[House Report 117-268]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                     {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                     {     117-268

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

 
   TO PROVIDE FOR THE BOUNDARY OF THE PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL 
HISTORIC PARK TO BE ADJUSTED, TO AUTHORIZE THE DONATION OF LAND TO THE 
    UNITED STATES FOR ADDITION TO THAT HISTORIC PARK, AND FOR OTHER 
                                PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

 March 9, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 268]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 268) to provide for the boundary of the Palo 
Alto Battlefield National Historic Park to be adjusted, to 
authorize the donation of land to the United States for 
addition to that historic park, and for other purposes, having 
considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an 
amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. BOUNDARY; LEGAL DESCRIPTION.

  (a) Boundary.--Section 3(b)(2) of the Palo Alto Battlefield National 
Historic Site Act of 1991 (16 U.S.C. 410nnn-1(b)(2)) is amended--
          (1) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
                  ``(A) In general.--
                          ``(i) In addition to the land described in 
                        paragraph (1), the historical park shall 
                        consist of--
                                  ``(I) the approximately 34 acres of 
                                land, as generally depicted on the map 
                                entitled `Palo Alto Battlefield NHS 
                                Proposed Boundary Expansion', numbered 
                                469/80,012, and dated May 21, 2008; and
                                  ``(II) on the date that such land is 
                                donated to the United States, the 
                                approximately 166.44 acres of land 
                                generally depicted on the map entitled 
                                `PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL 
                                HISTORICAL PARK Proposed Boundary 
                                Addition, Fort Brown Unit', numbered 
                                469/143,589, and dated April 2018.
                          ``(ii) Before accepting any donated land 
                        described in this subparagraph, the Secretary 
                        shall complete a boundary study analyzing the 
                        feasibility of adding the land to the national 
                        historical park.
                          ``(iii) If a boundary study completed under 
                        clause (ii) finds that acceptance of the 
                        donated land is feasible and appropriate, the 
                        Secretary may accept such land and administer 
                        the land as part of the historical park after 
                        providing notice of such finding to 
                        Congress.''; and
          (2) in subparagraph (B)--
                  (A) in the heading, by striking ``map'' and inserting 
                ``maps''; and
                  (B) by striking ``map'' and inserting ``maps''.
  (b) Legal Description.--Section 3(b)(3) of the Palo Alto Battlefield 
National Historic Site Act of 1991 (16 U.S.C. 410nnn-1(b)(3)) is 
amended by striking ``after'' and all that follows through ``Secretary 
of the Interior'' and inserting ``after the addition of lands to the 
historic park boundary, the Secretary of the Interior''.

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 268 is to provide for the boundary of 
the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park to be adjusted 
and to authorize the donation of land to the United States for 
addition to that historic park.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    H.R. 268 would expand the boundary of Palo Alto Battlefield 
National Historical Park to include approximately 166 acres of 
land upon donation of that land to the Department of the 
Interior. The bill authorizes the transfer of property from the 
International Boundary and Water Commission to the National 
Park Service (NPS) to be part of the Palo Alto Battlefield 
National Historical Park. The identified land was the site of 
Fort Brown, a crucial outpost during the conflict and which 
remains the last standing physical structure associated with 
the Mexican-American War.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\For additional background, see H.R. Rep. No. 116-641, at 1-2 
(2020), https://www.congress.gov/116/crpt/hrpt641/CRPT-116hrpt641.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Palo Alto Battlefield was designated as a National Historic 
Landmark in 1960, a National Historic Site in 1978, and a 
National Historical Park in 2009. Today, the Palo Alto 
Battlefield National Historical Park is the only unit of the 
NPS focused on the Mexican-American War.

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 268 was introduced on January 11, 2021, by 
Representative Filemon Vela (D-TX). The bill was referred 
solely to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the 
Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and 
Public Lands. On November 9, 2021, the Subcommittee held a 
hearing on the bill. On January 19, 2022, the Natural Resources 
Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee was 
discharged by unanimous consent. Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) 
offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The 
Grijalva amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to 
by unanimous consent. No additional amendments were offered. 
The bill, as amended, was adopted and ordered favorably 
reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

                                Hearings

    For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House Rule XIII, the 
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure: 
hearing by the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and 
Public Lands held on November 9, 2021.

            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 and Congressional Budget Act

    1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. 
With respect to the requirements of 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 and with respect to 
requirements of clause(3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives and section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested 
but not received a cost estimate for this bill from the 
Director of Congressional Budget Office. The Committee adopts 
as its own cost estimate the forthcoming cost estimate of the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office, should such cost 
estimate be made available before House passage of the bill.
    The Committee has requested but not received from the 
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to 
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending 
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in 
revenues or tax expenditures.
    Congressional Budget Office staff have informed the 
Committee on a preliminary, informal, nonbinding basis that the 
bill will likely have no direct spending or revenue effects.
    2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and 
objectives of this bill are to provide for the boundary of the 
Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park to be adjusted and 
to authorize the donation of land to the United States for 
addition to that historic park.

                           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.

                 Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement

    An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the 
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the 
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of 
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the 
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.

                           Existing Programs

    This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the federal government known to be duplicative of another 
program.

                  Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

               Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law

    Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or 
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's 
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the 
U.S. Constitution.

                        Changes in Existing Law

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing 
law.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

        PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ACT OF 1991




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
SEC. 3. PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.

  (a) Establishment.--In order to preserve for the education, 
benefit, and inspiration of present and future generations the 
nationally significant site of the first battle of the Mexican-
American War, and to provide for its interpretation in such 
manner as to portray the battle and the Mexican-American War 
and its related political, diplomatic, military and social 
causes and consequences, there is hereby established the Palo 
Alto Battlefield National Historical Park in the State of Texas 
(hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``historical park'').
  (b) Boundary.--
          (1) In general.--The historical park shall consist of 
        approximately 3,400 acres as generally depicted on the 
        map entitled ``Palo Alto Battlefield National 
        Historical Park'', numbered 469-80,002, and dated March 
        1991. The map shall be on file and available for public 
        inspection in the offices of the Director of the 
        National Park Service, Department of the Interior
          (2) Additional land.--
                  [(A) In general.--In addition to the land 
                described in paragraph (1), the historical park 
                shall consist of approximately 34 acres of 
                land, as generally depicted on the map entitled 
                ``Palo Alto Battlefield NHS Proposed Boundary 
                Expansion'', numbered 469/80,012, and dated May 
                21, 2008.]
                  (A) In general.--
                          (i) In addition to the land described 
                        in paragraph (1), the historical park 
                        shall consist of--
                                  (I) the approximately 34 
                                acres of land, as generally 
                                depicted on the map entitled 
                                ``Palo Alto Battlefield NHS 
                                Proposed Boundary Expansion'', 
                                numbered 469/80,012, and dated 
                                May 21, 2008; and
                                  (II) on the date that such 
                                land is donated to the United 
                                States, the approximately 
                                166.44 acres of land generally 
                                depicted on the map entitled 
                                ``PALO ALTO BATTLEFIELD 
                                NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK 
                                Proposed Boundary Addition, 
                                Fort Brown Unit'', numbered 
                                469/143,589, and dated April 
                                2018.
                          (ii) Before accepting any donated 
                        land described in this subparagraph, 
                        the Secretary shall complete a boundary 
                        study analyzing the feasibility of 
                        adding the land to the national 
                        historical park.
                          (iii) If a boundary study completed 
                        under clause (ii) finds that acceptance 
                        of the donated land is feasible and 
                        appropriate, the Secretary may accept 
                        such land and administer the land as 
                        part of the historical park after 
                        providing notice of such finding to 
                        Congress.
                  (B) Availability of [map] maps.--The [map] 
                maps described in subparagraph (A) shall be on 
                file and available for public inspection in the 
                appropriate offices of the National Park 
                Service.
          (3) Legal description.--Not later than 6 months 
        [after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
        of the Interior] after the addition of lands to the 
        historic park boundary, the Secretary of the Interior 
        (hereafter in this Act referred to as the 
        ``Secretary'') shall file a legal description of the 
        historical park with the Committee on Interior and 
        Insular Affairs of the United States House of 
        Representatives and with the Committee on Energy and 
        Natural Resources of the United States Senate. Such 
        legal description shall have the same force and effect 
        as if included in this Act, except that the Secretary 
        may correct clerical and typographic errors in such 
        legal description and in the maps referred to in 
        paragraphs (1) and (2). The legal description shall be 
        on file and available for public inspection in the 
        offices of the National Park Service, Department of the 
        Interior. The Secretary may, from time to time, make 
        minor revisions in the boundary of the historical park.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


        Supplemental, Minority, Additional, or Dissenting Views

    None.

                                  [all]