[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 22 (Monday, February 5, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H750-H752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STE. GENEVIEVE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK ESTABLISHMENT ACT
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2888) to establish the Ste. Genevieve National Historic Site in
the State of Missouri, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2888
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 National
Historical Park Establishment Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Historic district.--The term ``Historic District''
means the Ste. Genevieve Historic District National Historic
Landmark, as generally depicted on the Map.
(2) Historical park.--The term ``Historical Park'' means
the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park established by
section 3(a).
(3) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``Ste.
Genevieve National Historical Park Proposed Boundary'',
numbered 571/132,626, and dated May 2016.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(5) Special resource study.--The term ``special resource
study'' means the study entitled ``Ste. Genevieve Final
Special Resources Study and Environmental Assessment,
Missouri'' and dated May 2016.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Missouri.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STE. GENEVIEVE NATIONAL
HISTORICAL PARK.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), there is
established the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park in
the State as a unit of the National Park System to preserve,
protect, and interpret for the benefit of present and future
generations the themes of French settlement, vernacular
architecture, and community form and farming on the frontier
associated with Ste. Genevieve.
(2) Conditions for establishment.--The Historical Park
shall not be established until the date on which the
Secretary determines that--
(A) sufficient land has been acquired for the Historical
Park to constitute a manageable unit; and
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(B) the Secretary has entered into a written agreement
providing that land owned by the State, the City of Ste.
Genevieve, or other entity within the Historic District shall
be managed consistent with the purposes of this Act.
(b) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the Historical Park
shall be the boundaries generally 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) Acquisition Authority.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire any land or
interest in land located within the boundary of the
Historical Park or any nationally significant property
identified in the special resource study within the Historic
District by--
(A) donation;
(B) purchase with donated or appropriated funds; or
(C) exchange.
(2) Boundary revision.--On the acquisition of any property
within the Historic District under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall revise the boundary of the Historical Park to
include the property.
(e) Administration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer the
Historical Park in accordance with--
(A) this Act; and
(B) the laws generally applicable to units of the National
Park System, including--
(i) section 100101(a), chapter 1003, and sections
100751(a), 100752, 100753, and 102101 of title 54, United
States Code; and
(ii) chapter 3201 of title 54, United States Code.
(2) Management plan.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on
which funds are made available to prepare a general
management plan for the Historical Park, the Secretary shall
prepare the general management plan in accordance with
section 100502 of title 54, United States Code.
(B) Submission to congress.--On completion of the general
management plan under subparagraph (A), 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 the general management plan.
(3) Related sites.--The Secretary may provide
interpretative tours and educational programs at related
historic and cultural sites within the Historic District
associated with the purposes for which the Historical Park is
established.
(f) Cooperative Agreements.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary may provide technical
assistance and enter into cooperative agreements with the
owner of a nationally significant property within the
Historical Park or the Historic District, to identify, mark,
interpret, improve, and restore the property.
(2) Right of access.--A cooperative agreement entered into
under paragraph (1) shall provide that the Secretary, acting
through the Director of the National Park Service, shall have
the right of access at all reasonable times to all public
portions of the property covered by the agreement for the
purposes of--
(A) conducting visitors through the property; and
(B) interpreting the property for the public.
(3) Cost-sharing requirement.--
(A) Federal share.--The Federal share of the total cost of
any activity carried out under a cooperative agreement
entered into under this subsection shall be not more than 50
percent.
(B) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of an
activity carried out under a cooperative agreement entered
into under this subsection may be in the form of donated
property, goods, or services fairly valued.
(4) Changes or alterations.--No changes or alterations
shall be made to any property or project covered by a
cooperative agreement entered into under paragraph (1) unless
the Secretary and the other party to the agreement agree to
the changes or alterations.
(5) Conversion, use, or disposal.--Any payment by the
Secretary under this subsection shall be subject to an
agreement that the conversion, use, or disposal of a property
or project for purposes contrary to the purposes of this
section, as determined by the Secretary, shall entitle the
United States to reimbursement in any amount equal to the
greater of--
(A) the amounts made available to the property or project
by the United States; or
(B) the portion of the increased value of the property or
project attributable to the amounts made available under this
subsection, as determined at the time of the conversion, use,
or disposal.
(g) Limited Role of the Secretary.--Nothing in this Act
authorizes the Secretary to assume overall financial
responsibility for the operation, maintenance, or management
of the Historic District.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Arizona (Mr. Gosar) and the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hanabusa) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona.
General Leave
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
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. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2888, the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park
Establishment Act, sponsored by Representative Jason Smith from
Missouri, would establish the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park
in the city of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. It would also authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to acquire land for the park by donation,
purchase, or exchange.
Founded around 1750 by French Canadian settlers, Ste. Genevieve was
Missouri's first settlement. Settlers from present-day Illinois crossed
the Mississippi River attracted to the rich soil in the area. After
severe floods in 1785, the town was moved 3 miles inland, where it
still exists today, retaining many of its historic buildings,
landscapes, and community characteristics.
Ste. Genevieve is one of the oldest National Historic Landmark
districts in the country, with a portion of the landmark designated in
1960. It is famous for the use of French vertical log architecture.
In 2009, Congress authorized a National Park Service study of the
area, which concluded that the Ste. Genevieve historic district is
nationally significant and suitable for direct National Park Service
management.
There is widespread local support for the establishment of a
historical park, including the city, county commission, and Chamber of
Commerce.
Ste. Genevieve is an important part of our Nation's expansion and
agricultural history and merits becoming a unit of the National Park
System.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the measure, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2888 establishes the Ste. Genevieve National
Historical Park in the State of Missouri.
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, is a small town on the banks of the
Mississippi River that was established by French settlers in the mid-
eighteenth century.
Due to its unique collection of French vertical log architecture, the
town was designated as one of the Nation's first National Historic
Landmarks in 1960.
In 2016, the National Park Service completed the special resource
study and determined that the area exemplifies an important aspect of
American history not adequately represented and protected elsewhere,
therefore, meeting the suitability criteria for inclusion in the
National Park System.
This site went through the process and has fulfilled all the criteria
for becoming a new unit of the National Park System.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Smith), the original sponsor of this bill.
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here today to
speak on behalf of this bill, the Ste. Genevieve National Historical
Park Establishment Act, and on the behalf of the community of Ste.
Genevieve.
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, is home to one of the largest collections
of French colonial architecture in the United States and is one of the
oldest colonial settlements west of the Mississippi River dating back
to the early 1700s.
For years, the community of Ste. Genevieve has celebrated its history
and unique culture through numerous festivals and annual events. Over
time, the Federal Government has begun to catch on. One of the town's
historic homes is a National Historic Landmark, several other homes are
on the National Register of Historic Places, and a large area of the
town itself is designated as a National Historic Landmark district, one
of the oldest in the country.
In May of 2016, the National Park Service concluded and released a
Final Special Resource Study and Environmental Assessment for Ste.
Genevieve. This study was the result of legislation
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passed over 10 years previously, which tasked the Park Service with
determining whether or not the resources at Ste. Genevieve met the
criteria for inclusion in the National Park System. Happily, the Park
Service study concluded what the people of Ste. Genevieve already knew:
that Ste. Genevieve's large and unique collection of vertical log
houses rises to national significance. The study determined that
certain areas are suitable for direct Park Service management.
My bill is very straightforward: it establishes the Ste. Genevieve
National Historical Park as a unit of the National Park System; it sets
the boundaries of the park as depicted on the map laid out by the Park
Service; and it gives the Secretary of the Interior certain authorities
within the boundaries of the Historical Park or any nationally
significant property identified in the special resource study.
In order for the resources of Ste. Genevieve to be properly
preserved, Park Service management is necessary. The work of local
nonprofits, the city of Ste. Genevieve, and the State of Missouri to
manage, preserve, and showcase these historic structures cannot be
understated. However, there are still unmet needs for resource
protection and interpretation, and the community looks forward to
working with the Park Service to increase tourism in the area as well
as properly preserve and study the town's resources.
Once again, I want to highlight and thank the community of Ste.
Genevieve for their strong support of this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I urge this body to swiftly pass my bill and move it one
step closer to the President's desk.
Ms. HANABUSA. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to
support this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to point out something that we do not
normally see in the Public Lands and Environmental Regulation
Subcommittee of Natural Resources, and that is the people of Ste.
Genevieve feel so strongly in what they do that they actually came to
support those testifying in time-sensitive dress. As we looked at the
various photographs of what they do to preserve their town, they were
there before us in those same costumes. This is how serious the people
of Ste. Genevieve are of the preservation of their site.
Mr. Speaker, for those reasons, I urge my colleagues to please
support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, it is obvious that Ste. Genevieve is an
important part of our Nation's expansion and agriculture history and
merits becoming a unit of the National Park.
Mr. Speaker, I recommend that all vote for it, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bacon). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Gosar) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2888.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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