[Senate Report 111-311]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                       Calendar No. 597
111th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session                                                     111-311

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          GEORGE C. MARSHALL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE STUDY ACT

                                _______
                                

               September 27, 2010.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

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

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 1750]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 1750) to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a special resource study of the General of 
the Army George Catlett Marshall National Historic Site at 
Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia, and for other purposes, 
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without 
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.

                                PURPOSE

    The purpose of S. 1750 is to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a special resource study of Dodona Manor in 
Leesburg, Virginia, the former residence of General of the Army 
George Catlett Marshall.

                          BACKGROUND AND NEED

    Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia, was the primary 
residence of George C. Marshall from 1941 until his death in 
1959, a time that includes the most important period of his 
career and his many military and diplomatic accomplishments. 
From 1939 to 1945, Marshall served as the U.S. Army Chief of 
Staff, organizing the largest military expansion in U.S. 
history and preparing the Army for the invasion of Europe. He 
was named the nation's first 5-star general in 1944. He served 
as Secretary of State from 1947 to 1949, during which time he 
planned and helped implement the Marshall Plan, the U.S.-
sponsored program to provide economic aid to European countries 
after World War II. Marshall also served as President of the 
American Red Cross from 1949 to 1950 and as Secretary of 
Defense from 1950 to 1951 during the Korean War.
    Dodona Manor was designated a National Historic Landmark in 
1996. It contains nearly all furnishings original to the 
Marshall residence, including oriental rugs, books, personal 
belongings, and Chinese furniture and artwork. The George C. 
Marshall International Center operates the Dodona Manor museum 
and gardens.
    S. 1750 would permit the consideration of affiliate status 
with the National Park Service for Dodona Manor through a 
special resource study. Should the NPS study determine that 
affiliate status would be appropriate, it could establish a 
public-private partnership with the George C. Marshall 
International Center in order to preserve and protect the home 
and interpret the life and accomplishment of George C. 
Marshall.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    S. 1750 was introduced by Senator Webb on October 5, 2009. 
The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on the bill 
on May 19, 2010. At its business meeting on July 21, 2010, the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 1750 
favorably reported without amendment.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open 
business session on July 21, 2010, by a voice vote of a quorum 
present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1750.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

    Section 1 provides the short title as the ``George C. 
Marshall National Historic Site Study Act''.
    Section 2 contain Congressional findings regarding George 
C. Marshall and the Dodona Manor.
    Section 3(a) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior 
(Secretary) to conduct a special resource study of Dodona Manor 
and gardens in Leesburg, Virginia.
    Subsection (b) directs the Secretary, in conducting the 
study, to evaluate Dodona Manor and gardens to determine the 
suitability and feasibility of adding the site as an affiliated 
area of the National Park System, including consideration of 
alternatives for the preservation, protection, and 
interpretation of the home by Federal, State, or local 
government entities or any other interested individuals, and to 
identify the costs estimates for any Federal acquisition, 
development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance 
associated with the range of management alternatives.
    Subsection (c) directs the study to be conducted in 
accordance with section 8 of Public Law 91-383, which sets 
forth requirements for National Park Service studies.
    Subsection (d) requires the Secretary to prepare and submit 
for review the results, conclusions, and recommendations of the 
study.

                   COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

    The following estimate of costs of this measure has been 
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:

S. 1750--George C. Marshall National Historic Site Study Act

    S. 1750 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to 
conduct a special resource study of the Dodona Manor and other 
property in Leesburg, Virginia, the home of George C. Marshall 
during an important part of his career. In the study, the NPS 
would evaluate the resources of the site and determine the 
suitability and feasibility of designating it as a unit of the 
National Park System. The NPS would have three years to 
complete the study and report to the Congress on its results.
    Based on information provided by the NPS and assuming the 
availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates that carrying 
out the study required by S. 1750 would cost about $250,000 
over the next three years. Enacting S. 1750 would not affect 
direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go 
procedures do not apply.
    S. 1750 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 Theresa Gullo, 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. 1750.
    The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of 
imposing Government-established standards or 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 the 
enactment of S. 1750, as ordered reported.

                   CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

    S. 1750, as ordered reported, does not contain any 
congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits, 
or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate.

                        EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

    The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the 
May 19, 2010 Subcommittee hearing on S. 1750 follows:

 Statement of Stephen E. Whitesell, Associate Director, Park Planning, 
Facilities and Lands, National Park Service, Department of the Interior

    Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear 
before you to provide the Department of the Interior's views on 
S. 1750, a bill to authorize a special resource study to 
determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the 
General of the Army George Catlett Marshall National Historic 
Site at Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia and for other 
purposes.
    The Department supports enactment of S. 1750. However, we 
recommend that the title of the bill be amended to refer to the 
``General George C. Marshall House (Dodona Manor)'' rather than 
the ``General of the Army George Catlett Marshall National 
Historic Site,'' as the former is consistent with the 
landmark's current listing on the National Register of Historic 
Places. We also believe that priority should be given to the 45 
previously authorized studies for potential units of the 
National Park System, potential new National Heritage Areas, 
and potential additions to the National Trails System and 
National Wild and Scenic River System that have not yet been 
transmitted to the Congress.
    S. 1750 authorizes a special resource study for General 
George C. Marshall's home, Dodona Manor. One of the options 
that the study would consider is making the site an affiliated 
area of the National Park System. The study would also consider 
other alternatives for preservation and protection of the home 
and interpretation of the life and accomplishments of George C. 
Marshall. The home was designated a National Historic Landmark 
in 1996. We estimate the cost of this study to range from 
$200,000 to $300,000, based on similar types of studies 
conducted in recent years.
    Born in 1880 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, George Marshall 
attended the Virginia Military Institute to prepare for a 
military career. He rose steadily through the ranks, serving 
with distinction in various posts in the United States, the 
Philippines, and China, and in Europe during World War I. In 
World War II, General Marshall led the Allied forces to victory 
in the Atlantic Theatre. Following the war, as Secretary of 
State, Marshall designed a humanitarian program for rebuilding 
war-ravaged Europe. For his ambitious European Recovery Plan, 
more broadly known as the Marshall Plan, Marshall was awarded 
the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize.
    General Marshall enjoyed living at Dodona Manor for 18 
years from 1941 until his death in 1959. At the time of the 
Civil War, the house was called Oak Hill. Marshall, who likened 
the sound of the white oak leaves rustling in the wind to the 
ancient Greek oracle of Zeus speaking through the oak forest of 
Dodona Grove in Epirus, renamed the house ``Dodona Manor.'' 
While living there, he rose from being an Army officer 
respected for his military contributions to one of the most 
important and respected world figures of the 20th Century. 
Winston Churchill, recalling the years of World War II, said 
that the only individual on whom all the leaders conferred 
unqualified praise and admiration was General Marshall.
    Many military post houses across the United States were 
occupied by General Marshall and his first and second wives, 
but never for long. Dodona Manor was his residence for the last 
18 years of his life, coinciding with his years of national and 
international achievement. General Marshall brought his best 
possessions to Dodona Manor--oriental rugs purchased during 
duty in China, and books in large number, which he owned and 
read. He indulged his favorite pastime of tilling the earth and 
planting gardens. From there he commuted to Washington during 
his military service and later as Secretary of State and 
Secretary of Defense. Dodona Manor has survived almost entirely 
as he left it and no other site provides the opportunity for 
reflection on the years when Marshall rose to become one of the 
great figures of the 20th Century.
    Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared statement. I would 
be happy to answer any questions that you or other Committee 
members may have regarding this bill.

 PROPOSED AMENDMENT FOR S. 1750, GEORGE C. MARSHALL NATIONAL HISTORIC 
                             SITE STUDY ACT

    On page 1, line 5, strike ``National Historic Site'' and 
insert ``House''.
    Amend the title to read: ``To authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the General 
George C. Marshall House at Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia, 
and for other purposes.''
    Justification: Changing the name of the site used in this 
bill will make it consistent with the name used in the site's 
listing as a National Historic Landmark on the National 
Register of Historic Places. Also, the study will determine if 
it is appropriate to designate the house as a national historic 
site. Naming the house as a national historic site in this bill 
is premature.

                        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 the bill S. 1750, as 
ordered reported.

                                  
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