[House Report 108-252]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



108th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    108-252

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                      COLTSVILLE STUDY ACT OF 2003

                                _______
                                

 September 3, 2003.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

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

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 233]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(S. 233) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
study of Coltsville in the State of Connecticut for potential 
inclusion in the National Park System, having considered the 
same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend 
that the bill do pass.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of S. 233 is to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a study of Coltsville in the State of 
Connecticut for potential inclusion in the National Park 
System.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Coltsville, a site in Hartford, Connecticut, was inspired 
by Samuel Colt, founder of Colt Manufacturing Company and his 
wife, Elizabeth. Coltsville flourished during the Industrial 
Revolution spurring innovation not only in the production of 
firearms, but also with the development of technology that led 
to changes in the American way of life. Coltsville set the 
standard of excellence during the Industrial Revolution and 
continues to be significant as a place where Americans learn 
the importance of that period in history. In 1998 the National 
Park Service conducted a special resource reconnaissance study 
of the Connecticut River Valley to evaluate the significance of 
historic manufacturing sites and found that the Coltsville 
region contains an unequaled concentration of historic 
resources relating to precision manufacturing. Further study is 
needed to find if the area warrants designation as a unit of 
the National Park System. As part of the study, the Committee 
expects that the Secretary of the Interior will determine any 
potential impacts that designation of the site is likely to 
have on land within or bordering the study area that is 
privately owned at the time that the study is conducted.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    S. 233 was introduced on January 29, 2003, by Senator 
Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and passed in the Senate on March 4, 
2003 by unanimous consent. The bill was then referred to the 
Committee on Resources and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands. On 
July 9, 2003, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the 
bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public 
Lands was discharged from further consideration of the bill by 
unanimous consent. No amendments were offered and the bill was 
then 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, and Article IV, section 3 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 direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a study of Coltsville in the State of 
Connecticut for potential inclusion in the National Park 
System.
    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, August 11, 2003.
Hon. Richard Pombo,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 233, the Coltsville 
Study Act of 2003.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
            Sincerely,
                                       Douglas Holtz-Eakin,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

S. 233--Coltsville Study Act of 2003

    S. 233 would direct the Department of the Interior to 
conduct a study of an area in Connecticut known as Coltsville 
to evaluate the area's national significance. The study also 
would assess the feasibility and suitability of designating 
Coltsville as a unit of the National Park System. The act would 
authorize the appropriation of whatever amounts are necessary 
for the study and would require the department to report on its 
findings and recommendations within three years of receiving 
funds.
    Assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO 
estimates that it would cost about $250,000 over the next three 
years to complete the required study and report. Enacting the 
legislation would not affect spending or revenues.
    S. 233 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 February 7, 2003, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for S. 
233 as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources on February 5, 2003. The two versions of S. 
233 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 of the Budget Analysis Division.

                    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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