[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 130 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8046-S8047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. LANDRIEU:
  S. 3449. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the 
suitability and feasibility of designating sites in the Lower 
Mississippi River Area in the State of Louisiana as a unit of the 
National Park System, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
entitled the Lower Mississippi River National Historic Site Study Act. 
This bill will direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the 
suitability and feasibility of designating sites in Plaquemines Parish 
along the Lower Mississippi River Area as a unit of the National Park 
System. To be eligible for favorable consideration as a unit of the 
National Park System, an area must possess nationally significant 
natural, cultural or recreational resources. The Lower Mississippi 
River area in Plaquemines Parish meets and exceeds these criteria.

[[Page S8047]]

  I am proud to come to the floor today to introduce this bill. Anyone 
who has visited Plaquemines Parish knows that it is one of the Nation's 
unique treasures. The natural beauty there at the mouth of the 
Mississippi is impossible to describe, but impossible not to love. The 
area is rich in history, and it is a preserve for one of the nation's 
most unique cultural melanges.
  That mix began after the Native Americans in the region began to 
intermingle with the Spanish explorers who traveled along the banks of 
the river in the 1500s. In 1682, Rene-Robert Cavelier de LaSalle 
claimed all the land drained by the Mississippi for France area. In 
1699, the area became the site of the first fortification on the Lower 
Mississippi River, known as Fort Mississippi. Since then, it has been 
the home to 10 different fortifications, including Fort St. Philip and 
Fort Jackson.
  Fort St. Philip, originally built in 1749, proved to be instrumental 
during the Battle of New Orleans by blocking the British Navy from 
going up river. Fort Jackson was built at the request of General Andrew 
Jackson and partially constructed by famous local Civil War General 
P.G.T. Beauregard. This fort was the site of the famous Civil War 
battle know as the ``Battle of Forts'' which is also referred to as the 
``night the war was lost.''
  As this glimpse of the region's military history shows, the Lower 
Plaquemines region is of national cultural and historical significance.
  There are also many other important and unique attributes to this 
area. This area is home to the longest continuous river road and levee 
system in the U.S. It is also home to the ancient Head of Passes site, 
Plaquemines Bend, geological features and two national wildlife 
refuges.
  Finally, the area has a rich cultural heritage. Over the years, many 
different cultures have made this area home including Creoles, 
Europeans, Indians, Yugoslavs, African-Americans and Vietnamese. These 
cultures have worked together to create the infrastructure for 
transportation of our Nation's energy which is being produced by these 
same people out in the Gulf of Mexico off our shores. They have also 
created a fishing industry that contributes to Louisiana's economy.
  I think it is easy to see why this area would make an excellent 
addition to the National Park Service. I hope that my colleagues will 
join me in supporting this bill which simply allows the National Park 
Service to study the suitability and feasibility of bringing this area 
into the system. I look forward to working with my colleagues to 
quickly enact this bill.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 3449

       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 ``Lower Mississippi River 
     National Historic Site Study Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) the Lower Mississippi area located south of New 
     Orleans, Louisiana, which is known as ``Plaquemines Parish'', 
     has great historical significance;
       (2) from the earliest Spanish explorers traveling along the 
     banks of the Lower Mississippi River in the 1500's, to Robert 
     de LaSalle claiming all of the land drained by the Lower 
     Mississippi River in 1682, to the petroleum, fisheries, and 
     transportation industries of today, the area is one of the 
     most unique areas in the continental United States;
       (3) while, in 1699, the area became the site of the first 
     fortification on the Lower Mississippi River, known as ``Fort 
     Mississippi'', it has since been home to 10 different 
     fortifications, more than a dozen light houses, and several 
     wildlife refuges, quarantine stations, and pilot stations;
       (4) of particular interest to the area are--
       (A) Fort St. Philip, originally built in 1749, at which, 
     during the Battle of New Orleans, the British navy was 
     blocked from going up river and a victory for the Colonial 
     Army was ensured; and
       (B) Fort Jackson, built across from Fort St. Philip at the 
     request of General Andrew Jackson and partially constructed 
     by famous local Civil War General P.G.T. Beauregard, which 
     was the site of the famous Civil War battle known as the 
     ``Battle of the Forts'', which is also referred to as the 
     ``night the war was lost'';
       (5) the area is--
       (A) at the end of the longest continuous river road and 
     levee system in the United States; and
       (B) a part of the River Road highway system;
       (6) lower Plaquemines Parish is split down the middle by 
     the Mississippi River, surrounded on 3 sides by the Gulf of 
     Mexico, and crossed by numerous bayous, canals, and ditches;
       (7) Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip are located on--
       (A) an ancient Head of Passes site; and
       (B) 1 of the most historic areas on the Lower Mississippi 
     River known as ``Plaquemines Bend'';
       (8) the modern Head of Passes is only 21 miles south of 
     Fort Jackson and Fort St. Philip where the Mississippi River 
     splits into a bird foot delta to travel the last 20 miles to 
     the Gulf of Mexico;
       (9) there are numerous geological features that are unique 
     to a large river mouth or delta that could make a national 
     park in the area a particularly intriguing attraction;
       (10) the coastal erosion, subsidence, river hydraulics, 
     delta features, fresh, salt, and brackish water marshes, and 
     other unique features of the area could be an effective 
     classroom for the public on the challenges of protecting our 
     river and coastal zones;
       (11) the area includes the beginning of the Mississippi 
     River flyway, which is--
       (A) 1 of the most pristine eco-sites in the United States; 
     and
       (B) the site of 2 national wildlife refuges and 1 state 
     wildlife refuge;
       (12) the area is culturally diverse in history, population, 
     industry, and politics;
       (13) many well-known characters lived or performed deeds of 
     great notoriety in the area;
       (14) in the area, Creoles, Europeans, Indians, Yugoslav, 
     African-Americans, and Vietnamese all worked together to 
     weave an interesting history of survival and success in a 
     very treacherous environment;
       (15) the area has tremendous tourism potential, 
     particularly for historical tourism and eco-tourism, because 
     of the location, pristine ecosystems, and past indifference 
     of the local government to promote tourism in the area; and
       (16) since Hurricane Katrina, the local government in the 
     area has--
       (A) passed a resolution strongly supporting a national park 
     study; and
       (B) shown an interest in developing tourism in the area.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Study area.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``Study Area'' means the Lower 
     Mississippi River area in the State of Louisiana.
       (B) Inclusions.--The term ``Study Area'' includes Fort St. 
     Philip and Fort Jackson, the Head of Passes, and any related 
     and supporting historical, natural, cultural, and 
     recreational resources located in Plaquemines Parish, 
     Louisiana.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' mean the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     SEC. 4. STUDY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with 
     the State of Louisiana and interested groups and 
     organizations, shall complete a special resource study that--
       (1) evaluates--
       (A) the national significance of the Study Area; and
       (B) the suitability and feasibility of designating the 
     Study Area as a unit of the National Park System, to be known 
     as the ``Lower Mississippi River National Park'';
       (2) includes cost estimates for the acquisition, 
     development, operation, and maintenance of the Study Area; 
     and
       (3) identifies alternatives for management, administration, 
     and protection of the Study Area.
       (b) Criteria.--In conducting the study under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall use the criteria for the study of 
     areas for potential inclusion in the National Park System 
     under section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c)).

     SEC. 5. REPORT.

       On completion of the study under section 4, the Secretary 
     shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
     Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes--
       (1) the findings and conclusions of the study; and
       (2) any recommendations of the Secretary.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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




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