[House Report 112-166]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


112th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    112-166

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            BUFFALO SOLDIERS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS STUDY ACT

                                _______
                                

 July 20, 2011.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Hastings of Washington, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1022]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 1022) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to conduct a study of alternatives for commemorating and 
interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early 
years of the National Parks, 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. 1022 is to authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to conduct a study of alternatives for 
commemorating and interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers 
in the early years of the National Parks.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    The Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act, H.R. 
1022, would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to initiate 
a study to determine effective ways to commemorate America's 
Buffalo Soldiers and their role in helping to protect, build, 
and preserve America's national parks, as well as to ascertain 
the suitability and feasibility of potential historic sites, 
national landmarks, and a national historic trail related to 
their work.
    In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Buffalo 
Soldiers, the all African-American cavalrymen of the U.S. Army, 
rode from the San Francisco Presidio to the foothills of the 
Sierra Nevada Mountains, serving as the protectors of several 
of the country's first national parks. Led by Lieutenant 
Colonel Charles Young, the first African American 
superintendent of Yosemite National Park, these de facto 
rangers built trails, preserved the giant sequoias, and 
protected the wildlife of Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks 
from poaching during these critical, formative years.
    H.R. 1022 directs the Secretary of the Interior to research 
the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in protecting these nascent 
parks and examine, among other things, the possible creation of 
a National Historic Trail along the route used by these 
soldiers.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 1022 was introduced on March 10, 2011, by 
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA). The bill was referred to 
the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to 
the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. 
On May 4, 2011, the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and 
Public Lands held a hearing on the bill. On June 15, 2011, the 
Full Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The 
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands was 
discharged by unanimous consent. 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 Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                    COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII

    1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) 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)(2)(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. 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:

H.R. 1022--Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act

    H.R. 1022 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to 
conduct a study of alternatives for honoring the Buffalo 
Soldiers (members of several African-American regiments within 
the U.S. Army established after the Civil War). Based on 
information from the NPS and assuming the availability of 
appropriated funds, CBO estimates that conducting the study 
would cost about $400,000 over the next three years. Enacting 
H.R. 1022 would not affect direct spending or revenues; 
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    H.R. 1022 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would not affect the budgets of State, local, or tribal 
governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Martin von 
Gnechten. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
    2. Section 308(a) of 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. CBO estimates that 
conducting the study would cost about $400,000 over the next 
three years. Enacting H.R. 1022 would not affect direct 
spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do 
not apply.
    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.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                    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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