (3) through the Secretary of State, the participation of 
     the Governments of the United Kingdom, France, the 
     Netherlands, Spain, and Canada.
       (d) Cooperative Agreements and Memoranda of 
     Understanding.--To achieve the purposes of this Act and to 
     ensure the effective coordination of the Federal and non-
     Federal components of the Program with National Park Service 
     units and programs, the Secretary may enter into cooperative 
     agreements and memoranda of understanding with, and provide 
     technical assistance to--
       (1) the heads of other Federal agencies, States, units of 
     local government, and private entities; and
       (2) in cooperation with the Secretary of State, the 
     Governments of the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, 
     Spain, and Canada.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act 
     $500,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2009.

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