[House Report 108-637]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 108-637
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TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS SPECIAL RESOURCES STUDY ACT
_______
September 7, 2004.--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 H.R. 2129]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 2129) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct
a special resources study regarding the suitability and
feasibility of designating certain historic buildings and areas
in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park
System, and for other purposes, 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 all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Taunton, Massachusetts Special
Resources Study Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The city of Taunton, Massachusetts, is home to 9 distinct
historic districts, with more than 600 properties on the
National Register of Historic Places. Included among these
districts are the Church Green Historic District, the
Courthouse Historic District, the Taunton Green Historic
District, and the Reed and Barton Historic District.
(2) All of these districts include buildings and building
facades of great historical, cultural, and architectural value.
(3) Taunton Green is the site where the Sons of Liberty first
raised the Liberty and Union Flag in 1774, an event that helped
to spark a popular movement, culminating in the American
Revolution, and Taunton citizens have been among the first to
volunteer for America's subsequent wars.
(4) Robert Treat Paine, a citizen of Taunton, and the first
Attorney General of Massachusetts, was a signer of the
Declaration of Independence.
(5) Taunton was a leading community in the Industrial
Revolution, and its industrial area has been the site of many
innovations in such industries as silver manufacture, paper
manufacture, and ship building.
(6) The landscaping of the Courthouse Green was designed by
Frederick Law Olmsted, who also left landscaping ideas and
plans for other areas in the city which have great value and
interest as historical archives and objects of future study.
(7) Main Street, which connects many of the historic
districts, is home to the Taunton City Hall and the Leonard
Block building, 2 outstanding examples of early 19th Century
American architecture, as well as many other historically and
architecturally significant structures.
(8) The city and people of Taunton have preserved many
artifacts, gravesites, and important documents dating back to
1638 when Taunton was founded.
(9) Taunton was and continues to be an important destination
for immigrants from Europe and other parts of the world who
have helped to give Southeastern Massachusetts its unique
ethnic character.
SEC. 3. STUDY.
The Secretary, in consultation with the appropriate State historic
preservation officers, State historical societies, the city of Taunton,
and other appropriate organizations, shall conduct a special resources
study regarding the suitability and feasibility of designating certain
historic buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of
the National Park System. The study shall be conducted and completed in
accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5(c))
and shall include analysis, documentation, and determinations regarding
whether the historic areas in Taunton--
(1) can be managed, curated, interpreted, restored,
preserved, and presented as an organic whole under management
by the National Park Service or under an alternative management
structure;
(2) have an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural
resources that together represent distinctive aspects of
American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation,
interpretation, and continuing use;
(3) reflect traditions, customs, beliefs, and historical
events that are valuable parts of the national story;
(4) provide outstanding opportunities to conserve natural,
historic, cultural, architectural, or scenic features;
(5) provide outstanding recreational and educational
opportunities; and
(6) can be managed by the National Park Service in
partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit
organizations, and State and local governments to develop a
unit of the National Park System consistent with State and
local economic activity.
SEC. 4. REPORT.
Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are first
made available for this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the
findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study required under
section 3.
SEC. 5. PRIVATE PROPERTY.
The recommendations in the report submitted pursuant to section 4
shall discuss and consider the concerns expressed by private landowners
with respect to designating the certain structures referred to in this
Act as a unit of the National Park System.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary
to carry out the purposes of this Act.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 2129 is to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a special resources study regarding the
suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic
buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the
National Park System, and for other purposes.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
The city of Taunton, Massachusetts, is home to nine
distinct historic districts, with more than 600 properties on
the National Register of Historic Places. Included among these
districts are the Church Green Historic District, the
Courthouse Historic District, the Taunton Green Historic
District, and the Reed and Barton Historic District. All of
these districts include buildings and building facades of great
historical, cultural, and architectural value. Taunton Green is
the site where the Sons of Liberty first raised the Liberty and
Union Flag in 1774, an event that helped to spark a popular
movement, culminating in the American Revolution; Taunton
citizens have been among the first to volunteer for America's
subsequent wars. Taunton was a leading community in the
Industrial Revolution, and its industrial area has been the
site of many innovations in such industries as silver
manufacture, paper manufacture, and shipbuilding. Main Street,
which connects many of the historic districts, is home to the
Taunton City Hall and the Leonard Block building, two
outstanding examples of early 19th Century American
architecture, as well as many other historically and
architecturally significant structures. Taunton was and
continues to be an important destination for immigrants from
Europe and other parts of the world who have helped to give
southeastern Massachusetts its unique ethnic character.
H.R. 2129 directs the Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with the appropriate State historic preservation
officers, State historical societies, the City of Taunton, and
other appropriate organizations, to conduct a special resources
study regarding the suitability and feasibility of designating
certain historic buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts,
as a unit of the National Park System. The study shall be
conducted within three years of passage of this Act.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 2129 was introduced on May 15, 2003, by Congressman
Barney Frank (D-MA). The bill was referred to the Committee on
Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on
National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands. On June 15, 2004,
the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On July 14, 2004,
the Full Resource Committee met to consider the bill. The
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands was
discharged from further consideration of this bill by unanimous
consent. Chairman Pombo offered an amendment in the nature of a
substitute to the bill. Specifically, the amendment added to
the requirements of the proposed study a requirement that the
Secretary provide an analysis of the impact such a designation
would have on private property located within or abutting the
historic buildings cited in the bill. The amendment was agreed
to by unanimous consent. The bill as amended, 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 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 grant 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 special resources study regarding the
suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic
buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the
National Park System, 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, July 28, 2004.
Hon. Richard W. Pombo,
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. 2129, the Taunton,
Massachusetts, Special Resources Study Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth M. Robinson
(For Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 2129--Taunton, Massachusetts, Special Resources Study Act
H.R. 2129 would direct the Department of the Interior to
conduct a special resource study to determine the feasability
and suitability of designating certain historic buildings and
areas of Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park
System. The bill would require the department to report its
findings and recommendations within three years of receiving
funding for the study.
Assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO
estimates that it would cost less than $200,000 over the next
three years to complete the required study and report. Enacting
this legislation would not affect direct spending or revenues.
H.R. 2129 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.