[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 17677-17679]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              CORINTH BATTLEFIELD PRESERVATION ACT OF 1999

  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1117) to establish the Corinth Unit of Shiloh National 
Military Park, in the vicinity of the city of Corinth, Mississippi, and 
in the State of Tennessee, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1117

       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 ``Corinth Battlefield 
     Preservation Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) in 1996, Congress authorized the establishment and 
     construction of a center--
       (A) to facilitate the interpretation of the Siege and 
     Battle of Corinth and other Civil War actions in the area in 
     and around the city of Corinth, Mississippi; and
       (B) to enhance public understanding of the significance of 
     the Corinth campaign and the Civil War relative to the 
     western theater of operations, in cooperation with--
       (i) State or local governmental entities;
       (ii) private organizations; and
       (iii) individuals;
       (2) the Corinth Battlefield was ranked as a priority 1 
     battlefield having critical need for coordinated nationwide 
     action by the year 2000 by the Civil War Sites Advisory 
     Commission in its report on Civil War Battlefields of the 
     United States;
       (3) there is a national interest in protecting and 
     preserving sites of historic significance associated with the 
     Civil War; and
       (4) the States of Mississippi and Tennessee and their 
     respective local units of government--
       (A) have the authority to prevent or minimize adverse uses 
     of these historic resources; and
       (B) can play a significant role in the protection of the 
     historic resources related to the Civil War battles fought in 
     the area in and around the city of Corinth.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
       (1) to establish the Corinth Unit of the Shiloh National 
     Military Park--
       (A) in the city of Corinth, Mississippi; and
       (B) in the State of Tennessee;
       (2) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to manage, 
     protect, and interpret the resources associated with the 
     Civil War Siege and the Battle of Corinth that occurred in 
     and around the city of Corinth, in cooperation with--
       (A) the State of Mississippi;
       (B) the State of Tennessee;
       (C) the city of Corinth, Mississippi;
       (D) other public entities; and
       (E) the private sector; and
       (3) to authorize a special resource study to identify other 
     Civil War sites area in and around the city of Corinth that--
       (A) are consistent with the themes of the Siege and Battle 
     of Corinth;
       (B) meet the criteria for designation as a unit of the 
     National Park System; and
       (C) are considered appropriate for inclusion in the Unit.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Map.--The term ``Map'' means the map entitled ``Park 
     Boundary-Corinth Unit'', numbered 304/80,007, and dated 
     October 1998.
       (2) Park.--The term ``Park'' means the Shiloh National 
     Military Park.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (4) Unit.--The term ``Unit'' means the Corinth Unit of 
     Shiloh National Military Park established under section 4.

     SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF UNIT.

       (a) In General.--There is established in the States of 
     Mississippi and Tennessee the Corinth Unit of the Shiloh 
     National Military Park.
       (b) Composition of Unit.--The Unit shall be comprised of--
       (1) the tract consisting of approximately 20 acres 
     generally depicted as ``Battery Robinett Boundary'' on the 
     Map; and
       (2) any additional land that the Secretary determines to be 
     suitable for inclusion in the Unit that--
       (A) is under the ownership of a public entity or nonprofit 
     organization; and
       (B) has been identified by the Siege and Battle of Corinth 
     National Historic Landmark Study, dated January 8, 1991.
       (c) Availability of Map.--The Map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the office of the Director 
     of the National Park Service.

     SEC. 5. LAND ACQUISITION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary may acquire land and 
     interests in land within the boundary of the Park as depicted 
     on the Map, by--
       (1) donation;
       (2) purchase with donated or appropriated funds; or
       (3) exchange.
       (b) Exception.--Land may be acquired only by donation 
     from--
       (1) the State of Mississippi (including a political 
     subdivision of the State);
       (2) the State of Tennessee (including a political 
     subdivision of the State); or
       (3) the organization known as ``Friends of the Siege and 
     Battle of Corinth''.

     SEC. 6. PARK MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer the Unit in 
     accordance with this Act and the laws generally applicable to 
     units of the National Park System, including--
       (1) the Act entitled ``An Act to establish a National Park 
     Service, and for other purposes'', approved August 25, 1916 
     (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.); and
       (2) the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for the 
     preservation of historic American sites, buildings, objects, 
     and antiquities of national significance, and for other 
     purposes'', approved August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).
       (b) Duties.--In accordance with section 602 of the Omnibus 
     Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 
     430f-5), the Secretary shall--
       (1) commemorate and interpret, for the benefit of visitors 
     and the general public, the Siege and Battle of Corinth and 
     other Civil War actions in the area in and around the city of 
     Corinth within the larger context of the Civil War and 
     American history, including the significance of the Civil War 
     Siege and Battle of Corinth in 1862 in relation to other 
     operations in the western theater of the Civil War; and
       (2) identify and preserve surviving features from the Civil 
     War era in the area in and around the city of Corinth, 
     including both military and civilian themes that include--
       (A) the role of railroads in the Civil War;
       (B) the story of the Corinth contraband camp; and
       (C) the development of field fortifications as a tactic of 
     war.
       (c) Cooperative Agreements.--
       (1) In general.--To carry this Act, the Secretary may enter 
     into cooperative agreements with entities in the public and 
     private sectors, including--
       (A) colleges and universities;
       (B) historical societies;
       (C) State and local agencies; and
       (D) nonprofit organizations.
       (2) Technical assistance.--To develop cooperative land use 
     strategies and conduct activities that facilitate the 
     conservation of the historic, cultural, natural, and scenic 
     resources of the Unit, the Secretary may provide technical 
     assistance, to the extent that a recipient of technical 
     assistance is engaged in the protection, interpretation, or 
     commemoration of historically significant Civil War resources 
     in the area in and around the city of Corinth, to--
       (A) the State of Mississippi (including a political 
     subdivision of the State);
       (B) the State of Tennessee (including a political 
     subdivision of the State);
       (C) a governmental entity;
       (D) a nonprofit organization; and
       (E) a private property owner.
       (d) Resources Outside the Unit.--Nothing in subsection 
     (c)(2) authorizes the Secretary to own or manage any resource 
     outside the Unit.

     SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) In General.--To determine whether certain additional 
     properties are appropriate for inclusion in the Unit, the 
     Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of land in 
     and around the city of Corinth, Mississippi, and nearby areas 
     in the State of Tennessee that--
       (1) have a relationship to the Civil War Siege and Battle 
     of Corinth in 1862; and

[[Page 17678]]

       (2) are under the ownership of--
       (A) the State of Mississippi (including a political 
     subdivision of the State);
       (B) the State of Tennessee (including a political 
     subdivision of the State);
       (C) a nonprofit organization; or
       (D) a private person.
       (b) Contents of Study.--The study shall--
       (1) identify the full range of resources and historic 
     themes associated with the Civil War Siege and Battle of 
     Corinth in 1862, including the relationship of the campaign 
     to other operations in the western theater of the Civil War 
     that occurred in--
       (A) the area in and around the city of Corinth; and
       (B) the State of Tennessee;
       (2) identify alternatives for preserving features from the 
     Civil War era in the area in and around the city of Corinth, 
     including both military and civilian themes involving--
       (A) the role of the railroad in the Civil War;
       (B) the story of the Corinth contraband camp; and
       (C) the development of field fortifications as a tactic of 
     war;
       (3) identify potential partners that might support efforts 
     by the Secretary to carry out this Act, including--
       (A) State entities and their political subdivisions;
       (B) historical societies and commissions;
       (C) civic groups; and
       (D) nonprofit organizations;
       (4) identify alternatives to avoid land use conflicts; and
       (5) include cost estimates for any necessary activity 
     associated with the alternatives identified under this 
     subsection, including--
       (A) acquisition;
       (B) development;
       (C) interpretation;
       (D) operation; and
       (E) maintenance.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year and 180 days after the 
     date on which funds are made available to carry out this 
     section, the Secretary shall submit a report describing the 
     findings of the study under subsection (a) to--
       (1) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are 
     necessary to carry out this Act, including $3,000,000 for the 
     construction of an interpretive center under section 602(d) 
     of title VI of the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management 
     Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 430f-5(d)).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Hansen and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Hansen).
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1117 establishes the Corinth Unit of the Shiloh 
National Military Park in the vicinity of Corinth, Mississippi, in the 
State of Tennessee. Companion legislation, H.R. 2249, was introduced by 
the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Wicker). The purpose of S. 1117 is 
to protect and commemorate areas associated with the Civil War battle 
of Corinth. The Corinth Unit consists of approximately 20 acres of land 
and is the future site of an interpretive center.
  The Battle of Shiloh took place in April of 1862 and is considered to 
be one of the most important battles of the Civil War. Thousands of men 
died in the 2-day battle with the Union forces; and as a result of the 
Battle of Shiloh, Confederate troops were forced to withdraw southward.
  The Union armies remained intact enough and to continue their 
southward advancement, eventually taking Vicksburg and Port Hudson in 
1863. The Union advance essentially cut the South in half and many knew 
at this point it was solely a matter of time before the Union would 
prevail.
  The Battle of Corinth played a large part in the overall battle of 
Shiloh. Because of this, S. 1117 would direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to manage and protect the resources associated with the Battle 
of Corinth by establishing the Corinth Unit as part of the Shiloh 
National Military Park.
  This bill also provides for a resource study to be conducted by the 
Secretary to determine whether certain other additional properties are 
appropriate for inclusion in the newly established unit.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 1117.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend, the gentleman from Utah (Mr. 
Hansen), the chairman of the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public 
Lands. I know the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Romero-Barcelo), my 
colleague and good friend, is on his way.
  Mr. Speaker, as the ranking member of the Subcommittee on National 
Parks and Public Lands, I am just pinch-hitting for the gentleman from 
Puerto Rico.
  Mr. Speaker, the area in and around the city of Corinth, Mississippi, 
near the Mississippi-Tennessee border, played a significant role in 
several early chapters of the American Civil War. Corinth was the 
crossroads of two rail-lines vital to Confederate supply efforts, and 
the city served as the front line of the western theater of battle.
  The battle of Shiloh in April 1862 was launched after 44,000 
Confederate troops had withdrawn to Corinth to regroup and to resupply 
forces.
  Several weeks later, Union forces briefly laid siege to the city, 
finally overtaking Corinth and holding it for the rest of the war. The 
site of the Battle of Shiloh is a national military park but does not 
include the city of Corinth. However, in 1996, Congress authorized the 
establishment of an interpretive center for the Corinth campaign.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 1117 offered by the majority leader from the other 
body, the gentleman from Mississippi, would build on that effort by 
establishing Corinth as an official unit of the Shiloh National 
Military Park. The new unit would consist of the 21-acre site selected 
for that interpretive center, plus any additional land, owned by a 
public or a nonprofit entity, which the Secretary determines to be 
suitable.
  The legislation contains provisions for management of the new unit, 
future land acquisition, a special resource study of the area and 
authorizes an additional $3 million for the construction of that 
interpretive center.
  This legislation has the support of the administration and bipartisan 
support of both sides of the aisle in this committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. WICKER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Corinth Battlefield 
Preservation Act. This legislation authorizes $3 million for the 
construction of the Corinth-Civil War Preservation and Interpretive 
Center and its inclusion into the Shiloh National Military Park. The 
bill gives Corinth its proper status as one of America's most pivotal 
and important Civil War sites. I would first like to thank my colleague 
from Utah, the distinguished Chairman of the Resources Subcommittee on 
National Parks and Public Lands, Mr. Hansen, and the Ranking Member, 
Mr. Romero-Barcelo, for holding a hearing on this important legislation 
in April. The bill before us today is the companion to H.R. 2249, which 
I introduced.
  As legendary Civil War historian Ed Bearss proclaimed, ``The Battle 
of Corinth was the bloodiest battle in the State of Mississippi. Troops 
were brought from New Orleans, Mobile, Texas, and Arkansas because 
Corinth was such an important place. With the fall of Corinth, 
Perryville, Kentucky, and Antietam, Maryland, the Confederacy was 
lost.'' We owe it to our ancestors and to future generations to protect 
Corinth and the abundance of Civil War history in this small town.
  Corinth, referred to as the ``Vertebrae of the South,'' was the 
intersection of the Memphis & Charleston railroad and the Mobile & Ohio 
railroad which connected the Confederate States of America from the 
Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Each 
side recognized its significance. In a telegram to Secretary of War 
Edwin Stanton in May of 1862, Union General W.H. Halleck expressed the 
importance of Corinth: ``Richmond and Corinth are now the great 
strategical points of war, and our success at these points should be 
insured at all hazards,'' the telegram read.
  Mr. Speaker, the Battle of Corinth also involved one of the first 
uses of ``earthworks'' as part of modern warfare. These trenches, which 
would later be used extensively in World Wars I and II, are considered 
to be among the largest and best-preserved fortification groups in the 
nation but are in danger of being lost forever.
  Sites such as the Corinth battlefield are far too important to be 
known only through history

[[Page 17679]]

books. We need places where Americans can come and see history right 
before their eyes. Although the Corinth Battlefield has been designated 
as a National Historic Landmark, it is still considered a ``Civil War 
Landmark At Risk'' by the Civil War Site Advisory Commission.
  For over one hundred years, the United States Congress has advanced 
the idea that our national interest is best served by preserving 
America's historic treasures, not only by ensuring the proper 
interpretation of important historic events, but also the places and 
properties where important military milestones occurred.
  Mr. Speaker, this outstanding preservation effort would not be 
possible without the hard work and dedication of Mrs. Rosemary Williams 
and the Siege and Battle of Corinth Commission, along with the people 
of Corinth, and Alcorn County, Mississippi. This bipartisan bill is 
widely supported by local, state, regional, and national preservation 
organizations. We must take this necessary step to protect our heritage 
so that generations to come can gain an understanding of the struggles 
of our great nation. Events such as the Siege and Battle of Corinth 
have helped shape our American democracy and have transformed our 
diverse states and citizens into a united and prosperous nation, better 
prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Corinth Battlefield Preservation 
Act.
  Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. 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 Utah (Mr. Hansen) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill, S. 1117.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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