[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 18 (Thursday, February 17, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1651-S1652]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DeWINE (for himself and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 431. A bill to establish a program to award grants to improve and 
maintain sites honoring Presidents of the United States; to the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise today along with my colleague, 
Senator Durbin, to introduce the Presidential Sites Improvement Act of 
2005. As we look forward to celebrating President's Day this coming 
Monday, I can think of no better way to honor our former Chief 
Executives than by passing this important piece of legislation.
  The Presidential Sites Improvement Act would create a new and 
innovative partnership with public and private entities to preserve and 
maintain Presidential sites, such as birthplaces, homes, memorials, and 
tombs. It is our duty to preserve these sites so that future 
generations of Americans can gain a better understanding of those who 
influenced the development of our great Nation.
  In an era when innovative technology has been incorporated into the 
curriculum in schools throughout the country, we often forget that one 
of the best learning tools is that which a child can touch and see. 
Visiting the birthplace or home of the same individuals talked about in 
the classroom or read about online provides a completely different 
atmosphere to appreciate history. The opportunity to visit the actual 
birthplaces, homes, memorials, and tombs provides a real-life glimpse 
into the lives of our former Presidents.
  Currently, family foundations, colleges and universities, libraries, 
historical societies, historic preservation organizations, and other 
non-profit organizations own the majority of these sites. These 
entities often have little funding and are unable to meet the demands 
of maintaining such important sites because operating costs must be met 
before maintenance needs. As a result, these sites are left to 
deteriorate slowly.
  I have visited many of the Presidential historic sites throughout my 
home State of Ohio, a State that has been the home of eight Presidents. 
I was disturbed during one such visit to the Ulysses S. Grant house. 
There, I saw the discoloration and falling plaster due to water damage. 
At the home of President Warren Harding, the front porch was pulling 
away from the house--the very same porch where President Harding 
delivered his now famous campaign speeches. Fortunately, we were able 
to obtain funding to prevent these two historic treasures from 
deteriorating further. We need to continue to provide Federal 
assistance for maintenance projects today in order to prevent larger 
maintenance problems tomorrow.
  These sites are far too important to let slowly decay. Our 
legislation would authorize grants, administered by the National Park 
Service, for maintenance and improvement projects on Presidential sites 
that are not federally owned or managed. A portion of the funds would 
be set aside for sites that are in need of emergency assistance. To 
administer this new program, this legislation would establish a five-
member committee, including the Director of the National Park Service, 
a member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and a State 
historic preservation officer. This committee would make grant 
recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior. Each grant would 
require that half of the funds come from non-Federal sources. Up to $5 
million would be made available annually.
  The Presidential Sites Improvement Act would make sure that every 
American has the chance to appreciate a real piece of history--a chance 
at understanding the lives of the great men who have led our Nation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the legislation I have just 
introduced be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 431

       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 ``Presidential Sites 
     Improvement Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) there are many sites honoring Presidents located 
     throughout the United States, including Presidential 
     birthplaces, homes, museums, burial sites, and tombs;
       (2) most of the sites are owned, operated, and maintained 
     by non-Federal entities such as State and local agencies, 
     family foundations, colleges and universities, libraries, 
     historical societies, historic preservation organizations, 
     and other nonprofit organizations;
       (3) Presidential sites are often expensive to maintain;
       (4) many Presidential sites are in need of capital, 
     technological, and interpretive display improvements for 
     which funding is insufficient or unavailable; and
       (5) to promote understanding of the history of the United 
     States by recognizing and preserving historic sites linked to 
     Presidents of the United States, the Federal Government 
     should provide grants for the maintenance and improvement of 
     Presidential sites.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Grant commission.--The term ``Grant Commission'' means 
     the Presidential Site Grant Commission established by section 
     4(d).
       (2) Presidential site.--The term ``Presidential site'' 
     means a site that is--
       (A) related to a President of the United States;
       (B) of national significance;
       (C) managed, maintained, and operated for, and is 
     accessible to, the public; and
       (D) owned or operated by--
       (i) a State; or
       (ii) a private institution, organization, or person.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     SEC. 4. GRANTS FOR PRESIDENTIAL SITES.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants for major 
     maintenance and improvement projects at Presidential sites to 
     owners or operators of Presidential sites in accordance with 
     this section.
       (b) Use of Grant Funds.--
       (1) In general.--A grant awarded under this section may be 
     used for--

[[Page S1652]]

       (A) repairs or capital improvements at a Presidential site 
     (including new construction for necessary modernization) such 
     as--
       (i) installation or repair of heating or air conditioning 
     systems, security systems, or electric service; or
       (ii) modifications at a Presidential site to achieve 
     compliance with requirements under titles II and III of the 
     Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et 
     seq.); and
       (B) interpretive improvements to enhance public 
     understanding and enjoyment of a Presidential site.
       (2) Allocation of funds.--
       (A) In general.--Of the funds made available to award 
     grants under this Act--
       (i) 15 percent shall be used for emergency projects, as 
     determined by the Secretary;
       (ii) 65 percent shall be used for grants for Presidential 
     sites with--

       (I) a 3-year average annual operating budget of less than 
     $700,000 (not including the amount of any grant received 
     under this section); and
       (II) an endowment in an amount that is less than 3 times 
     the annual operating budget of the site; and

       (iii) 20 percent shall be used for grants for Presidential 
     sites with--

       (I) an annual operating budget of $700,000 or more (not 
     including the amount of any grant received under this 
     section); and
       (II) an endowment in an amount that is equal to or more 
     than 3 times the annual operating budget of the site.

       (B) Unexpended funds.--If any funds allocated for a 
     category of projects described in subparagraph (A) are 
     unexpended, the Secretary may use the funds to award grants 
     for another category of projects described in that 
     subparagraph.
       (c) Application and Award Procedure.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than a date to be determined by 
     the Secretary, an owner or operator of a Presidential site 
     may submit to the Secretary an application for a grant under 
     this section.
       (2) Involvement of grant commission.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary shall forward each 
     application received under paragraph (1) to the Grant 
     Commission.
       (B) Consideration by grant commission.--Not later than 60 
     days after receiving an application from the Secretary under 
     subparagraph (A), the Grant Commission shall return the 
     application to the Secretary with a recommendation of whether 
     the proposed project should be awarded a Presidential site 
     grant.
       (C) Recommendation of grant commission.--In making a 
     decision to award a Presidential site grant under this 
     section, the Secretary shall take into consideration any 
     recommendation of the Grant Commission.
       (3) Award.--Not later than 180 days after receiving an 
     application for a Presidential site grant under paragraph 
     (1), the Secretary shall--
       (A) award a Presidential site grant to the applicant; or
       (B) notify the applicant, in writing, of the decision of 
     the Secretary not to award a Presidential site grant.
       (4) Matching requirements.--
       (A) In general.--The Federal share of the cost of a project 
     at a Presidential site for which a grant is awarded under 
     this section shall not exceed 50 percent.
       (B) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
     of a project at a Presidential site for which a grant is 
     awarded under this section may be provided in cash or in 
     kind.
       (d) Presidential Site Grant Commission.--
       (1) In general.--There is established the Presidential Site 
     Grant Commission.
       (2) Composition.--The Grant Commission shall be composed 
     of--
       (A) the Director of the National Park Service; and
       (B) 4 members appointed by the Secretary as follows:
       (i) A State historic preservation officer.
       (ii) A representative of the National Trust for Historic 
     Preservation.
       (iii) A representative of a site described in subsection 
     (b)(2)(A)(ii).
       (iv) A representative of a site described in subsection 
     (b)(2)(A)(iii).
       (3) Term.--A member of the Grant Commission shall serve a 
     term of 2 years.
       (4) Duties.--The Grant Commission shall--
       (A) review applications for Presidential site grants 
     received under subsection (c); and
       (B) recommend to the Secretary projects for which 
     Presidential site grants should be awarded.
       (5) Ineligibility of sites during term of representative.--
     A site described in clause (iii) or (iv) of paragraph (2)(B) 
     shall be ineligible for a grant under this Act during the 2-
     year period in which a representative of the site serves on 
     the Grant Commission.
       (6) Nonapplicability of faca.--The Grant Commission shall 
     not be subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
     U.S.C. App.).
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this Act $5,000,000 for each 
     of fiscal years 2006 through 2010, to remain available until 
     expended.
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