[Senate Report 106-20]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




                                                        Calendar No. 47

106th Congress                                                   Report
  1st Session                    SENATE                          106-20

=======================================================================



 
                           ROUTE 66 CORRIDOR

                                _______
                                

                 March 17, 1999.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______


  Mr. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 292]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 292) 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, 
reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that 
the bill do pass.

                         purpose of the measure

    The purpose of S. 292, as ordered reported, is to preserve 
the cultural resources of the Route 66 corridor and to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial 
and technical assistance.

                          background and need

    U.S. Highway 66, popularly known as ``Route 66,'' is 
significant as the nation's first highway linking Chicago with 
Los Angeles. In its day, Route 66 symbolized freedom and 
mobility for every citizen who could afford to own and operate 
a car.
    Beginning at the corner of Jackson Boulevard and Michigan 
Avenue in Chicago, Route 66 wound 2,400 miles to Santa Monica, 
California. Route 66 linked the rural West to the densely 
populated urban Midwest and Northeast. Gas stations, motels, 
restaurants, and grocery stores were built along the route to 
service an increasingly mobile public. Route 66's period of 
greatest historical significance was between 1933 and 1970.
    Congress authorized a Special Resource Study (Public Law 
101-400) for Route 66 in 1990. The study was completed in July 
1995. The study found that Route 66 is nationally significant 
and that representative structures, features, and artifacts 
remain along the historic route, although remnants of the road 
are quickly disappearing.
    The study identified five alternatives. This legislation 
closely depicts alternative five. Partnerships between the 
Federal Government and local organizations will be established 
to preserve historic resources along Route 66. The National 
Park Service will provide technical assistance, participate in 
cost sharing programs, and administer a grant program.

                          legislative history

    S. 292 was introduced on January 21, 1999 by Senators 
Domenici and Bingaman and referred to the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources. The Subcommittee on National Parks, 
Historic Preservation, and Recreation held a hearing on S. 292 
on February 24, 1999.
    During the 105th Congress a similar bill, S. 2133, was 
introduced by Senators Domenici and Bingaman on June 2, 1998. 
The Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic Preservation and 
Recreation held a hearing on S. 2133 on September 17, 1998.
    At its business meeting on September 24, 1998, the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 2133, 
favorably reported, as amended. On October 15, 1998, passage 
failed in the House of Representatives.
    On October 9, 1998, S. 2133 was passed by the Senate after 
agreeing to a committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
    At its business meeting on March 4, 1999, the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 292, favorably 
reported, without amendment.

                        Committee Recommendation

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open 
business session on March 4, 1999, by a unanimous voice vote of 
a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 292, as 
described herein.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

    Section 1 defines certain key terms in the Act.
    Section 2 directs the Secretary, in collaboration with 
other entities, to 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. The 
Secretary will identify officials of the National Park Service 
to perform the functions of the Cultural Resource Programs.
    This section directs the Secretary to support efforts by 
State, local, public and private persons, Indian Tribes, and 
State Historic Preservation Offices to preserve Route 66 by 
providing technical assistance, participating in cost sharing 
programs, making grants, and act as a clearinghouse for 
communication among Federal, State, and local agencies, and 
private persons interested in preservation of Route 66. The 
Secretary will assist the States in establishing a non-federal 
entity to perform the functions of the Cultural Resource 
Program after Federal involvement is terminated.
    This section also provides that the Secretary may enter 
into cooperative agreements, accept donations, provide cost-
share grants, provide technical assistance in historic 
preservation, and conduct research.
    In addition, this section states that the Secretary shall 
provide assistance in the preservation of Route 66 in a manner 
that is compatible with the idiosyncratic nature of the 
corridor. This section directs the Secretary to cooperate with 
the States, local and private persons and entities, and Indian 
Tribes in developing local preservation plans to protect the 
resources of the Route 66 corridor.
    Section 3 requires that the Secretary develop a technical 
assistance program for the preservation of Route 66. Guidelines 
will be established to set priority preservation needs that may 
be based on national register standards, modified to meet the 
needs of Route 66 preservation. Under this section, the 
Secretary will coordinate a program of research, curation, and 
the collection of oral and video histories of Route 66, and 
administer cost-share grants for resources that meet the 
guidelines established under this act.
    Section 4 authorizes a total appropriation of $10 million 
for the years 2000 through 2009 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 11, 1999.
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. 292, 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 this 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.

S. 292--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 S. 292. The 
government would spend another $5 million over the following 
five years. Because S. 292 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.
    S. 292 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 
appropriations 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.
    The bill would authorize the NPS to accept donations from 
nonfederal sources. The amounts of donations collected are not 
likely to be significant.
    The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. This estimate was 
approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy 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. 292. The bill is not a regulatory measure in 
the sense of imposing Government-established standards of 
significant economic 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 
enactment of S. 292, as ordered reported.

                        executive communications

    A representative from the National Park Service testified 
in support of S. 292 at a hearing before the Subcommittee on 
National Parks, Historic Preservation and Recreation on 
February 24, 1999.

                        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 S. 292, as ordered 
reported.

                                
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