[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 46 (Monday, April 18, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3819-S3821]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  By Mr. CORZINE (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg):
  S. 825. A bill to establish the Crossroads of the American Revolution 
National Heritage Area in the State of New Jersey, and for other 
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, today, along with Senator Lautenberg, I 
am introducing legislation, the Crossroads of the American Revolution 
National Heritage Area Act, to establish the Crossroads of the American 
Revolution National Heritage Area in the State of New Jersey. I am 
proud to be joining my New Jersey colleagues, Representatives Rodney 
Frelinghuysen and Rush Holt, who have introduced this legislation in 
the House of Representatives, with the support of the entire New Jersey 
delegation.
  This legislation recognizes the critical role that New Jersey played 
during the American Revolution. In fact, New Jersey was the site of 
nearly 300 military engagements that helped determine the course of our 
history as a Nation. Many of these locations, like the site where 
George Washington made his historic crossing of the Delaware River, are 
well known and preserved. Others, such as the Monmouth Battlefield 
State Park in Manalapan and Freehold, and New Bridge Landing in River 
Edge, are less well known and are threatened by development or in 
critical need of funding for rehabilitation.
  To help preserve New Jersey's Revolutionary War sites, this 
legislation would establish a Crossroads of the American Revolution 
National Heritage Area, linking about 250 sites in 15 counties. This 
designation would authorize $10 million to assist preservation, 
recreational and educational efforts by the State, county and local 
governments as well as private cultural and tourism groups. The program 
would be managed by the non-profit Crossroads of the American 
Revolution Association.
  Simply put, we are the Nation that we are today because of the 
critical events that occurred in New Jersey during the American 
Revolution and the many who died fighting there. By enacting the 
Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area Act of 
2005, we will pay tribute to the patriots who fought and died in New 
Jersey so that we might become a Nation free from tyranny.
  In the 107th Congress, I was proud to see the Senate approve this 
legislation as part of a bipartisan package of heritage area bills. 
Unfortunately, the bill was not approved in the House of 
Representatives. I will work even harder in the 109th Congress to see 
that this important legislation passes both houses and goes to the 
President's desk for his signature. I hope my colleagues will support 
this legislation, and I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill 
be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

[[Page S3820]]

                                 S. 825

       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 ``Crossroads of the American 
     Revolution National Heritage Area Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the State of New Jersey was critically important during 
     the American Revolution because of the strategic location of 
     the State between the British armies headquartered in New 
     York City, New York, and the Continental Congress in the city 
     of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
       (2) General George Washington spent almost half of the 
     period of the American Revolution personally commanding 
     troops of the Continental Army in the State of New Jersey, 
     including 2 severe winters spent in encampments in the area 
     that is now Morristown National Historical Park, a unit of 
     the National Park System;
       (3) it was during the 10 crucial days of the American 
     Revolution between December 25, 1776, and January 3, 1777, 
     that General Washington, after retreating across the State of 
     New Jersey from the State of New York to the State of 
     Pennsylvania in the face of total defeat, recrossed the 
     Delaware River on the night of December 25, 1776, and went on 
     to win crucial battles at Trenton and Princeton in the State 
     of New Jersey;
       (4) Thomas Paine, who accompanied the troops during the 
     retreat, described the events during those days as ``the 
     times that try men's souls'';
       (5) the sites of 296 military engagements are located in 
     the State of New Jersey, including--
       (A) several important battles of the American Revolution 
     that were significant to--
       (i) the outcome of the American Revolution; and
       (ii) the history of the United States; and
       (B) several national historic landmarks, including 
     Washington's Crossing, the Old Trenton Barracks, and 
     Princeton, Monmouth, and Red Bank Battlefields;
       (6) additional national historic landmarks in the State of 
     New Jersey include the homes of--
       (A) Richard Stockton, Joseph Hewes, John Witherspoon, and 
     Francis Hopkinson, signers of the Declaration of 
     Independence;
       (B) Elias Boudinout, President of the Continental Congress; 
     and
       (C) William Livingston, patriot and Governor of the State 
     of New Jersey from 1776 to 1790;
       (7) portions of the landscapes important to the strategies 
     of the British and Continental armies, including waterways, 
     mountains, farms, wetlands, villages, and roadways--
       (A) retain the integrity of the period of the American 
     Revolution; and
       (B) offer outstanding opportunities for conservation, 
     education, and recreation;
       (8) the National Register of Historic Places lists 251 
     buildings and sites in the National Park Service study area 
     for the Crossroads of the American Revolution that are 
     associated with the period of the American Revolution;
       (9) civilian populations residing in the State of New 
     Jersey during the American Revolution suffered extreme 
     hardships because of--
       (A) the continuous conflict in the State;
       (B) foraging armies; and
       (C) marauding contingents of loyalist Tories and rebel 
     sympathizers;
       (10) because of the important role that the State of New 
     Jersey played in the successful outcome of the American 
     Revolution, there is a Federal interest in developing a 
     regional framework to assist the State of New Jersey, local 
     governments and organizations, and private citizens in--
       (A) preserving and protecting cultural, historic, and 
     natural resources of the period; and
       (B) bringing recognition to those resources for the 
     educational and recreational benefit of the present and 
     future generations of citizens of the United States; and
       (11) the National Park Service has conducted a national 
     heritage area feasibility study in the State of New Jersey 
     that demonstrates that there is a sufficient assemblage of 
     nationally distinctive cultural, historic, and natural 
     resources necessary to establish the Crossroads of the 
     American Revolution National Heritage Area.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to assist communities, organizations, and citizens in 
     the State of New Jersey in preserving--
       (A) the special historic identity of the State; and
       (B) the importance of the State to the United States;
       (2) to foster a close working relationship among all levels 
     of government, the private sector, and local communities in 
     the State;
       (3) to provide for the management, preservation, 
     protection, and interpretation of the cultural, historic, and 
     natural resources of the State for the educational and 
     inspirational benefit of future generations;
       (4) to strengthen the value of Morristown National 
     Historical Park as an asset to the State by--
       (A) establishing a network of related historic resources, 
     protected landscapes, educational opportunities, and events 
     depicting the landscape of the State of New Jersey during the 
     American Revolution; and
       (B) establishing partnerships between Morristown National 
     Historical Park and other public and privately owned 
     resources in the Heritage Area that represent the strategic 
     fulcrum of the American Revolution; and
       (5) to authorize Federal financial and technical assistance 
     for the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (4).

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Association.--The term ``Association'' means the 
     Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Inc., a 
     nonprofit corporation in the State.
       (2) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
     Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area 
     established by section 4(a).
       (3) Management entity.--The term ``management entity'' 
     means the management entity for the Heritage Area designated 
     by section 4(d).
       (4) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the management plan for the Heritage Area developed under 
     section 5.
       (5) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled 
     ``Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage 
     Area'', numbered CRREL80,000, and dated April 2002.
       (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (7) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of New 
     Jersey.

     SEC. 4. CROSSROADS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION NATIONAL 
                   HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the State the 
     Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area.
       (b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall consist of the 
     land and water within the boundaries of the Heritage Area, as 
     depicted on the map.
       (c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (d) Management Entity.--The Association shall be the 
     management entity for the Heritage Area.

     SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are first made available to carry out this Act, 
     the management entity shall submit to the Secretary for 
     approval a management plan for the Heritage Area.
       (b) Requirements.--The management plan shall--
       (1) include comprehensive policies, strategies, and 
     recommendations for conservation, funding, management, and 
     development of the Heritage Area;
       (2) take into consideration existing State, county, and 
     local plans;
       (3) describe actions that units of local government, 
     private organizations, and individuals have agreed to take to 
     protect the cultural, historic, and natural resources of the 
     Heritage Area;
       (4) identify existing and potential sources of funding for 
     the protection, management, and development of the Heritage 
     Area during the first 5 years of implementation of the 
     management plan; and
       (5) include--
       (A) an inventory of the cultural, educational, historic, 
     natural, recreational, and scenic resources of the Heritage 
     Area relating to the themes of the Heritage Area that should 
     be restored, managed, or developed;
       (B) recommendations of policies and strategies for resource 
     management that result in--
       (i) application of appropriate land and water management 
     techniques; and
       (ii) development of intergovernmental and interagency 
     cooperative agreements to protect the cultural, educational, 
     historic, natural, recreational, and scenic resources of the 
     Heritage Area;
       (C) a program of implementation of the management plan that 
     includes for the first 5 years of implementation--
       (i) plans for resource protection, restoration, 
     construction; and
       (ii) specific commitments for implementation that have been 
     made by the management entity or any government, 
     organization, or individual;
       (D) an analysis of and recommendations for ways in which 
     Federal, State, and local programs, including programs of the 
     National Park Service, may be best coordinated to promote the 
     purposes of this Act; and
       (E) an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area.
       (c) Approval or Disapproval of Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     receipt of the management plan under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall approve or disapprove the management plan.
       (2) Criteria.--In determining whether to approve the 
     management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether--
       (A) the Board of Directors of the management entity is 
     representative of the diverse interests of the Heritage Area, 
     including--
       (i) governments;
       (ii) natural and historic resource protection 
     organizations;
       (iii) educational institutions;
       (iv) businesses; and
       (v) recreational organizations;
       (B) the management entity provided adequate opportunity for 
     public and governmental involvement in the preparation of the 
     management plan, including public hearings;

[[Page S3821]]

       (C) the resource protection and interpretation strategies 
     in the management plan would adequately protect the cultural, 
     historic, and natural resources of the Heritage Area; and
       (D) the Secretary has received adequate assurances from the 
     appropriate State and local officials whose support is needed 
     to ensure the effective implementation of the State and local 
     aspects of the management plan.
       (3) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary 
     disapproves the management plan under paragraph (1), the 
     Secretary shall--
       (A) advise the management entity in writing of the reasons 
     for the disapproval;
       (B) make recommendations for revisions to the management 
     plan; and
       (C) not later than 60 days after the receipt of any 
     proposed revision of the management plan from the management 
     entity, approve or disapprove the proposed revision.
       (d) Amendments.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall approve or disapprove 
     each amendment to the management plan that the Secretary 
     determines may make a substantial change to the management 
     plan.
       (2) Use of funds.--Funds made available under this Act 
     shall not be expended by the management entity to implement 
     an amendment described in paragraph (1) until the Secretary 
     approves the amendment.
       (e) Implementation.--On completion of the 3-year period 
     described in subsection (a), any funding made available under 
     this Act shall be made available to the management entity 
     only for implementation of the approved management plan.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORITIES, DUTIES, AND PROHIBITIONS APPLICABLE TO 
                   THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY.

       (a) Authorities.--For purposes of preparing and 
     implementing the management plan, the management entity may 
     use funds made available under this Act to--
       (1) make grants to, provide technical assistance to, and 
     enter into cooperative agreements with, the State (including 
     a political subdivision), a nonprofit organization, or any 
     other person;
       (2) hire and compensate staff, including individuals with 
     expertise in--
       (A) cultural, historic, or natural resource protection; or
       (B) heritage programming;
       (3) obtain funds or services from any source (including a 
     Federal law or program);
       (4) contract for goods or services; and
       (5) support any other activity--
       (A) that furthers the purposes of the Heritage Area; and
       (B) that is consistent with the management plan.
       (b) Duties.--In addition to developing the management plan, 
     the management entity shall--
       (1) assist units of local government, regional planning 
     organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing 
     the approved management plan by--
       (A) carrying out programs and projects that recognize, 
     protect, and enhance important resource values in the 
     Heritage Area;
       (B) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and 
     programs in the Heritage Area;
       (C) developing recreational and educational opportunities 
     in the Heritage Area;
       (D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for 
     cultural, historic, and natural resources of the Heritage 
     Area;
       (E) protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings 
     that are--
       (i) located in the Heritage Area; and
       (ii) related to the themes of the Heritage Area;
       (F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and appropriate signs 
     identifying points of public access and sites of interest are 
     installed throughout the Heritage Area; and
       (G) promoting a wide range of partnerships among 
     governments, organizations, and individuals to further the 
     purposes of the Heritage Area;
       (2) in preparing and implementing the management plan, 
     consider the interests of diverse units of government, 
     businesses, organizations, and individuals in the Heritage 
     Area;
       (3) conduct public meetings at least semiannually regarding 
     the development and implementation of the management plan;
       (4) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds are 
     received under this Act--
       (A) submit to the Secretary a report that describes for the 
     year--
       (i) the accomplishments of the management entity;
       (ii) the expenses and income of the management entity; and
       (iii) each entity to which a grant was made;
       (B) make available for audit all information relating to 
     the expenditure of the funds and any matching funds; and
       (C) require, for all agreements authorizing expenditures of 
     Federal funds by any entity, that the receiving entity make 
     available for audit all records and other information 
     relating to the expenditure of the funds;
       (5) encourage, by appropriate means, economic viability 
     that is consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area; 
     and
       (6) maintain headquarters for the management entity at 
     Morristown National Historical Park and in Mercer County.
       (c) Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real Property.--
       (1) Federal funds.--The management entity shall not use 
     Federal funds made available under this Act to acquire real 
     property or any interest in real property.
       (2) Other funds.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the 
     management entity may acquire real property or an interest in 
     real property using any other source of funding, including 
     other Federal funding.

     SEC. 7. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; OTHER FEDERAL 
                   AGENCIES.

       (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--On the request of the management entity, 
     the Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance 
     to the Heritage Area for the development and implementation 
     of the management plan.
       (2) Priority for assistance.--In providing assistance under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to actions 
     that assist in--
       (A) conserving the significant cultural, historic, natural, 
     and scenic resources of the Heritage Area; and
       (B) providing educational, interpretive, and recreational 
     opportunities consistent with the purposes of the Heritage 
     Area.
       (3) Operational assistance.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, the Superintendent of Morristown National 
     Historical Park may, on request, provide to public and 
     private organizations in the Heritage Area, including the 
     management entity, any operational assistance that is 
     appropriate for the purpose of supporting the implementation 
     of the management plan.
       (4) Preservation of historic properties.--To carry out the 
     purposes of this Act, the Secretary may provide assistance to 
     a State or local government or nonprofit organization to 
     provide for the appropriate treatment of--
       (A) historic objects; or
       (B) structures that are listed or eligible for listing on 
     the National Register of Historic Places.
       (5) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary may enter into 
     cooperative agreements with the management entity and other 
     public or private entities to carry out this subsection.
       (b) Other Federal Agencies.--Any Federal agency conducting 
     or supporting an activity that directly affects the Heritage 
     Area shall--
       (1) consult with the Secretary and the management entity 
     regarding the activity;
       (2)(A) cooperate with the Secretary and the management 
     entity in carrying out the of the Federal agency under this 
     Act; and
       (B) to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate the 
     activity with the carrying out of those duties; and
       (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct the activity 
     to avoid adverse effects on the Heritage Area.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this Act $10,000,000, of which not more than 
     $1,000,000 may be authorized to be appropriated for any 
     fiscal year.
       (b) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The Federal share of the 
     cost of any activity assisted under this Act shall be not 
     more than 50 percent.

     SEC. 9. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
     this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
                                 ______