[Senate Report 114-316]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
114th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 114-316
======================================================================
ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA AMENDMENT ACT
_______
September 6, 2016.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Ms. Murkowski, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 1662]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 1662) to include Livingston County, the
city of Jonesboro in Union County, and the city of Freeport in
Stephenson County, Illinois, to the Lincoln National Heritage
Area, 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. 1662 is to include Livingston County, the
city of Jonesboro in Union County, and the city of Freeport in
Stephenson County, Illinois, to the Lincoln National Heritage
Area.
Background and Need
The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area was established
in 2008 and preserves the rich legacy of Abraham Lincoln, the
16th President of the United States. The region includes 42
counties across central Illinois, stretching from the Indiana
border to the Mississippi River, and is one of the largest
heritage areas in the nation. President Lincoln spent 30 years
of his life in central Illinois (1831-1861), accomplishing a
body of work that still resonates today in the state's historic
sites, artifacts, landscapes, buildings, and folklore.
While the 42 counties that make up the Heritage Area
provide opportunities for all people to explore Lincoln's
history in Illinois, there are three counties that are
currently not among this network that are key to the Lincoln
heritage. Livingston County, Union County, and Stephenson
County are pivotal to his legacy, as these areas are where
Lincoln developed his legal career within the Eighth Judicial
District. These areas also served as the sites of the historic
Lincoln-Douglas debates. This boundary expansion to include
these counties will increase opportunities for Illinois
visitors and residents alike to experience the full measure of
Lincoln's legacy.
Legislative History
S. 1662 was introduced by Senators Kirk and Durbin on June
24, 2015. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on
the measure on June 15, 2016.
In the House of Representatives, Representative Kinzinger
introduced similar legislation to S. 1662, H.R. 2879, on June
24, 2015.
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources met in open
business session on July 13, 2016, and ordered S. 1662
favorably reported.
Committee Recommendation
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in
open business session on July 13, 2016, by a majority voice
vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S.
1662.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 contains the short title.
Section 2. Adjustment of boundaries of Lincoln National Heritage Area
Subsection (a) adjusts the boundary of the Abraham Lincoln
National Heritage Area to include Livingston County, the city
of Jonesboro in Union County, and the city of Freeport in
Stephenson County, Illinois.
Subsection (b) requires the Secretary of the Interior to
update the official map of the Abraham Lincoln National
Heritage Area to reflect the changes.
Cost and Budgetary Considerations
The following estimate of the costs of this measure has
been provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, September 1, 2016.
Hon. Lisa Murkowski,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 1662, the Abraham
Lincoln National Heritage Area Amendment Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jon Sperl.
Sincerely,
Keith Hall.
Enclosure.
S. 1662--Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Amendment Act
S. 1662 would modify the boundary of the Abraham Lincoln
National Heritage Area in Illinois to include an additional
county and two cities. It also would require the National Park
Service (NPS) to update its map of the heritage area to reflect
the boundary adjustment.
Based on information from the NPS, CBO estimates that
implementing S. 1662 would have no significant impact on the
agency's costs, which would be subject to appropriation.
Enacting the legislation would have no effect on direct
spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do
not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting S. 1662 would not increase net
direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
S. 1662 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 Jon Sperl. The
estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss, 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. 1662. 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. 1662, as ordered reported.
Congressionally Directed Spending
S. 1662, 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
June 15, 2016 Subcommittee on National Parks hearing on S. 1662
follows:
Statement of Dr. Stephanie Toothman, Associate Director, Cultural
Resources, Partnerships, and Science, National Park Service, U.S.
Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, thank you for
the opportunity to present the views of the Department of the
Interior on S. 1662, a bill to expand the boundary of the
Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area (NHA), and for other
purposes.
The Department recommends that the committee defer action
on S. 1662 until such time as the National Park Service (NPS)
determines if this proposed expansion is appropriate. The NHA
was authorized on May 10, 2008, to help tell the stories of the
places that President Abraham Lincoln lived for almost 30
years. These important sites include the Lincoln Log Cabin, the
Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, and the Lincoln Home
National Historic Site. The NHA includes 42 counties in Central
Illinois. The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition (LFLHC), a
non-profit organization, was authorized to manage the NHA,
which is a consortium of Illinois communities and sites that
share the legacy of Abraham Lincoln.
Prior to beginning any effort to designate an area as a
national heritage area, the NPS recommends that interested
community members or organizations undertake a feasibility
study to assess several factors, including: whether the
landscape has an assemblage of natural, cultural, historic and
scenic resources that, when linked together, tell a nationally
important story; whether an organization exists with the
financial and organizational capacity to coordinate heritage
area activities; and, whether the level of support for
designation exists within the region.
The LFLHC completed their feasibility study in 2002. The
NPS recommends that the LFLHC submit an addendum to their
feasibility study that includes a boundary justification for
the inclusion of Livingston County, the City of Jonesboro in
Union County, and the City of Freeport in Stephenson County,
Illinois. The addendum will document that the LFLHC has reached
out to these communities and that there is public support for
the inclusion of their cities and county in the boundary of the
NHA. Additionally, the addendum will ensure that the proposed
inclusion of these cities and county supports the original
intent of the NHA.
Once the LFLHC completes the amended feasibility study, the
NPS will undertake our evaluation as expeditiously as possible.
The NPS recommends that the committee defer action until the
feasibility study amendment is completed and the NPS can make a
determination on the proposed expansion.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my testimony. I would be happy
to answer any questions you or other members of the
subcommittee may have.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the original bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing
law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
CONSOLIDATED NATURAL RESOURCES ACT OF 2008
Public Law 110-229
* * * * * * *
TITLE IV--NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS
* * * * * * *
Subtitle C--Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area
* * * * * * *
SEC. 443. DESIGNATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.
* * * * * * *
(b) Boundaries.--
(1) In general.--The National Heritage Area shall
consist of sites as designated by the management plan
within a core area located in Central Illinois,
consisting of Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign,
Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Dewitt, Douglas,
Edgar, Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Henderson,
Jersey, Knox, LaSalle, Livingston, Logan, Macon,
Macoupin, Madison, Mason, McDonough, McLean, Menard,
Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Pike,
Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Tazewell,
Vermillion, Warren and Woodford counties, the city of
Jonesboro in Union County, and the city of Freeport in
Stephenson County.
* * * * * * *
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