[Senate Report 104-32]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 55
104th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 104-32
_______________________________________________________________________
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT FAMILY LANDS
_______
April 7 (legislative day, April 5), 1995.--Ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
together with
MINORITY VIEWS
[To accompany S. 134]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 134) to provide for the acquisition of
certain lands formerly occupied by the Franklin D. Roosevelt
family, and for other purposes, having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that
the bill, as amended, do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu
thereof the following:
SECTION 1. ACQUISITION OF LANDS.
(a) In General.--(1) The Secretary of the Interior
(hereinafter referred to as the ``Secretary'') is authorized to
acquire, by purchase with donated or appropriated funds,
donation, or otherwise, lands and interests therein in the
following properties located at Hyde Park, New York identified
as lands critical for protection as depicted on the map
entitled ``Roosevelt Family Estate'' and dated September 1994:
(A) the ``Open Park Hodhome Tract'', consisting of
approximately 40 acres, which shall be the highest
priority for acquisition;
(B) the ``Top Cottage Tract'', consisting of
approximately 30 acres; and
(C) the ``Poughkeepsie Shopping Center, Inc. Tract'',
consisting of approximately 55 acres.
(b) Administration.--Lands and interests therein acquired
by the Secretary pursuant to this Act shall be added to, and
administered by the Secretary as part of the Franklin Delano
Roosevelt National Historic Site or the Eleanor Roosevelt
National Historic Site, as appropriate.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is hereby
authorized to be appropriated not to exceed $3,000,000 to carry
out this Act.
purpose of the measure
The purpose of S. 134, as ordered reported, is to provide
for the acquisition of certain lands formerly occupied by the
Franklin D. Roosevelt family and for other purposes.
background and need
Designated as a National Historic Site in 1944, the
Franklin D. Roosevelt estate memorializes the President's
birthplace and lifetime residence. A gift from President
Roosevelt, the site then consisted of 33 acres containing the
home, outbuildings, and the grave site. The Secretary of the
Interior accepted title to the area on November 21, 1945, when
Eleanor Roosevelt and her children waived their life interest
in the house and grounds. The site was formally dedicated on
April 12, 1946.
At the time of Franklin D. Roosevelt's death in 1945, the
estate included 1,200 acres of woodlands, fields, tree
plantations, and landscaped gardens; the original homesite of
President Roosevelt; and Val-kill, the family home after the
President's death. Throughout his adult life, President
Roosevelt planted over 200,000 trees in plantations, orchards,
and experimental forests. These trees can be seen today by the
visitors who walk on the Hyde Park Trail which extends from the
Roosevelt estate to Val-kill. Each year, thousands of visitors
come to the Franklin D. Roosevelt National Historic Site.
For over 45 years, the Park Service has attempted to
preserve and interpret the homesite as it existed during
President Roosevelt's lifetime and to protect the historic
integrity of this nationally significant presidential home. As
development pressures on the Franklin D. Roosevelt site have
increased, the Park Service has taken measures to protect the
President's homesite and, on a case-by-case basis, Congress has
approved the purchase of a few key parcels through designated
appropriations. Under current law, however, the Park Service is
authorized to acquire property at the Franklin D. Roosevelt
site only by donation, a restriction that has limited efforts
to protect the site. Since 1945, portions of the property have
been sold for commercial and residential development. Today
only 480 acres of the estate's original 1,200 acres are under
Park Service jurisdiction.
In 1989, the Park Service updated its Land Protection Plan
and identified several critical areas which will need either
easements, acquisition, or other protections in order to
preserve the historic setting of the Roosevelt home site. One
such area is a tract called Roosevelt Cove (identified in the
bill as the ``Open Park Hodhome Tract''). Roosevelt Cove abuts
Park Service land and is located on the Hudson River due south
of the estate. It once provided the only views from the
Franklin D. Roosevelt site of the Hudson River. Unfortunately,
the view is now shielded from the site as years of unmanaged
over-growth have overtaken the property. Acquisition of this
tract would enhance the interpretive experience at the site by
highlighting the significance of the viewshed to the Roosevelt
family.
S. 134 would authorize the Secretary to acquire, with
appropriated funds, three tracts that the Park Service has
identified as critical for protection. These three tracts are
the ``Open Park Hodhome Tract,'' consisting of approximately 40
acres; the ``Top Cottage Tract,'' consisting of approximately
30 acres; and the ``Poughkeepsie Shopping Center, Inc. Tract,''
consisting of approximately 55 acres. S. 134 would also
designate the Open Park Hodhome tract as the highest priority
for acquisition.
legislative history
S. 134 was introduced by Senator Moynihan on January 4,
1995.
In the 103d Congress, similar legislation, S. 1998, was
introduced by Senator Moynihan on March 25, 1994. The
Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks and Forests held a
hearing on S. 1998 on August 4, 1994. The National Park Service
testified in support of the legislation as introduced. On
September 21, 1994, the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources ordered S. 1998 favorably reported, with an amendment
in the nature of a substitute. No further action was taken on
the bill.
At the business meeting on March 15, 1995, the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 134, as amended,
favorably reported.
committee recommendations and tabulation of votes
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open
business session on March 15, 1995, by a majority vote of a
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 134, if
amended as described herein.
The roll call vote on reporting the measure was 13 years, 3
nays, as follows:
YEAS NAYS
Mr. Murkowski Mr. Thomas
Mr. Hatfield \1\ Mr. Grams
Mr. Domenici Mr. Burns
Mr. Craig
Mr. Campbell
Mr. Jeffords \1\
Mr. Johnston
Mr. Bumpers
Mr. Ford
Mr. Bradley
Mr. Bingaman \1\
Mr. Akaka
Mr. Wellstone
\1\ Indicates voted by proxy.
committee amendment
During the consideration of S. 134, the Committee adopted
an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment makes
several technical and clarifying changes and limits the
properties that the Secretary is authorized to acquire with
appropriated funds to those lands identified by the Park
Service as critical for protection. The amendment also limits
new land acquisition costs to $3 million. The amendment is
identical to the bill reported by the Committee during the 103d
Congress.
section-by-section analysis
Section 1(a) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (the
``Secretary'') to acquire, by purchase with donated or
appropriated funds, donation, or otherwise, three tracts of
land identified by the Park Service as critical for protection
and provides an appropriate map reference. This subsection also
requires that the Open Park Hodhome tract be the highest
priority for acquisition.
Subsection (b) states that lands and interests therein
acquired by the Secretary pursuant to this Act shall be added
to, and administered by the Secretary as part of the Franklin
D. Roosevelt National Historic Site or the Eleanor Roosevelt
National Historic Site, as appropriate.
Subsection (c) authorizes the appropriation of up to
$3,000,000 to carry out this Act.
cost and budgetary considerations
The following estimate of costs of this measure has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, March 20, 1995.
Hon. Frank H. Murkowski,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 134, a bill to
provide for the acquisition of certain lands formerly occupied
by the Franklin D. Roosevelt family, and for other purposes.
Enacting S. 134 would not affect direct spending or
receipts. Therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply
to the bill.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them.
Sincerely,
June E. O'Neill, Director.
Enclosure.
congressional budget office cost estimate
1. Bill number: S. 134.
2. Bill title: A bill to provide for the acquisition of
certain lands formerly occupied by the Franklin D. Roosevelt
family, and for other purposes.
3. Bill status: As ordered reported by the Senate Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources on March 15, 1995.
4. Bill purpose: S. 134 would authorize the National Park
Service (NPS) to acquire by purchase, donation, or other means
three properties in Hyde Park, New York. The acquired lands,
comprising about 125 acres, would be added to one of the
national historic sites honoring Eleanor or Franklin Delano
Roosevelt. The bill would authorize the appropriation of up to
$3 million for this purpose.
5. Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
costs of purchasing the three Hyde Park properties and for
developing and maintaining those properties are shown in the
following table.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
authorization of
appropriations....... 3.0 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3
Estimated outlays..... 2.0 1.2 0.3 0.3 0.3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The costs of this bill fall within budget function 300.
For purposes of this estimate, CBO has assumed that S. 134
will be enacted by the end of fiscal year 1995 and that the
full amounts estimated to be necessary will be appropriated.
The authorization level for 1996 is the $3 million specified in
the bill, which CBO estimates would be spent over the 1996-1999
period to purchase the three listed properties. In addition,
CBO estimates authorizations of $0.3 million per year in
subsequent years to reflect the costs to develop, manage, and
operate visitor facilities at one newly acquired property, Top
Cottage. Outlays have been estimated on the basis of historical
patterns for similar projects.
6. Comparison with spending under current law: There is no
spending under current law related to the properties cited in
S. 134.
7. Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
8. Estimated cost to State and local governments: None.
9. Estimate comparison: None.
10. Previous CBO estimate: None.
11. Estimate prepared by: Deborah Reis.
12. Estimate approved by: Paul N. Van de Water, Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
regulatory impact evaluation
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out S. 134. The bill is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing responsibilities on private individuals
and businesses.
No personal information would be collected in administering
the program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal
privacy.
Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the
enactment of S. 134, as ordered reported.
executive communications
On March 21, 1995, the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of
the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget setting
forth Executive agency recommendations on S. 134. These reports
had not been received at the time the report on S. 134 was
filed. When these reports become available, the Chairman will
request that they be printed in the Congressional Record for
the advice of the Senate.
changes in existing law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no
changes in existing law are made by the bill S. 134, as ordered
reported.
MINORITY VIEWS
On March 15th, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee
voted on five bills en bloc, reporting them as an entire
package. Had there been an opportunity to vote on each of the
initiatives separately, I would have voted against S. 134, the
bill to allow the use of appropriated funds to acquire certain
additional tracts of land at the Roosevelt National Historic
Site in Hyde Park, New York. With no opportunity to cast a
separate vote on S. 134, I withheld my vote on the entire
package.
S. 134 removes the existing stipulation that the National
Park Service may only acquire additional property at the Hyde
Park site by donation. Although I understand that the existing
restriction has limited efforts to protect the site, I also
believe Congress needs to better prioritize spending,
particularly as it attempts to balance the federal budget.
It seems to me that President Roosevelt, if he were here
today, would rather see scarce dollars used to address the
needs of the American people than devoted to the purchase of
additional land in his honor.
Jon Kyl.