[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 23815]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN TRAIL BATTLEFIELDS PRESERVATION ACT OF 1999

  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill (S. 710) to authorize a feasibility study on the 
preservation of certain Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg 
Campaign Trail.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                 S. 710

       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 ``Vicksburg Campaign Trail 
     Battlefields Preservation Act of 1999''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) there are situated along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail 
     in the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and 
     Tennessee the sites of several key Civil War battles;
       (2) the battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail are 
     collectively of national significance in the history of the 
     Civil War; and
       (3) the preservation of those battlefields would vitally 
     contribute to the understanding of the heritage of the United 
     States.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this Act is to authorize a 
     feasibility study to determine what measures should be taken 
     to preserve certain Civil War battlefields along the 
     Vicksburg Campaign Trail.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Campaign trail state.--The term ``Campaign Trail 
     State'' means each of the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, 
     Arkansas, and Tennessee, including political subdivisions of 
     those States.
       (2) Civil war battlefield.--The term ``Civil War 
     battlefield'' includes the following sites (including related 
     structures adjacent to or thereon)--
       (A) the battlefields at Helena and Arkansas Post, Arkansas;
       (B) Goodrich's Landing near Transylvania, and sites in and 
     around Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, Louisiana;
       (C) the battlefield at Milliken's Bend, Madison Parish, 
     Louisiana;
       (D) the route of Grant's march through Louisiana from 
     Milliken's Bend to Hard Times, Madison and Tensas Parishes, 
     Louisiana;
       (E) the Winter Quarters at Tensas Parish, Louisiana;
       (F) Grant's landing site at Bruinsburg, and the route of 
     Grant's march from Bruinsburg to Vicksburg, Claiborne, Hinds, 
     and Warren Counties, Mississippi;
       (G) the battlefield at Port Gibson (including Shaifer 
     House, Bethel Church, and the ruins of Windsor), Claiborne 
     County, Mississippi;
       (H) the battlefield at Grand Gulf, Claiborne County, 
     Mississippi;
       (I) the battlefield at Raymond (including Waverly, (the 
     Peyton House)), Hinds County, Mississippi;
       (J) the battlefield at Jackson, Hinds County, Mississippi;
       (K) the Union siege lines around Jackson, Hinds County, 
     Mississippi;
       (L) the battlefield at Champion Hill (including Coker 
     House), Hinds County, Mississippi;
       (M) the battlefield at Big Black River Bridge, Hinds and 
     Warren Counties, Mississippi;
       (N) the Union fortifications at Haynes Bluff, Confederate 
     fortifications at Snyder's Bluff, and remnants of Federal 
     exterior lines, Warren County, Mississippi;
       (O) the battlefield at Chickasaw Bayou, Warren County, 
     Mississippi;
       (P) Pemberton's Headquarters at Warren County, Mississippi;
       (Q) the site of actions taken in the Mississippi Delta and 
     Confederate fortifications near Grenada, Grenada County, 
     Mississippi;
       (R) the site of the start of Greirson's Raid and other 
     related sites, LaGrange, Tennessee; and
       (S) any other sites considered appropriate by the 
     Secretary.
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     SEC. 4. FEASIBILITY STUDY.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after funds are 
     made available for this Act, the Secretary shall complete a 
     feasibility study to determine what measures should be taken 
     to preserve Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg 
     Campaign Trail.
       (b) Components.--In completing the study, the Secretary 
     shall--
       (1) review current National Park Service programs, policies 
     and criteria to determine the most appropriate means of 
     ensuring the Civil War battlefields and associated natural, 
     cultural, and historical resources are preserved;
       (2) evaluate options for the establishment of a management 
     entity for the Civil War battlefields consisting of a unit of 
     government or a private nonprofit organization that--
       (A) administers and manages the Civil War battlefields; and
       (B) possesses the legal authority to--
       (i) receive Federal funds and funds from other units of 
     government or other organizations for use in managing the 
     Civil War battlefields;
       (ii) disburse Federal funds to other units of government or 
     other nonprofit organizations for use in managing the Civil 
     War battlefields;
       (iii) enter into agreements with the Federal government, 
     State governments, or other units of government and nonprofit 
     organizations; and
       (iv) acquire land or interests in land by gift or devise, 
     by purchase from a willing seller using donated or 
     appropriated funds, or by donation;
       (3) make recommendations to the Campaign Trail States for 
     the management, preservation, and interpretation of the 
     natural, cultural, and historical resources of the Civil War 
     battlefields;
       (4) identify appropriate partnerships among Federal, State, 
     and local governments, regional entities, and the private 
     sector, including nonprofit organizations and the 
     organization known as ``Friends of the Vicksburg Campaign and 
     Historic Trail'', in furtherance of the purposes of this Act; 
     and
       (5) recommend methods of ensuring continued local 
     involvement and participation in the management, protection, 
     and development of the Civil War battlefields.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
     completion of the study under this section, the Secretary 
     shall submit a report describing the findings of the study 
     to--
       (1) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate; and
       (2) the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this Act $1,500,000.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Alaska (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young).
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 710, introduced by Senator Trent Lott from 
Mississippi, authorizes a feasibility study of the Vicksburg Campaign 
during the Civil War. The Vicksburg Campaign was one of the most 
important, decisive events of the Civil War. Vicksburg was the 
Confederacy's most vital defensive citadel, located on the Mississippi 
River. Its capture was considered essential to the Union plans to gain 
control of the Mississippi in 1863.
  The fall of Vicksburg effectively split the South in two and gave the 
North complete control of the Mississippi River.

                              {time}  1415

  Clearly, many of the battlefields along the Vicksburg Campaign Trail 
are of important historical significance and their preservation would 
contribute to the understanding of the heritage of the United States. 
Mr. Speaker, S. 710 would authorize a feasibility study on the 
preservation of many of the Civil War battlefields along the Vicksburg 
Campaign Trail to determine what measures should be taken to preserve 
these historical battlefields.
  In addition, this bill would authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to establish a management entity for Civil War battlefields and to 
acquire funds and lands for use in managing these battlefields.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge members of the House to support S. 710.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  The gentleman from Alaska has quite properly explained this 
legislation to direct the National Park Service to conduct a 
feasibility study to explore various options of the preservation of the 
Vicksburg Campaign Trail, and I urge the support of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. YOUNG of Alaska. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young) that the House suspend 
the rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 710.


  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.

                          ____________________