[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 10]
[House]
[Pages 14748-14751]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         ROUTE 66 CORRIDOR ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). Pursuant to House Resolution 
230 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of 
the Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the 
bill, H.R. 66.

                              {time}  1418


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 66) to preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66 corridor 
and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance, 
with Mr. Bonilla in the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered as having 
been read the first time.
  Under the rule, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) and the 
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Udall) will each control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, H.R. 66, introduced by the gentlewoman from New Mexico 
(Mrs. Wilson), will preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66 
corridor.
  Route 66 was a nationally significant part of American history, and 
was foremost among the early highways that helped change and shape 
America throughout the early and mid 20th century.
  Extending from Chicago to Los Angeles, Route 66 was nonetheless 
important to the entire country. It enabled American businesses to move 
goods, individuals to seek better lives, and the government to move 
troops and war supplies. It also opened up the West to tourism, and 
allowed the post-war migration of families to the booming job market of 
California.
  Route 66 has become an enduring part of America's culture through 
books, television, songs, and movies. As Americans became increasingly 
mobile, the two-lane roadway known as Route 66 could not handle the 
increased traffic volume. The Interstate Highway system came into 
existence, new roads were built, and traffic was diverted away from the 
former route.
  Route 66 eventually became so fragmented and confusing that in 1979 
it lost its official U.S. Highway Route 66 designation. The remaining 
portions of the former Route 66 have been incorporated into State and 
local highway systems.
  H.R. 66 would preserve the cultural resources along the historic 
Route 66 by allowing the Secretary of the Interior to support and 
collaborate with State, local, and private institutions to preserve 
these resources.
  The preservation of Route 66 would include the preservation or 
restoration of portions of the highway, businesses and sites of 
interest and other contributing resources along the highway. The 
Secretary could provide cost-share grants, information services, and 
technical assistance to local entities.
  H.R. 66 would also authorize the appropriation of $10 million for the 
period of fiscal years 2000 through 2009 to carry out the purposes of 
the bill. Mr. Chairman, this is a good piece of legislation, and I urge 
my colleagues to support H.R. 66.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I congratulate the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen) and 
thank him for all the hard work he has done on the Committee on this 
bill, and I really appreciate very much the time and attention the 
gentleman has given to this.
  I would also like to thank the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. 
Wilson) for her leadership and hard work on this bill. I can tell the 
Members, I am very proud to be an original cosponsor of this 
legislation.
  Route 66 began in the early 1920s as a vision, a paved highway that 
would link the great American heartland with the Pacific Ocean. 
Starting in Chicago, Route 66 winds its way through eight States, 
Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and 
California, before ending at Santa Monica, California.
  At a time when most roads were unpaved, not to mention unpassable in 
inclement weather conditions, Route 66 stretched 2,400 miles and was 
one of the country's first paved interstate highways. In New Mexico, 
Route 66 wound its way through the towns of Tucumcari, which is located 
in my district, Santa Rosa, Albuquerque, Grants, and Gallup, which is 
also in my district.
  Also during the early 1920s, the automobile was gaining in 
popularity. Prompted by lower prices as a result of Henry Ford's 
innovative assembly line manufacturing, the automobile was in reach of 
many Americans. Farmers and ranchers no longer lived in isolation for 
long periods of time, as they could now drive to town and still tend to 
their fields and animals all in the same day. Workers in urban areas 
could now live outside the cities and commute to work. American life 
was changing, and Route 66 chronicled these changes.
  Michael Wallace wrote a book called ``Route 66, the Mother Road,'' 
and I would recommend to any of the Members or any of the public this 
book. It is an excellent history of Route 66.
  He wrote in the book, ``Route 66 was the road of dreamers and 
ramblers, drifters and writers, the road of John Steinbeck, Woody 
Guthrie, and Jack Kerouac. A ribbon of American highway that 
transported the Oklahomans driven from their land as storms of dust 
swept across their farms to the promise of California. It was also the 
highway of commerce--of automated ice cream stands and old `no-tell' 
motels, salty truck stops, and the neon alure.''
  H.R. 66 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide 
assistance to preserve or restore historic sites along the route; to 
cooperate with public and private entities in developing local 
preservation plans; to develop a technical assistance program in the 
preservation of Route 66; to coordinate a program of historic research, 
curation, and preservation; to make available cost-share grants; and to 
provide information about existing cost-share opportunities.
  Route 66 started out as a vision. Today it is a fond memory, an 
important piece of Americana that should be preserved for current and 
future generations. This legislation will enable the preservation of 
this historic landmark, and will also provide a lift to the economies 
of every community along its route.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank my friend, the gentleman from New 
Mexico, for his kind words, and I yield 10 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from New Mexico (Mrs. Wilson), the author of this piece of legislation, 
who has done a substantially great job in getting to this point.
  Mrs. WILSON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  I would like to thank the gentleman from Alaska (Chairman Young), the 
ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Miller), the 
gentleman from Utah (Chairman Hansen), and the ranking member, the 
gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo) for their support of 
H.R. 66.
  I would also like to commend the staff who have worked so hard on 
this, Allen Freemyer and Gary Griffith, David Watkins and Rick Healy.
  I would also like to recognize the hard work of Mrs. Susie McComb, 
the President of the New Mexico Route 66 Association, and Mr. David 
Knudson, who is the executive director of the National Historic Route 
66 Federation, for their support of this bill.

[[Page 14749]]

  Mr. Chairman, H.R. 66, a bill to preserve and protect the cultural 
resources of the Route 66 corridor, is important to my State and to 
many others. The gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins), the gentleman 
from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen), and Senators Domenici and Bingaman of New 
Mexico and others who live along this historic route have been working 
on it for more than 5 years now.
  I would also like it thank my colleague, the gentleman from northern 
New Mexico (Mr. Udall) for his joining on as an original cosponsor of 
H.R. 66 this year.
  This version of H.R. 66 addresses the concerns raised by both the 
majority and the minority on the Committee on Resources. It passed by 
voice vote in both the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
and on the full Committee on Resources.
  At a March 11, 1999, subcommittee hearing, the administration 
testified in support of the bill. H.R. 66 is substantially similar to a 
bill that the House considered on the floor last year in the waning 
days of the 105th Congress. The Senate companion to my bill, which was 
H.R. 4513, garnered a majority of support, but there were some 
objections because it did not go through the normal hearing process.
  The bill is supported by the National Parks and Conservation 
Association and the National Park Service, and enjoys bipartisan 
support in both the House and Senate.
  H.R. 66 authorizes the National Park Service to support efforts of 
State and local, public and private persons, nonprofit Route 66 
associations, Indian tribes, State historic preservation offices, and 
others for the preservation or restoration of structures or other 
cultural resources, of businesses and sites of interest along Route 66.
  The Park Service would act as a clearinghouse for communication among 
Federal, State, and local agencies, as well as nonprofit entities, and 
would participate in cost-sharing programs and make grants not to 
exceed $10 million over 10 years. That is what the bill is about. I 
think it is more important what Route 66 is about.
  Route 66 is 2,448 miles long. It crosses eight States and three time 
zones stretching from Chicago all the way to L.A. It is firmly rooted 
in Americana.

                              {time}  1430

  Almost every child in America who studies English in high school 
reads ``The Grapes of Wrath'', where John Steinbeck writes, ``Highway 
66 is the migrant road. 66--the long concrete path across the country, 
waving gently up and down on the map, from the Mississippi to 
Bakersfield--over the red lands and the gray lands, twisting up into 
the mountains, crossing the Divide and down into the bright and 
terrible desert, and across the desert to the mountains again, and into 
the rich California valleys.
  ``66 is the path of a people in flight, refugees from dust and 
shrinking land, from the thunder of tractors and shrinking ownership, 
from the desert's slow northward invasion, from the twisting winds that 
howl up out of Texas, from the floods that bring no richness to the 
land and steal what little richness is there. From all of these the 
people are in flight, and they come into 66 from the tributary side 
roads, from the wagon tracks and the rutted country roads, 66 is the 
mother road, the road of flight.
  ``Two hundred and fifty thousand people over the road. Fifty thousand 
old cars--fifty thousand wounded, steaming. Wrecks along the road, 
abandoned. Well, what happened to them? What happened to the folks in 
that car? Did they walk? Where does the courage come from? Where does 
the terrible faith come from?
  ``The people in flight from the terror behind--strange things happen 
to them, some bitterly cruel and some so beautiful that the faith is 
refired forever.''
  Route 66 is a part of our history and a part of our literature and a 
part of our culture. Even though it was decommissioned in 1985, it 
continues to be a part of our lives from Chicago to L.A.
  There are Route 66 associations in almost every State. In New Mexico, 
the Route 66 Association is alive and well and a strong supporter of 
this bill.
  There is a little elementary school in Moriarty, New Mexico, in the 
East Mountains of my district. It is called Route 66 Elementary School. 
Last year, I showed the House a hubcap that the students of Route 66 
Elementary School had given to me. After that speech, I received 
several letters from the students who were at Route 66 Elementary 
School about their school and how it is designed around the Route 66 
theme.
  I would like to read one of those letters from Kelsey Byrne in Ms. 
Trujillo's fourth grade class. It says, ``Honorable Congresswoman 
Wilson, our principal told us about the hubcap. It is an honor to have 
had you show it on television. I am very glad to get part of my 
education here at Route 66. It is historical, you know. I believe that 
this school will go on for generations. People use their school 
education all the time, even us kids. That is why I think everyone 
deserves a good education. Route 66 is very important to me. It is old, 
but it is in very good shape. I would like to thank you for supporting 
us and good luck.''
  Unlike today's interstate highways, Route 66 is a collection of roads 
tied together by highway signs. It is a collection of stories, stories 
about migration and war and the automobile and the Depression and the 
Dust Bowl. But it is also a story about dreams and about courage and 
about strength and sadness and faith.
  It is a means to an end and an end in itself. It is now 
decommissioned, but it remains a preferred means of travel for those 
who want to get off the beaten path.
  When America entered World War II, traffic on Route 66 slowed to a 
trickle because of gas rationing. Military convoys began to travel 
across the highways with men and machines, renewing the need for a 
fast, complete corridor from the heart of the country to the coast.
  It starts in the home of the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois; 
passes the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Missouri; the Jesse James Wax 
Museum in Missouri; in Galena, Kansas, the site of the 1935 United Mine 
Workers strike that erupted into violence; the Will Rogers Museum in 
Oklahoma and on into Texas; and then of course into New Mexico through 
Tucumcari and Santa Rosa to Moriarty, the home of Route 66 Elementary 
School, and into Albuquerque, my hometown, where Route 66 is no Central 
Avenue.
  One can drive it from one end to the other looking at old motor 
courts and the curio shops, most of which still operate, and have lunch 
at the Route 66 Diner.
  Finally, it goes on into California, the home of Ray Crock's first 
McDonald's in San Bernardino, and then on down the long route to 
Pasadena along the route of the Tournament of Roses Parade.
  The year 2000 will mark the 75th anniversary of Route 66.
  H.R. 66 will help all the States through which Route 66 passes to 
celebrate this anniversary, to preserve its unique culture, and to 
preserve this corridor that is so much a part of America and American 
history.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I just want to make a couple of additional points. 
First of all, on the point of bipartisanship, the reason that we have 
reached this point in terms of legislation and having it here on the 
floor is the Democrats and Republicans have signed onto this bill, 
Democrats and Republicans have worked in the subcommittee, in the full 
Committee on Resources, to make sure that this bill was fully heard. I 
think this bill is a good example of how the Congress should work in a 
bipartisan way to bring forward legislation that we all agree on and 
that we can move forward with. So I would like to thank all sides for 
doing that.
  Secondly, this legislation is very important to business owners. I 
just wanted to pick one example, because there is a wonderful man in 
New Mexico by the name of Armand Ortega. He grew up with my father over 
in a small little town called Saint John's, Arizona, which is near the 
Arizona-New Mexico border.

[[Page 14750]]

  Mr. Ortega owns a wonderful place along Route 66 called the El Rancho 
Hotel, and that hotel used to be a hotel where movie stars would come 
and stay. As a result of that, he has captured on that idea, and he has 
on each of the doors on his hotel the name of the movie stars. Ronald 
Reagan, many others are listed on the doors of that motel.
  Now, as a result of this bill, this business owner, Mr. Ortega, will 
be able to apply for a grant, will be able to restore and make sure 
that the El Rancho Hotel is a place that is there for future Americans 
to see and it will be there for a future part of our history for all to 
observe.
  In concluding here, I would just like to thank all of the Members of 
the Committee on Resources that have worked so hard on this, especially 
on the Democratic side.
  The gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo), our ranking 
member, has done a great deal to see that this legislation has come to 
the point it has today.
  We have had other hard-working staff members on the Committee on 
Resources' side, Rick Healy, Dave Watkins, and also my staff member Bob 
Scruggs.
  Mr. DREIER. Mr. Chairman, as a representative of Route 66, and as a 
Member privileged to represent a district which exists only because of 
the growth that Route 66 made possible, I rise in support of this 
legislation, which recognizes the central role that Route 66 played at 
a critical point in American history.
  Mr. Chairman, the foothill communities of the San Gabriel Valley 
which I represent grew up in the post-World War II era, and are 
populated by the families of tens of thousands of people who came to 
Southern California on Route 66. My district is home to Monrovia's 
famed Aztec Hotel, a well-known symbol of the architectural 
distinctness of many landmarks along Route 66. I have had the pleasure 
of participating in the City of Duarte's annual parade in salute to 
Route 66, which travels down a stretch of this famous road. This unique 
heritage is a major reason that Route 66 has been immortalized in 
writing and in song.
  Although we all recognize the importance of interstate highways 
today, the significance of a highway link to California was initially 
shown by the First Transcontinental Motor Convoy of 1919, which 
included then-Lieutenant Colonel Dwight David Eisenhower. As President, 
of course, Eisenhower oversaw the creation of the modern interstate 
highway system. The Convoy which took two months to travel from 
Washington to San Francisco and encountered numerous problems along the 
way, demonstrated the inadequacy of existing surface roads to 
California. It made clear that it would be essentially impossible to 
supply the West Coast overland from the East in wartime. Even more 
important at that time and in the decades to follow, it highlighted the 
difficulty in moving soldiers and materiel from the West to the East in 
times of war. Considering the central role that California's defense 
industry would come to play in our national defense in World War II, it 
was critical to address this weakness.
  Besides enhanced national security, the creation of Route 66 is a 
watershed in American history for a number of reasons. For Salinas, 
California's John Steinbeck for example, Route 66 was the ``Mother 
Road''--it enabled more than 200,000 Americans to escape the despair of 
the Dust Bowl and seek better fortunes in California. The migration to 
California that began during the Great Depression along Route 66 was to 
continue for decades.
  Route 66 was key to the expansion of international commerce as well. 
By linking the port cities of Los Angeles and Chicago with points 
throughout Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas, Route 66 linked the 
heartland to America's major ports, helping to make the breadbasket of 
America the breadbasket of the world as well.
  Route 66 permitted the greatest wartime manpower mobilization in 
United States history. Between 1941 and 1945 the government invested 
about $70 billion in capital projects in California, a large portion of 
this in the defense sector in and around Los Angeles and San Diego. 
This enormous capital outlay created new industries and thousands of 
new jobs. With the end of the Cold War, as employment in defense has 
declined in California, the advanced technologies and skilled workforce 
that were developed in California along with the defense sector have 
been an essential contributor to the development of California as the 
world's leader in high-technology products.
  Perhaps most importantly, by making the onset of the automobile era, 
the designation of Route 66 in 1926 symbolizes the mobility revolution 
that enables Americans to go where they want, when they want. Route 66, 
and other highways such as the Lincoln and the Dixie created at the 
same time, mark the beginning of a national effort to enable people to 
move quickly and efficiently around this vast country. This 
unparalleled ease with which we move people and goods across this 
country is central to our flexible and vibrant economy. I believe it 
has been absolutely essential to empowering Americans to pursue their 
dreams.
  Mr. Chairman, I ask all my colleagues to join me in support of this 
important legislation.
  Mr. BLUNT. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to call the attention of my 
colleagues to the special connection that the Seventh District of 
Missouri, and especially Springfield has to a highway known both as the 
Main Street of America and as The Mother Road--Route 66. We will be 
voting later today on an act to preserve portions of this unique part 
of our history.
  Traversing almost 2,500 miles, 8 states and three time zones from the 
windswept shores of Chicago on the north and east to the sun drenched 
shores of Santa Monica on the south and west, route 66 cut across 
America's heartland beginning an era of transcontinental automobile and 
truck travel that has continued for 75 years.
  Although conceived by Congress with legislative action in 1925 as a 
national highway and commissioned in 1926, Route 66 began with only 800 
miles of paved road. Almost 1,700 miles of the trip was over gravel and 
dirt roads. It was not until 11 years later that paving was completed.
  Route 66's connection to Southwest Missouri is far more than it's 
strategic geographic placement across the breadth of the district. It 
is far more than linking this strong agricultural market in the 1920's 
and 30's with expanded outlets throughout the nation.
  The dream of an inter-regional link between Chicago and Los Angeles 
is ascribed to Cyrus Avery of Tulsa Oklahoma and John Woodruff of 
Springfield Missouri. These two men understood the importance of 
transportation of this country and were willing to invest of themselves 
in this effort. Historians say that as result of Woodruff's work the 
decision to name this new route--Route 66 was actually made in a 
meeting in Springfield. Woodruff later served two terms as President of 
the Route 66 association.
  Woodruff was also a promoter of Springfield and the Ozarks who 
understood the importance of public and private partnerships. He raised 
funds to buy the land so that the state of Missouri would create what 
is now Southwest Missouri State University. He traveled to New York 
City and secured a grant from Andrew Carnegie to help fund Drury 
College. Years later he also raised funds to purchase the land for the 
U.S. Federal Medical Center. And the former railroad attorney was 
instrumental in getting the city's first airport.
  Route 66 is not just a story of creating a unified ribbon of concrete 
and asphalt from one great metropolitan center to another. It is the 
story of linking urban, suburban and rural together. It is the story of 
making travel accessible to millions. It is the story of what we 
sometimes refer to as an American dream--a country where two men with a 
vision and who worked hard enough, can literally change the course of a 
country.
  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 66, the Route 66 Preservation Act. Mr. Chairman, Route 66 is the 
premier historic trail of the automobile age. The automobile has 
changed America forever and Route 66 played a large role in this 
revolution of mobility. Route 66 ran over 2,000 miles from Chicago to 
Los Angeles, linking the east and the west in our great Nation more 
closely than ever before.
  Barstow, California, in my own 40th District, is an original stop on 
the crossroads of opportunity known as Route 66. In fact, Route 66 
traces a path through my District all the way from Needles on the 
Colorado River to San Bernardino, California. Route 66 served as the 
crossroads of opportunity for the great flow of traffic across the 
broad middle of our Nation and into America's land of promise, 
California.
  This legislation before us today will ensure that the contributions 
of Route 66 to American history will not be forgotten. Mr. Chairman, I 
urge all my colleagues to vote yes on H.R. 66 and vote to preserve the 
cultural resources of historic Route 66.
  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise again in strong support of this 
legislation and appreciate the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Mrs. 
Wilson) and her inspired remarks.

[[Page 14751]]

  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. All time for general debate has expired. Pursuant to 
the rule, the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute printed 
in the bill shall be considered by section as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment, and each section is considered read.
  During consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chair may accord 
priority in recognition to a Member offering an amendment that he has 
printed in the designated place in the Congressional Record. Those 
amendments will be considered read.
  The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone a request for 
a recorded vote on any amendment and may reduce to a minimum of 5 
minutes the time for voting on any postponed question that immediately 
follows another vote, provided that the time for voting on the first 
question shall be a minimum of 15 minutes.
  The Clerk will designate section 1.
  The text of section 1 is as follows:

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act, the following definitions apply:
       (1) Route 66 corridor.--The term ``Route 66 corridor'' 
     means structures and other cultural resources described in 
     paragraph (3), including--
       (A) lands owned by the Federal Government and lands owned 
     by a State or local government within the immediate vicinity 
     of those portions of the highway formerly designated as 
     United States Route 66; and
       (B) private land within that immediate vicinity that is 
     owned by persons or entities that are willing to participate 
     in the programs authorized by this Act.
       (2) Cultural resource programs.--The term ``Cultural 
     Resource Programs'' means the programs established and 
     administered by the National Park Service for the benefit of 
     and in support of preservation of the Route 66 corridor, 
     either directly or indirectly.
       (3) Preservation of the route 66 corridor.--The term 
     ``preservation of the Route 66 corridor'' means the 
     preservation or restoration of structures or other cultural 
     resources of businesses, sites of interest, and other 
     contributing resources that--
       (A) are located within the land described in paragraph (1);
       (B) existed during the route's period of outstanding 
     historic significance (principally between 1926 and 1970), as 
     defined by the study prepared by the National Park Service 
     and entitled ``Special Resource Study of Route 66'', dated 
     July 1995; and
       (C) remain in existence as of the date of enactment of this 
     Act.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Cultural Resource 
     Programs at the National Park Service.
       (5) State.--The term ``State'' means a State in which a 
     portion of the Route 66 corridor is located.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 1?
  The Clerk will designate section 2.
  The text of section 2 is as follows:

     SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the 
     entities described in subsection (c), shall facilitate the 
     development of guidelines and a program of technical 
     assistance and grants that will set priorities for the 
     preservation of the Route 66 corridor.
       (b) Designation of Officials.--The Secretary shall 
     designate officials of the National Park Service stationed at 
     locations convenient to the States to perform the functions 
     of the Cultural Resource Programs under this Act.
       (c) General Functions.--The Secretary shall--
       (1) support efforts of State and local public and private 
     persons, nonprofit Route 66 preservation entities, Indian 
     tribes, State Historic Preservation Offices, and entities in 
     the States for the preservation of the Route 66 corridor by 
     providing technical assistance, participating in cost-sharing 
     programs, and making grants;
       (2) act as a clearinghouse for communication among Federal, 
     State, and local agencies, nonprofit Route 66 preservation 
     entities, Indian tribes, State historic preservation offices, 
     and private persons and entities interested in the 
     preservation of the Route 66 corridor; and
       (3) assist the States in determining the appropriate form 
     of and establishing and supporting a non-Federal entity or 
     entities to perform the functions of the Cultural Resource 
     Programs after those programs are terminated.
       (d) Authorities.--In carrying out this Act, the Secretary 
     may--
       (1) enter into cooperative agreements, including (but not 
     limited to) cooperative agreements for study, planning, 
     preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration related to the 
     Route 66 corridor;
       (2) accept donations of funds, equipment, supplies, and 
     services as appropriate;
       (3) provide cost-share grants for projects for the 
     preservation of the Route 66 corridor (but not to exceed 50 
     percent of total project costs) and information about 
     existing cost-share opportunities;
       (4) provide technical assistance in historic preservation 
     and interpretation of the Route 66 corridor; and
       (5) coordinate, promote, and stimulate research by other 
     persons and entities regarding the Route 66 corridor.
       (e) Preservation Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide assistance in 
     the preservation of the Route 66 corridor in a manner that is 
     compatible with the idiosyncratic nature of the Route 66 
     corridor.
       (2) Planning.--The Secretary shall not prepare or require 
     preparation of an overall management plan for the Route 66 
     corridor, but shall cooperate with the States and local 
     public and private persons and entities, State historic 
     preservation offices, nonprofit Route 66 preservation 
     entities, and Indian tribes in developing local preservation 
     plans to guide efforts to protect the most important or 
     representative resources of the Route 66 corridor.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 2?
  The Clerk will designate section 3.
  The text of section 3 is as follows:

     SEC. 3. RESOURCE TREATMENT.

       (a) Technical Assistance Program.--
       (1) Program required.--The Secretary shall develop a 
     program of technical assistance in the preservation of the 
     Route 66 corridor and interpretation of the Route 66 
     corridor.
       (2) Program guidelines.--As part of the technical 
     assistance program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
     establish guidelines for setting priorities for preservation 
     needs for the Route 66 corridor. The Secretary shall base the 
     guidelines on the Secretary's standards for historic 
     preservation.
       (b) Program for Coordination of Activities.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall coordinate a program 
     of historic research, curation, preservation strategies, and 
     the collection of oral and video histories of events that 
     occurred along the Route 66 corridor.
       (2) Design.--The program under paragraph (1) shall be 
     designed for continuing use and implementation by other 
     organizations after the Cultural Resource Programs are 
     terminated.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 3?
  The Clerk will designate section 4.
  The text of section 4 is as follows:

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for the 
     period of fiscal years 2000 through 2009 to carry out the 
     purposes of this Act.

  The CHAIRMAN. Are there any amendments to section 4?
  If not, the question is on the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Stearns) having assumed the chair, Mr. Bonilla, Chairman of the 
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported that 
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 66) to 
preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66 corridor and to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance, pursuant 
to House Resolution 230, he reported the bill back to the House with an 
amendment adopted by the Committee of the Whole.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is 
ordered.
  The question is on the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, was read 
the third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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