[House Report 106-137]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
106th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 106-137
======================================================================
ROUTE 66 CORRIDOR ACT
_______
May 13, 1999.--Committed to the Committee of 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. 66]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 66) to preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66
corridor and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
provide assistance, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend 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. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Route 66 corridor.--The term ``Route 66 corridor'' means
structures and other cultural resources described in paragraph
(3), including--
(A) lands owned by the Federal Government and lands
owned by a State or local government within the
immediate vicinity of those portions of the highway
formerly designated as United States Route 66; and
(B) private land within that immediate vicinity that
is owned by persons or entities that are willing to
participate in the programs authorized by this Act.
(2) Cultural resource programs.--The term ``Cultural Resource
Programs'' means the programs established and administered by
the National Park Service for the benefit of and in support of
preservation of the Route 66 corridor, either directly or
indirectly.
(3) Preservation of the route 66 corridor.--The term
``preservation of the Route 66 corridor'' means the
preservation or restoration of structures or other cultural
resources of businesses, sites of interest, and other
contributing resources that--
(A) are located within the land described in
paragraph (1);
(B) existed during the route's period of outstanding
historic significance (principally between 1926 and
1970), as defined by the study prepared by the National
Park Service and entitled ``Special Resource Study of
Route 66'', dated July 1995; and
(C) remain in existence as of the date of enactment
of this Act.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior, acting through the Cultural Resource Programs at
the National Park Service.
(5) State.--The term ``State'' means a State in which a
portion of the Route 66 corridor is located.
SEC. 2. MANAGEMENT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the entities
described in subsection (c), shall facilitate the development of
guidelines and a program of technical assistance and grants that will
set priorities for the preservation of the Route 66 corridor.
(b) Designation of Officials.--The Secretary shall designate
officials of the National Park Service stationed at locations
convenient to the States to perform the functions of the Cultural
Resource Programs under this Act.
(c) General Functions.--The Secretary shall--
(1) support efforts of State and local public and private
persons, nonprofit Route 66 preservation entities, Indian
tribes, State Historic Preservation Offices, and entities in
the States for the preservation of the Route 66 corridor by
providing technical assistance, participating in cost-sharing
programs, and making grants;
(2) act as a clearinghouse for communication among Federal,
State, and local agencies, nonprofit Route 66 preservation
entities, Indian tribes, State historic preservation offices,
and private persons and entities interested in the preservation
of the Route 66 corridor; and
(3) assist the States in determining the appropriate form of
and establishing and supporting a non-Federal entity or
entities to perform the functions of the Cultural Resource
Programs after those programs are terminated.
(d) Authorities.--In carrying out this Act, the Secretary may--
(1) enter into cooperative agreements, including (but not
limited to) cooperative agreements for study, planning,
preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration related to the
Route 66 corridor;
(2) accept donations of funds, equipment, supplies, and
services as appropriate;
(3) provide cost-share grants for projects for the
preservation of the Route 66 corridor (but not to exceed 50
percent of total project costs) and information about existing
cost-share opportunities;
(4) provide technical assistance in historic preservation and
interpretation of the Route 66 corridor; and
(5) coordinate, promote, and stimulate research by other
persons and entities regarding the Route 66 corridor.
(e) Preservation Assistance.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall provide assistance in
the preservation of the Route 66 corridor in a manner that is
compatible with the idiosyncratic nature of the Route 66
corridor.
(2) Planning.--The Secretary shall not prepare or require
preparation of an overall management plan for the Route 66
corridor, but shall cooperate with the States and local public
and private persons and entities, State historic preservation
offices, nonprofit Route 66 preservation entities, and Indian
tribes in developing local preservation plans to guide efforts
to protect the most important or representative resources of
the Route 66 corridor.
SEC. 3. RESOURCE TREATMENT.
(a) Technical Assistance Program.--
(1) Program required.--The Secretary shall develop a program
of technical assistance in the preservation of the Route 66
corridor and interpretation of the Route 66 corridor.
(2) Program guidelines.--As part of the technical assistance
program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall establish
guidelines for setting priorities for preservation needs for
the Route 66 corridor. The Secretary shall base the guidelines
on the Secretary's standards for historic preservation.
(b) Program for Coordination of Activities.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall coordinate a program of
historic research, curation, preservation strategies, and the
collection of oral and video histories of events that occurred
along the Route 66 corridor.
(2) Design.--The program under paragraph (1) shall be
designed for continuing use and implementation by other
organizations after the Cultural Resource Programs are
terminated.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for the period of
fiscal years 2000 through 2009 to carry out the purposes of this Act.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 66 is to preserve the cultural
resources of the Route 66 corridor and to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The highway formerly known as Route 66, extending from
Chicago to Los Angeles, is a nationally significant part of
American history, foremost among the early highways that helped
change and shape America as it entered the twentieth century.
Beginning with the Dust Bowl migration to California, Route 66
enabled American businesses to move commerce, individuals to
seek better lives, and the government to move troops and war
supplies. It also opened up the Southwestern landscape to
tourism and post-war migration of families to the booming job
market of California. Through books, television, songs, and
movies, Route 66 has become an enduring part of American
culture.
Unfortunately, as Americans became more mobile, this two-
lane roadway could not handle the increasing volume of truck
and vehicle traffic. Route 66 became so fragmented and
confusing that in 1979 it lost its official U.S. Highway
``Route 66'' designation. The remaining portions of the former
Route 66 have been incorporated into state and local highway
systems.
H.R. 66 would preserve the cultural resources along the
historic Route 66 by allowing the Secretary of the Interior to
support and collaborate with state, local, and private
institutions to preserve these resources. The preservation of
Route 66 would include the preservation or restoration of
portions of the highway, businesses and sites of interest and
other contributing resources along the highway during its
period of outstanding historical significance (principally
between 1933 and 1970). The Secretary would do so through cost-
share grants, information services, and technical assistance.
Many portions of Route 66 continue to serve as regional
highways connecting cities, towns and open spaces. The
Committee believes that the preservation efforts outlined in
this legislation should consider Department of Transportation
highway safety and maintenance standards and that the
Departments of the Interior and Transportation should work
cooperatively when and where feasible and mutually beneficial.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 66 was introduced on January 6, 1999, by Congresswoman
Heather Wilson (R-NM). The bill was referred to the Committee
on Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
National Parks and Public Lands. On March 11, 1999, the
Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill, where the
Administration testified in support of H.R. 66, contingent on a
few minor technical amendments. On March 18, 1999, the
Subcommittee met to mark up the bill. Chairman James V. Hansen
(R-UT) offered en bloc amendments to change the beginning of
the period of historical significance from 1933 to 1926, to
clarify the role that the Secretary of the Interior would play
in Route 66 preservation and interpretation, to clarify that
the Secretary should base the technical assistance program on
the Secretary's standards for historic preservation, and to
clarify what types of federal lands the bill would apply to.
The amendment was adopted by voice vote. The bill was then
ordered favorably reported to the Full Committee by voice vote.
On April 28, 1999, the Full Resources Committee met to consider
the bill. No further amendments were offered. The bill was then
ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by
voice vote.
COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII 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 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII
1. Cost of Legislation.--Clause 3(d)(2) 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 this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
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 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Congressional Budget Act.--As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in tax
expenditures. According to the Congressional Budget Office,
because H.R. 66 would allow the National Park Service to accept
donations, the bill could affect federal revenues, but ``any
amounts collected would be insignificant.''
3. Government Reform Oversight Findings.--Under clause
3(c)(4) of rule XIII 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 on this bill.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate.--Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII 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 this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, April 30, 1999.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 66, a bill to
preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66 corridor and to
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance.
If you wish further details on the estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson
(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 66--A bill to preserve the cultural resources of the Route 66
corridor and to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
provide assistance
Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO
estimates that the National Park Service (NPS) would spend $5
million over the next five years to implement H.R. 66. The
government would spend another $5 million over the following
five years. Because H.R. 66 would allow the NPS to accept
donations, the bill could affect federal revenues; therefore,
pay-as-you-go procedures would apply. We estimate, however,
that any amounts collected would be insignificant. The bill
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. State, local, and
tribal governments might incur some costs as a result of the
bill's enactment, but these costs would be voluntary.
H.R. 66 would direct the Secretary of the Interior (acting
through the NPS) to create a program for preserving the Route
66 corridor. For that purpose, the NPS would be authorized to
accept donations, conduct research, make grants, execute cost-
sharing agreements, and provide technical assistance to
nonfederal parties. The bill would authorize the appropriation
of a total of $10 million over the 2000-2009 period for these
purposes.
Based on information provided by the NPS and assuming
appropriation of the $10 million authorized, CBO estimates that
the agency would spend about $5 million between 2000 and 2004.
We estimate that about $3 million would be used to establish
guidelines and programs required by the bill in 2000 and 2001.
The NPS would need about $1 million annually thereafter to
carry out the new programs.
On March 11, 1999, CBO prepared a cost estimte for S. 292,
a similar bill that was ordered reported by the Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on March 4, 1999. The
estimated costs of these bills are identical.
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
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
changes in existing law
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.