[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. ____________________