[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 119 (Tuesday, September 28, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7670-H7671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1530
          MANHATTAN PROJECT NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK STUDY ACT

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S.1687) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a study on the preservation and interpretation of the historic sites of 
the Manhattan Project for potential inclusion in the National Park 
System.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1687

       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 ``Manhattan Project National 
     Historical Park Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (2) Study.--The term ``study'' means the study authorized 
     by section 3(a).
       (3) Study area.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``study area'' means the 
     historically significant sites associated with the Manhattan 
     Project.
       (B) Inclusions.--The term ``study area'' includes--
       (i) Los Alamos National Laboratory and townsite in the 
     State of New Mexico;
       (ii) the Hanford Site in the State of Washington; and
       (iii) Oak Ridge Reservation in the State of Tennessee.

     SEC. 3. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) Study.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Energy, shall conduct a special resource study 
     of the study area to assess the national significance, 
     suitability, and feasibility of designating 1 or more sites 
     within the study area as a unit of

[[Page H7671]]

     the National Park System in accordance with section 8(c) of 
     Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)).
       (2) Administration.--In conducting the study, the Secretary 
     shall--
       (A) consult with interested Federal, State, tribal, and 
     local officials, representatives of organizations, and 
     members of the public;
       (B) evaluate, in coordination with the Secretary of Energy, 
     the compatibility of designating 1 or more sites within the 
     study area as a unit of the National Park System with 
     maintaining the security, productivity, and management goals 
     of the Department of Energy and public health and safety; and
       (C) consider research in existence on the date of enactment 
     of this Act by the Department of Energy on the historical 
     significance and feasibility of preserving and interpreting 
     the various sites and structures in the study area.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which 
     funds are made available to carry out the study, the 
     Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes 
     the findings of the study and the conclusions and 
     recommendations of the Secretary.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Issa). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich) and the gentlewoman from 
Guam (Ms. Bordallo) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Radanovich).
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S.1687, introduced by Senator Bingaman of New Mexico, 
would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the 
preservation and interpretation of the historic sites of the Manhattan 
Project, such as Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico or the 
Hanford site in Washington State. The gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
Hastings) has authored the House companion bill, H.R. 3207, and has 
asked us to move the Senate bill in the interest of time, and I urge 
adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the sponsor of this bill, 
Senator Bingaman of New Mexico, and urge its favorable consideration.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Speaker, as the author of the House 
version of the ``Manhattan Project National Historical Study Act'' I 
rise today to offer my support for this legislation. Senator Cantwell 
and I have worked together across party lines to develop this proposal 
because it's important to the people of Central Washington. And, 
because it presents a unique opportunity to share a piece of our 
Nation's history. I am pleased that our plan has been brought up for 
consideration today and I encourage my colleagues to support it.
  By providing for a study of our nation's Manhattan Project Sites, we 
take an important first step towards the goal of making Hanford's B 
Reactor into a museum. This is the first step in preserving the 
historic B Reactor for generations to come.
  In 1943, only months after Enrico Fermi first demonstrated that 
controlled nuclear reaction was possible, ground was broken on the B 
Reactor--which went on to become the first full-scale plutonium 
production reactor. An integral part of the Manhattan Project, B 
Reactor produced the plutonium for the bomb dropped on Nagasaki that 
helped win World War II.
  From a scientific standpoint, the B Reactor is a testament to 
American ingenuity and innovation. From a historical standpoint it 
represents a part of Central Washington's past and our Nation's past 
that should not be forgotten. For those who didn't live through World 
War II--the B Reactor helps tell the story of a workforce that 
contributed to our Nation's defense for so many years.
  Walking through the B Reactor is like catching a glimpse into the 
1940's. Because it has been left largely intact, the tour gives you a 
very real sense of what it might have been like to work at the B 
Reactor.
  The B Reactor Museum Association and the local community are driving 
forces behind this project. I share their enthusiasm for preservation 
of the B Reactor and I believe this proposal is a great step towards 
making this project a reality.
  It is especially appropriate that the House consider this proposal 
today because the local community will be celebrating B Reactor's 60th 
Anniversary on October 9th. I can think of no better way to commemorate 
this anniversary and honor those who worked at B Reactor than approving 
this bill and sending it to the President's desk.
  As an author of this bipartisan plan, I encourage my colleagues to 
support the ``Manhattan Project National Historical Study Act'' so that 
we can begin studying how best to share the story of the B Reactor, and 
the Nation's other Manhattan Project Sites with future generations.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, 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 Senate bill, S. 1687.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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