[Senate Report 115-223]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                      Calendar No. 371
115th Congress       }                                   {      Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session          }                                   {     115-223

======================================================================



 
                     ROBERT EMMET PARK ACT OF 2017

                                _______
                                

                 April 10, 2018.--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 H.R. 1500]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (H.R. 1500) to redesignate the small 
triangular property located in Washington, DC, and designated 
by the National Park Service as reservation 302 as ``Robert 
Emmet Park'', and for other purposes, having considered the 
same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and 
recommends that the bill do pass.

                                PURPOSE

    The purpose of H.R. 1500 is to redesignate the small 
triangular property located in Washington, DC, and designated 
by the National Park Service as reservation 302, as ``Robert 
Emmet Park.''

                          BACKGROUND AND NEED

    U.S. reservation 302 is a triangle park in the Northwestern 
portion of the District of Columbia along Massachusetts Avenue 
N.W., between 24th and S Streets, which is part of Rock Creek 
Park. The triangle park contains an historic sculpture of 
Robert Emmet that was created by the artist Jerome Connor in 
1916.
    Robert Emmet (1778-1803) is considered an Irish nationalist 
leader, and often remembered as a ``romantic hero of Irish lost 
causes.'' Mr. Emmet played a prominent role in the Irish 
Rebellion, and attempted to escape to the United States before 
being captured, tried for treason, and hanged. Although Mr. 
Emmet's attempts at independence for Ireland ultimately failed, 
they inspired generations of Irish men and women to continue 
the fight.
    H.R. 1500 would rename U.S. reservation 302 as ``Robert 
Emmet Park'' in his memory.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    H.R. 1500 was introduced in the House of Representatives by 
Rep. Crowley on March 10, 2017, and referred to the Committee 
on Natural Resources. H.R. 1500 was reported by the Natural 
Resources Committee (H. Rept. 115-114) on May 11, 2017, and 
passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 423-0 on June 
28, 2017.
    The Senate Subcommittee on National Parks conducted a 
hearing on H.R. 1500 on February 14, 2018.
    In the 114th Congress, similar legislation, H.R. 4564, was 
introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Crowley on 
February 12, 2016. The Committee on Natural Resources reported 
H.R. 4564 on September 19, 2016 (H. Rept. 114-750), and the 
measure passed the House of Representatives by voice vote on 
September 22, 2016.
    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources met in open 
business session on March 8, 2018, and ordered H.R. 1500 
favorably reported.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in 
open business session on March 8, 2018, by a majority voice 
vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 
1500.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title

    Section 1 provides the short title.

Section 2. Findings

    Section 2 contains Congressional findings.

Section 3. Redesignation of Robert Emmet Park

    Section 3 redesignates U.S. reservation 302, administered 
by the National Park Service, as ``Robert Emmet Park'' and 
updates any applicable references. This section also authorizes 
the Secretary of the Interior to post signs on or near the park 
to include information on Robert Emmet, his contribution to 
Irish Independence, and his respect for the United States and 
the American Revolution, as well as history regarding the 
park's statue of Robert Emmet.

                   COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

    The following estimate of the costs of this measure has 
been provided by the Congressional Budget Office: H.R. 1500 
would rename a small property owned by the National Park 
Service (NPS) in Washington, D.C. as ``Robert Emmet Park,'' in 
honor of that historical figure. The act also would authorize 
the NPS to post signage on or near the park that includes 
information about Robert Emmet.
    Based on the costs for similar tasks, CBO estimates that 
the cost for the NPS to update signage for the park would be 
insignificant; such spending would be subject to the 
availability of appropriated funds.
    Enacting H.R. 1500 would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1500 would not increase 
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four 
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2028.
    H.R. 1500 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
    On May 5, 2017, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for H.R. 
1500, as ordered reported by the House Committee on Natural 
Resources on April 27, 2017. The two versions of H.R. 1500 are 
similar and CBO's estimates of their budgetary effects are the 
same.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani 
Shankaran. 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 H.R. 1500. 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 H.R. 1500, as ordered reported.

                   CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

    H.R. 1500, 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 Department of the Interior at 
the February 14, 2018, hearing on H.R. 1500 follows:

Statement of P. Daniel Smith, Deputy Director, Exercising the Authority 
    of the Director of the National Park Service, Department of the 
 Interior, Before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee 
  on National Parks, Concerning H.R. 1500, a Bill To Redesignate the 
 Small Triangular Property Located in Washington, DC, and Designed by 
the National Park Service as Reservation 302 as ``Robert Emmet Park,'' 
                         and for Other Purposes

    The Department does not object to H.R. 1500. The bill would 
rename a site in the District of Columbia under the 
jurisdiction of the National Park Service (NPS), and known as 
Reservation 302, as ``Robert Emmet Park.'' The site contains 
the statue of Irish patriot Robert Emmet. The bill would also 
authorize the NPS to produce signage related to the history of 
Robert Emmet and the statue. The cost of the redesignation and 
signage would be a minimal amount that would be absorbed within 
existing budgets.
    At the October 4, 2016, meeting of the National Capital 
Memorial Advisory Commission, the Commission reviewed H.R. 
4564, a bill introduced in the 114th Congress which is 
identical to H.R. 1500, to consider whether the bill adhered to 
the Commemorative Works Act (CWA). The Commission did not reach 
consensus on a position on the renaming. They were also not 
clear if the CWA applied to the naming of parks within the area 
covered by the CWA.
    Although the Department does not object to naming 
Reservation 302 for Robert Emmet, we note that the statue is 
still owned by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which could 
move it to another location at any time. If that happened, the 
park would lose the symbol for which it was named, yet it would 
continue to retain the designation ``Robert Emmet Park.''

                        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 as ordered 
reported.

                                  [all]