[House Report 105-694]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 2d Session                                                     105-694
_______________________________________________________________________


 
 ACQUISITION OF WARREN PROPERTY FOR MORRISTOWN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK

                                _______
                                

 September 9, 1998.--Committed to the Committee on the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 2776]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 2776) to amend the Act entitled ``An Act to provide for 
the establishment of the Morristown National Historical Park in 
the State of New Jersey, and for other purposes'' to authorize 
the acquisition of property known as the Warren property, 
having considered the same, report favorably thereon without 
amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.

                          Purpose of the Bill

     The purpose of H.R. 2776 is to amend the Act entitled ``An 
Act to provide for the establishment of the Morristown National 
Historical Park in the State of New Jersey, and for other 
purposes'' to authorize the acquisition of property known as 
the Warren property.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    H.R. 2276 would amend the Act which provided for the 
establishment of the Morristown National Historical Park in New 
Jersey (16 U.S.C. 409 et seq.) by authorizing the acquisition 
of property known as the Warren property. This property, also 
known as Mount Kemble, was the strategically located winter 
headquarters of General George Washington during the winter of 
1779-1780. Specifically, these were the high grounds occupied 
by 800 soldiers of a brigade commanded by Colonel (later 
General) John Stark. This acquisition would expand the Park by 
15 acres which would protect the Park's cultural landscape, 
improve the visitor experience, and provide for a more 
manageable Park boundary.
    This 15-acre land parcel abuts the Jockey Hollow Encampment 
Area and has become available for purchase by a willing seller. 
The parcel presently contains a large residential structure, a 
guest cottage, and several outbuildings. Local zoning laws 
currently allow the land to be subdivided and the area is 
experiencing developmental pressure and growth. Furthermore, 
acquisition of this property would consolidate the existing 
irregular Park boundary which has, in the past, created some 
difficulties in Park administration and resource protection. 
Acquisition of this property would be secured by purchase, 
donation, purchase with appropriated funds, or by other means. 
The acquisition is not to exceed 15 acres of land and the 
interests therein. Approximately $960,000 is needed to acquire 
the Warren property. H.R. 2776 has wide support by community 
groups as well as the National Park Service.

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 2776 was introduced on October 30, 1997, by 
Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (R-NJ). The bill was 
referred to the Committee on Resources, and within the 
Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public 
Lands. On March 26, 1998, the Subcommittee held a hearing on 
H.R. 2776, where Denis Galvin, Deputy Director of the National 
Park Service, testified in support of the bill. On May 21, 
1998, the Subcommittee met to consider H.R. 2776 which was 
ordered favorably reported to the Full Committee by voice vote 
with no amendments. On July 29, 1998, the Full Resources 
Committee met to consider H.R. 2776. No amendments were offered 
and the bill was ordered favorably reported to the House of 
Representatives by voice vote.

            Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of rule 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Article I, section 8 and Article IV, section 3 of the 
Constitution of the United States grant Congress the authority 
to enact H.R. 2776.

                        Cost of the Legislation

    Clause 7(a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out 
H.R. 2776. However, clause 7(d) of that rule provides that this 
requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in 
its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                     Compliance With House Rule XI

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H.R. 
2776 does not contain any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee has received no report of oversight findings and 
recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight on the subject of H.R. 2776.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee has received the following cost estimate for H.R. 
2776 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                   Washington, DC, August 13, 1998.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 2776, a bill to 
amend the act entitled ``An Act to provide for the 
establishment of the Morristown National Historic Park in the 
State of New Jersey, and for other purposes'' to authorize the 
acquisition of property known as the Warren Property.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
            Sincerely,
                                         June E. O'Neill, Director.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 2776--A bill to amend the act entitled ``An Act to provide for the 
        establishment of the Morristown National Historic Park in the 
        State of New Jersey, and for other purposes'' to authorize the 
        acquisition of property known as the Warren Property

    Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO 
estimates that implementing H.R. 2776 would cost the federal 
government between $1 million and $3 million in fiscal year 
1999. The bill would not affect direct spending or receipts; 
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. The bill 
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as 
defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would have no 
significant impact on the budgets of state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    H.R. 2776 would authorize the National Park Service (NPS) 
to acquire by purchase or other means about 15 acres of land 
abutting the Morristown National Historic Park in New Jersey. 
This acreage, known as the Warren property, would then be 
included in the historical park. Assuming appropriation of the 
necessary amounts, CBO estimates that purchasing the property 
would cost between $1 million and $3 million. We estimate that 
the NPS would not incur any significant costs to develop or 
manage the additional acreage once it is acquired. This 
estimate is based on information provided by the NPS and by 
local government agencies.
    The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. This estimate was 
approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy Assistant Director for 
Budget Analysis.

                    Compliance With Public Law 104-4

    H.R. 2776 contains no unfunded mandates.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is 
printed in italic and existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

                          ACT OF MARCH 2, 1933

     AN ACT To provide for the creation of the Morristown National 
Historical Park in the State of New Jersey, and for other purposes

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


    Sec. 8. (a) In addition to any other lands or interest 
authorized to be acquired for inclusion in Morristown National 
Historical Park, and notwithstanding the first proviso of the 
first section of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior may 
acquire by purchase, donation, purchase with appropriated 
funds, or otherwise, not to exceed 15 acres of land and 
interests therein comprising the property known as the Warren 
Property or Mount Kimble. The Secretary may expend such sums as 
may be necessary for such acquisition.
    (b) Any lands or interests acquired under this section 
shall be included in and administered as part of the Morristown 
National Historical Park.