[House Report 107-398]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



107th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     107-398

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         MUSCLE SHOALS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY ACT OF 2001

                                _______
                                

 April 11, 2002.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 2628]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 2628) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the 
Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area in Alabama, and for other 
purposes, 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. 2628 is to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasibility 
of establishing the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area in 
Alabama, and for other purposes.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The City of Muscle Shoals and the surrounding area of 
Northwest Alabama has played an integral part in shaping many 
aspects of Alabama and Southern culture. It has been the site 
of numerous work projects, historical and cultural education, 
and artistic expression. It is the birthplace of the Tennessee 
Valley Authority--the first piece of New Deal legislation--and 
home to a number of historic trails, including the Natchez 
Trail at the Tennessee River, the Andrew Jackson Road, and the 
Trail of Tears. It also includes Henry Ford's utopian 75Mile 
City, which inspired Frank Lloyd Wright's Broadacre City. The 
area has also spawned regional expressions in music, home 
crafts, and domestic architecture.
    H.R. 2628 would help determine if the proposed Muscle 
Shoals National Heritage Area would tie these assets together 
to protect natural and cultural resources of national 
significance, create a high-quality visitor experience, 
establish a coherent regional identity, and create an 
opportunity for region-wide interpretation of its diverse 
populations and cultural history.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 2628 was introduced on July 25, 2001, by Congressman 
Robert ``Bud'' Cramer (D-AL). The bill was referred to the 
Committee on Resources and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands. 
On February 7, 2002, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the 
bill. On March 7, 2002, the Subcommittee met to mark up the 
bill. No amendments were offered and the bill was ordered 
favorably reported to the Full Committee by voice vote. On 
March 20, 2002, the Full Resources Committee met to consider 
the bill. No amendments were offered and the bill was ordered 
favorably reported by unanimous consent to the House of 
Representatives.

            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 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does 
not authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule 
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not 
apply.
    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, March 22, 2002.
Hon. James V. Hansen,
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. 2628, the Muscle 
Shoals National Heritage Area Study Act of 2001.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact for this 
estimate is Deborah Reis.
            Sincerely,
                                          Barry B. Anderson
                                    (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
    Enclosure.

H.R. 2628--Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area Study Act of 2001

    H.R. 2628 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to 
study an area of northern Alabama to determine the suitability 
and feasibility of establishing it as a National Heritage Area. 
The legislation would require the agency to report to the 
Congress on its findings within three years of receiving 
funding for the study.
    Based on information provided by the NPS, CBO estimates 
that completing the required study and report would cost the 
federal government $250,000 over the next three to four years, 
assuming the availability of appropriated funds. H.R. 2628 
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 impose no costs on 
state, local, or tribal governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. 
The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW

    This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or 
tribal law.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing 
law.

                                  
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