[House Report 107-668]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



107th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     107-668
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             NIAGARA FALLS NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDY ACT

                                _______
                                

 September 23, 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 S. 1227]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(S. 1227) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing the 
Niagara Falls National Heritage Area in the State of New York, 
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 S. 1227 is to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasability 
of establishing the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area in the 
State of New York, and for other purposes.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The Niagara Falls in western New York forms the boundary 
between the State and Canada and is internationally recognized 
as a very significant natural wonder. Between 8 and 10 million 
people visit the Falls each year. The Niagara River Gorge 
Corridor is also well known for its exceptional scenic views. 
The Gorge is also known to contain a world-class selection of 
fossils from the Upper Ordovician and Silurian periods. The 
Niagara River flows for 35 miles between Lake Erie and Lake 
Ontario and includes both the Niagara Falls and the Niagara 
River Gorge. The area encompasses eight parks located along the 
River and the Gorge that are operated by the State of New York.
    The region is home to many cultural and historical 
resources relating to early American history. Included are 
sites and resources relating to Native American habitation and 
early European contact, the French and Indian War, the American 
Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. In addition, it 
includes an important route in the Underground Railroad which 
aided African-American slaves escaping to Canada.
    In early 2001, the National Park Service (NPS) conducted a 
reconnaissance study of the Niagara River region in which 
possibilities for NPS involvement were explored. While the 
study did not recommend the area being studied for possible 
designation as a unit of the National Park System, it did 
conclude that one possible scenario was to have the area 
studied for its suitability and feasability of being designated 
a National Heritage Area.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    S. 1227 was introduced on July 24, 2001, by Senator Charles 
Schumer (D-NY). On August 1, 2002, the Senate passed the bill, 
with amendments, by unanimous consent. S. 1227 was referred to 
the Committee on Resources. On September 12, 2002, the Full 
Resources Committee met to consider the bill. No amendments 
were offered and the bill was ordered favorably reported to the 
House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

            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. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or 
objective of this bill is to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasability 
of establishing the Niagara Falls National Heritage Area in the 
State of New York, and for other purposes.
    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, September 17, 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 S. 1227, the Niagara 
Falls National Heritage Area Study Act.
    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.

S. 1227--Niagara Falls National Heritage Area Study Act

    S. 1227 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
conduct a study of the feasibility of establishing a Niagara 
Falls National Heritage Area in the state of New York. The 
study would identify cultural and other resources in the area 
and would determine if there is a suitable entity to manage it. 
The act would authorize the appropriation of $300,000 to 
conduct the study, and it would require the Secretary to report 
on its findings and recommendations within three years of 
receiving funds.
    Assuming appropriation of the authorized amount, CBO 
estimates that implementing S. 1227 would cost the federal 
government $300,000 over the next three years to complete the 
required study and report. The legislation would not affect 
direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures would not apply.
    S. 1227 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.
    On June 13, 2002, CBO submitted a cost estimate for S. 1227 
as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources on June 5, 2002. The two versions of the 
legislation are identical, as are the cost estimates.
    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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