[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 96 (Tuesday, July 13, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8037-S8038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CHAFEE (for himself, Mr. Reed, Mr. Kerry, and Mr. 
        Kennedy):
  S. 2646. A bill to direct the Director of the National Park Service 
to prepare a report on the sustainability of the John H. Chafee 
Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor and the John H. 
Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Commission; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. CHAFEE: Mr. President, I am joined today by Senators Reed, 
Kennedy and Kerry in introducing legislation that would study the 
sustainability of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National 
Heritage Corridor.
  Established in 1986, the Blackstone Heritage Corridor recognizes the 
national and historical significance of the Blackstone region as the 
birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution. At the time of its 
inception, the Blackstone Corridor represented an entirely new approach 
for the National Park Service (NPS). Instead of designating the area as 
a unit of the National Park System, the Blackstone Corridor became an 
innovative model for how the NPS could work with States and local 
communities in recognizing and interpreting the history and resources 
of a region. Spanning two States and encompassing twenty communities 
and half a million people, the Corridor represents a unique partnership 
between the NPS, the States of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and the 
local communities.
  Charged with overseeing the Corridor, federally-appointed State and 
local representatives form the Blackstone Corridor Commission and work 
with the NPS to carry out the mission of preserving and interpreting 
the

[[Page S8038]]

unique resources and qualities of the Blackstone Valley. During the 
Commission's tenure, strong partnerships with local governments, 
private investors, and community stakeholders have been formed, 
introducing millions of dollars in private investment for heritage-
related projects into the local economy. The success of the Corridor 
can be attributed to the dedication and hard work of the NPS and the 
Corridor Commission in bringing communities together to realize the 
common goals of revitalized communities, historic and economic 
restoration, and an improved environment. All this has been 
accomplished with a relatively small amount of Federal funding that has 
been leveraged many times over by State, local, and private sector 
dollars.
  On a daily basis, the NPS and Corridor Commission are working 
directly with community stakeholders to transform the Blackstone 
Corridor; raise its economic and environmental status; and preserve the 
historic mill buildings, riverfronts, and town centers of the 
Blackstone River Valley. The ongoing success of the Blackstone 
Corridor, and the Federal Government's role in the region's many 
triumphs, underscore our interest in determining a future role for the 
Corridor Commission and NPS in the Blackstone Valley beyond the 
existing sunset date.
  With authority for the Corridor Commission set to expire in November 
2006, we are introducing legislation today that would authorize the NPS 
to conduct a sustainability study exploring future options for the 
Blackstone Corridor. We are asking that the agency conduct this study 
within a one-year timeframe, utilizing annual funds that have been 
appropriated for the Commission. The John H. Chafee Blackstone River 
Valley National Heritage Corridor Sustainability Study includes the 
following components: An evaluation of the progress that has been made 
in accomplishing the strategies and goals set forth in the Cultural 
Heritage and Land Management Plan for the Blackstone Corridor, 
including historic preservation, interpretation and education, 
environmental recovery, recreational development, and economic 
improvement; an analysis of the NPS's investment in the Corridor during 
its lifetime and a determination as to how these Federal funds have 
leveraged additional State, local and private sector funding; an 
analysis of the NPS's investment in the Corridor during its lifetime 
and a determination as to how these Federal funds have leveraged 
additional State, local and private sector funding; an anslysis of the 
Commission form of authority and management structure for the 
Blackstone Corridor; and, an identification and evaluation of options 
for a permanent NPS designation or a State park or regional entity as a 
sustainable framework to achieve the national interest of the 
Blackstone Valley.
  I look forward to working closely with the cosponsors of this bill, 
as well as members of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and 
my Senate colleagues in moving this legislation forward in the months 
ahead.
  I ask by unanimous consent that the text of the legislation be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record as follows:

                                S. 2646

       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 ``John H. Chafee Blackstone 
     River Valley National Heritage Corridor Sustainability Report 
     Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor 
     (redesignated the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley 
     National Heritage Corridor in 1999) was established in 1986 
     in recognition of the national importance of the region as 
     the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution;
       (2) the Corridor has become a national model of how the 
     National Park Service can work cooperatively with local 
     communities and a multi-agency partnership to create a 
     seamless system of parks, preserved historic sites, and open 
     spaces that enhance the protection and understanding of 
     America's heritage, without Federal ownership and 
     regulations;
       (3) the Corridor is managed by a bi-State, 19-member 
     Federal commission representing Federal, State and local 
     authorities from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the 
     State of Rhode Island whose mandate has been to implement an 
     approved integrated resource management plan;
       (4) the authorization and funding for the John H. Chafee 
     Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Commission are 
     scheduled to expire in November 2006, while the Federal 
     designation of the area and its boundaries continues in 
     perpetuity; and
       (5) the National Park System Advisory Board will be 
     reviewing the future of all national heritage areas and 
     making recommendations to the Director of the National Park 
     Service and the Secretary of the Interior.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to explore the options for preserving, enhancing, and 
     interpreting the resources of the John H. Chafee Blackstone 
     River Corridor and the partnerships that sustain those 
     resources; and
       (2) to direct the Director of the National Park Service to 
     submit to Congress a report that--
       (A) analyzes the sustainability of the Corridor; and
       (B) provides recommendations for the future of the 
     Corridor.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Corridor.--The term ``Corridor'' means the John H. 
     Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
       (2) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the John H. 
     Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Commission.
       (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the National Park Service.

     SEC. 4. REPORT.

       (a) In General.--The Director shall prepare a report on the 
     sustainability of the Corridor.
       (b) Components.--The report prepared under subsection (a) 
     shall--
       (1) document the progress that has been made in 
     accomplishing the purpose of Public Law 99-647 (6 U.S.C. 461 
     note; 100 Stat. 3625) and the strategies and goals set forth 
     in the Cultural Heritage and Land Management Plan for the 
     Corridor, including--
       (A) historic preservation;
       (B) interpretation and education;
       (C) environmental recovery;
       (D) recreational development; and
       (E) economic improvement;
       (2) based on the results documented under paragraph (1), 
     identify further actions and commitments that are needed to 
     protect, enhance, and interpret the Corridor;
       (3)(A) determine the extent of Federal funding provided to 
     the Corridor; and
       (B) determine how the Federal funds have leveraged 
     additional Federal, State, local, and private funding for the 
     Corridor since the establishment of the Corridor; and
       (4)(A) evaluate the Commission form of authority and 
     management structure for the Corridor, as established by 
     Public Law 99-647 (6 U.S.C. 461 note; 100 Stat. 3625); and
       (B) identify and evaluate options for a permanent National 
     Park Service designation or a State park or regional entity 
     as a sustainable framework to achieve the national interest 
     of the Blackstone Valley.
       (c) Coordination.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
     Director shall prepare the report in coordination with the 
     National Park System Advisory Board.
       (d) Submission to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after 
     the date on which funds are made available to carry out this 
     Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Resources 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
     and Natural Resources of the Senate the report prepared under 
     subsection (a).
       (e) Funding.--Funding to prepare the report under this Act 
     shall be made available from annual appropriations for the 
     Commission.
                                 ______