[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     STE. GENEVIEVE COUNTY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE STUDY ACT OF 2005

  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1728) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the 
suitability and feasibility of designating the French Colonial Heritage 
Area in the State of Missouri as a unit of the National Park System, 
and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1728

       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 ``Ste. Genevieve County 
     National Historic Site Study Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Area.--The term ``Area'' means Ste. Genevieve County, 
     Missouri, which includes the Bequette-Ribault, St. Gemme-
     Amoureaux, and Wilhauk homes, and the related and supporting 
     historical assets located in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     SEC. 3. STUDY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the 
     Secretary shall, in consultation with the State of Missouri--
       (1) complete a study on the suitability and feasibility of 
     designating the Area as a unit of the National Park System, 
     which shall include the potential impact that designation of 
     the area as a unit of the National Park System is likely to 
     have on land within the proposed area or bordering the 
     proposed area that is privately owned at the time that the 
     study is conducted; and
       (2) submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources of the Senate a report describing the findings of 
     the study.
       (b) Contents.--The study under subsection (a) shall be 
     conducted in accordance with Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-
     1 et seq.).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Renzi) and the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RENZI. Mr. 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 Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RENZI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1728, introduced by Congressman Russ Carnahan of 
Missouri and amended by the Resources Committee, would authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the feasibility of 
designating the French Colonial Heritage Area in eastern Missouri as a 
unit of the National Park System. This area contains some of the only 
existing examples of the French colonial period settlement in North 
America dating to circa 1785.
  I urge adoption of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. RAHALL asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I do commend the gentleman from Missouri, 
Representative Carnahan, for valuing the historic and cultural 
resources which make his district unique and for seeking ways to 
interpret and share those resources more broadly.
  I spoke with him personally on the phone last night. He is in his 
district at the current time attending very important activities, but 
this legislation is just as important to him. Otherwise, he would be 
here speaking on this personally.
  If the study we are authorizing today should support such a move, we 
look forward to working with Representative Carnahan on legislation to 
make this area a unit of the National Park System.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1728.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1728, the 
Ste. Genevieve County National Historic Site Study Act of 2005.
  This bill will authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the 
feasibility of designating areas within Ste. Genevieve County, 
Missouri, as a unit of the National Park System.
  This study is important to the area, as it will help preserve the 
great history in the region.
  Ste. Genevieve's historical significance derives from French colonial 
settlement in Missouri.
  It was an outpost of the French empire and demonstrates France's 
efforts to colonize the central region of North America.
  Today, Ste. Genevieve remains steeped in French tradition, both 
culturally and architecturally.
  The historic region in Ste. Genevieve has a rich collection of 
resources, including a significant number of 18th century French 
colonial structures.
  Included in the proposed site study are two of the only five 
remaining vertical log houses known to survive in North America.
  Built around 1800, each stands together on their original sites, 
standing as a reflection of our history, which needs to be preserved 
for our future.
  In addition to these two homes, historic downtown Ste. Genevieve, as 
well as a common field used by French settlers, known as Le Grand 
Champ, are further examples of the history and tradition that exists in 
Ste. Genevieve County.
  This bill is important because the study will not only ensure the 
preservation of local colonial history, but it will result in economic 
development from increased tourism and entrepreneurship.
  I'd like to thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall for their 
work on this bill. I would also like to thank my colleague and co-
sponsor, Congresswoman Emerson for her support.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RENZI. 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 Arizona (Mr. Renzi) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1728, 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.
  The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and 
feasibility of designating portions of Ste. Genevieve County in the 
State of Missouri as a unit of the National Park System, and for other 
purposes.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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