[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 108 (Monday, September 13, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7020-H7021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS NATIONAL MONUMENT PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION ACT

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 2457) to authorize funds for an educational center for 
the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, and for other purposes, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2457

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

   TITLE I--CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS NATIONAL MONUMENT PRESERVATION ACT

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Castillo de San Marcos 
     National Monument Preservation and Education Act''.

     SEC. 102. VISITOR CENTER.

       (a) Authorization.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations and the project being prioritized in the 
     National Park Services 5-year, line-item construction 
     program, the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this 
     section as the ``Secretary'') may design and construct a 
     Visitor Center for the Castillo de San Marcos National 
     Monument (referred to in this section as the ``Monument'').
       (b) Preferred Alternative.--The Visitor Center authorized 
     in subsection (a) shall be located and constructed in 
     accordance with the Preferred Alternative identified in the 
     Record of Decision for the General Management Plan for the 
     Monument, expected to be signed in 2005.

     SEC. 103. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT.

       The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with 
     the City of St. Augustine, Florida, the Colonial St. 
     Augustine Preservation Foundation, other Federal, State, and 
     local departments or agencies, academic institutions, and 
     non-profit entities for the planning and design, 
     construction, management, and operation of the Visitor 
     Center.

     SEC. 104. BOUNDARY EXPANSION.

       (a) Property Acquisition.--If the Preferred Alternative for 
     the Visitor Center authorized by section 102 is located 
     outside the boundary of the Monument, the Secretary is 
     authorized to acquire the site for the Visitor Center, from 
     willing sellers, by donation, purchase with donated or 
     appropriated funds, or by exchange.
       (b) Administration of Newly Acquired Land.--Land added to 
     the Monument pursuant to subsection (a) shall be administered 
     by the Secretary in accordance with applicable laws and 
     regulations.
       (c) Boundary Modification.--The boundary of the Monument 
     shall be modified to reflect the acquisition of land 
     authorized in subsection (a) after completion of the 
     acquisition.

     SEC. 105. PROJECT APPROVAL.

       Prior to initiating any planning, design, or construction 
     on the Visitor Center authorized by section 102, the project 
     must be reviewed and approved by the National Park Service 
     consistent with partnership construction guidelines 
     established by that agency.

      TITLE II--CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS NATIONAL MONUMENT BOUNDARY 
                              MODIFICATION

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Castillo de San Marcos 
     National Monument Boundary Adjustment Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 202. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The early defense lines for Fort Marion, Florida, today 
     known as the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, 
     included defenses extending in a line due west to the 
     Sebastian River, a distance of about one half mile.
       (2) In the 1830's, during the Seminole Wars in Florida, 
     these defensive lines were maintained, but as Florida became 
     more settled they fell into disrepair and/or became obsolete.
       (3) In 1908 the War Department deeded much of the property 
     running west to the Sebastian River to the St. Johns County 
     Board of Public Instruction. The portion of this property 
     remaining in federal ownership today is occupied by Orange 
     Street, a City of St. Augustine, Florida street.
       (4) For nearly a century, the City of St. Augustine has 
     maintained and managed Orange Street, a modern city street, 
     and associated utilities in the Orange Street corridor.
       (5) Any archeological remains that are still present on the 
     property overlaid by Orange Street are adequately protected 
     by the City's archeological ordinances, and by the City 
     having an archeologist on staff.
       (6) Although the city currently operates Orange Street 
     under a right-of-way from the National Park Service, from a 
     management perspective it is appropriate for the City of St. 
     Augustine to own Orange Street.

     SEC. 203. BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT.

       (a) Conveyance of Land.--The Secretary of the Interior 
     shall convey, without consideration, to the City of St. 
     Augustine, Florida, all right, title, and interest of the 
     United States in and to the lands known as Orange Street, a 
     portion of the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument 
     (Monument), consisting of approximately 3.1 acres, as shown 
     on the map entitled Castillo de San Marcos National Monument 
     Boundary Adjustment and Correction, numbered 343/80060, and 
     dated April 2003. Upon completion of the conveyance, the 
     Secretary shall revise the boundary of the Monument to 
     exclude the land conveyed.
       (b) Boundary Revision.--Effective on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the boundary of the Monument is 
     revised to include an area of approximately 0.45 acres, as 
     shown on the map identified in subsection (a). The Secretary 
     shall administer the lands included in the boundary as part 
     of the national monument in accordance with applicable laws 
     and regulations.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Blackburn). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Mr. Bordallo) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).


                             General Leave

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Mica).
  Mr. MICA. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2457, the Castillo 
de San Marcos National Monument Preservation and Education Act. It is 
also entitled the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Boundary 
Adjustment Act of 2004. I thank the gentleman for taking me out of 
order at the beginning as sponsor of this legislation to explain it for 
a second and speak in support.
  The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is the oldest existing 
permanent seacoast fortification in the continental United States. This 
is not only a unique national park, but also a

[[Page H7021]]

national treasure. This 16th century fortress is the most complete and 
historic fortification in the United States. The star-shaped fort, 
surrounding moat, and earthworks were constructed between 1672 and 1756 
to protect Spanish territory in Florida and the shipping routes along 
the coast.
  This National Monument was the site of a British garrison during the 
American Revolution and was last employed for defense purposes in 1898 
during the Spanish-American War.
  Madam Speaker, more than 1.5 million tourists visit this National 
Monument each year. This 16th century fortress, while it has never been 
conquered in battle, is straining under the modern-day requirements to 
accommodate its growing visitors' population.
  I have been working with the Colonial St. Augustine Preservation 
Foundation, the City of St. Augustine and the National Park Service to 
improve and expand educational resources and public accommodations at 
this national park site.
  As Members can imagine, adapting a four-century old structure with 
adequate public facilities, meeting handicap and disability standards 
and visitor educational facility requirements is not an easy task. This 
bill authorizes funding for both the museum, education and visitor 
center facilities to compliment and serve this important 16th century 
structure.
  For the first time, this legislation appropriately authorizes the use 
of Federal funds to construct this visitor center and educational 
resource center for the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. Not 
only will this new visitor center assist the fort in maintaining its 
historical integrity, but it will also accommodate visitors' needs and 
provide a great educational experience.
  The Park Service is expected to complete a general management plan in 
the following months which will include design, planning and 
construction options at the facility. This legislation will properly 
authorize a major infrastructure improvement for our National Park 
Service.
  Finally, this bill will preserve for future generations this historic 
site, and will add to the enjoyment and education for both visitors and 
local citizens.
  Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Radanovich), the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo), and others 
on both sides of the aisle for their help in pushing this legislation 
forward and urge its adoption.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Ms. BORDALLO asked and was given permission to revise and extend her 
remarks.)
  Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, a new general management plan which will 
guide this National Monument called the Castillo de San Marcos National 
Monument for the next 10 to 15 years is currently being developed. As 
with the development of any new GMP, this is an extensive process which 
relies heavy on input from local communities as well as interested 
parties from around our country. Clearly, one of the most important 
issues to be resolved in this new GMP is the need for a visitor 
facility at the monument.
  As introduced, we were concerned that H.R. 2457 effectively prejudged 
the issue of a visitor facility by mandating that one of the options on 
the table would be selected before the GMP process identified a 
preferred alternative. However, working with the sponsor of the 
legislation and the National Park Service, the bill before us today has 
been amended to simply provide the NPS with the funding and 
authorization necessary to implement whatever the GMP identifies as the 
best option.
  Madam Speaker, we appreciate the cooperation of everyone involved, 
and urge our colleagues to support H.R. 2457.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2457, 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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