[Senate Report 117-167]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                      Calendar No. 509
117th Congress       }                            {          Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session          }                            {          117-167

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     FREDERICK JOBS AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION TRAINING CENTER LAND 
                            ACQUISITION ACT

                                _______
                                

               September 27, 2022.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

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

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 2367]

    The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 
referred the bill (S. 2367), to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to acquire land in Frederick County, Maryland, for the 
Historic Preservation Training Center of the National Park 
Service, 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. 2367 is to authorize the Secretary of the 
Interior to acquire land in Frederick County, Maryland, for a 
National Park Service Historic Preservation Training Center.

                          BACKGROUND AND NEED

    The Historic Preservation Training Center (Center), 
originally established in 1977 in Williamsport, Maryland, 
supports National Park Service (NPS) historic preservation 
projects and teaches NPS employees traditional trade skills and 
historic preservation techniques through hands-on experiential 
learning opportunities. The Center staff preserves some of the 
nation's most treasured historic resources, from mooring quays 
at Pearl Harbor National Memorial and log cabins on the Blue 
Ridge Parkway, to stone repairs at the Tomb of the Unknown 
Soldier. As carpenters, masons, woodcrafters, metalsmiths, and 
other traditional trade masters retire, the Center provides 
apprenticeship programs to engage youth and veterans so that 
these important skills are passed down and not lost.
    While the Center was located in Williamsport, its buildings 
experienced a series of floods. In 1991, Congress directed NPS 
to identify a permanent home. An NPS study team surveyed 
available sites and recommended Frederick, Maryland, and 
possibly Monocacy National Battlefield.
    In 1995, the Center administrative offices were relocated 
to the Gambrill House at Monocacy National Battlefield. In 
1997, the workshop portion of the facilities moved to a leased 
space at the Jenkins Cannery factory and warehouse, owned by 
the City of Frederick. The current lease with the city expires 
in September 2023. The operations have grown and the current 
space can no longer accommodate the needs of the Center.
    S. 2367 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire 
up to 20 acres of land in Frederick County, Maryland for the 
Center.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    S. 2367 was introduced by Senators Cardin and Van Hollen on 
July 15, 2021. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a 
hearing on S. 2367 on May 11, 2022.
    Similar legislation, H.R. 4494, was introduced in the House 
by Representative Trone on July 16, 2021. The bill was ordered 
to be reported by the House Natural Resources Committee on 
November 17, 2021.

                        COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

    The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in an 
open business session on July 21, 2022, by a voice vote of a 
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 2367. 
Senator Lee asked to be recorded as voting no.

                                SUMMARY

    S. 2367 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire 
up to 20 acres of land or interests in land in Frederick 
County, Maryland, for the Historic Preservation Training Center 
and related facilities to support the physical space, program 
initiatives, and workforce development capacity of the Center.

                   COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

    The Committee has requested, but has not yet received, the 
Congressional Budget Office's estimate of the cost of S. 2367 
as ordered reported. When the Congressional Budget Office 
completes its cost estimate, it will be posted on the Internet 
at www.cbo.gov.

                      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. 2367. 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. 2367, as ordered reported.

                   CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

    S. 2367, 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 May 11, 2022, hearing on S. 2367 follows:

 Statement of Michael A. Caldwell, Associate Director, Park Planning, 
 Facilities, and Lands, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the 
                                Interior

    Chairman King, Ranking Member Daines, and members of the 
Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the 
Department of the Interior's views on S. 2367, a bill to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land in 
Frederick County, Maryland, for the Historic Preservation 
Training Center of the National Park Service, and for other 
purposes.
    The Department supports S. 2367, which would provide a 
permanent site for the Historic Preservation Training Center.
    S. 2367 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
further develop the Historic Preservation Training Center 
(Center) in accordance with section 305306 of title 54, United 
States Code, by acquiring land not to exceed 20 acres in 
Frederick County, Maryland, to support the physical space, 
preservation operations, training program initiatives, and 
workforce development capacity of the Center.
    The Center, originally established in 1977 in Williamsport, 
Maryland, supports the National Park Service (NPS) through 
historic preservation projects and teaches traditional trade 
skills and historic preservation techniques through hands-on 
experiential learning opportunities. As carpenters, masons, 
woodcrafters, metalsmiths, and other traditional trade masters 
retire, the Center provides apprenticeship programs to engage 
youth and veterans so that these important skills are passed 
down and not lost.
    Over the last five years, the Center's Traditional Trades 
Apprenticeship Program has engaged over 170 youth and veteran 
interns in completing preservation and deferred maintenance 
projects across the NPS. Veterans make up over 25% of the 
interns, with over half of all participants being placed in NPS 
positions after completing their training. The Center also runs 
the National Career Academy for Facility Maintenance and 
supports over 2,500 current NPS employees in providing training 
for key occupations such as Water/Wastewater Treatment 
Operators and Heavy Equipment Operators.
    The Center staff preserves some of our most treasured 
historic resources, from mooring quays at Pearl Harbor National 
Memorial and log cabins on the Blue Ridge Parkway, to stone 
repairs at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Since 1980, the 
Center staff and interns have completed approximately 1,500 
projects in over 200 parks Service-wide. The teams worked on 
nearly 330 buildings and structures dating from the 18th 
through the 21st century, with the oldest being 312 years old.
    While in Williamsport, the buildings utilized by the Center 
experienced a series of floods. In 1991, Congress directed the 
NPS to identify a permanent home. An NPS study team surveyed 
available sites and recommended Frederick, Maryland, and 
possibly Monocacy National Battlefield.
    In 1995, the Center administrative offices were relocated 
to the Gambrill House at Monocacy National Battlefield. In 
1997, the workshop portion of the facilities moved to a leased 
space at the Jenkins Cannery factory and warehouse, owned by 
the City of Frederick. The current lease with the City expires 
in September 2023, and the space can no longer accommodate the 
needs of the Center. We greatly appreciate the support of the 
City and consider them a valued partner. This legislation would 
support a continued partnership with the City, enable the NPS 
to attain an adequately sized space for operations, and 
establish a permanent home for this essential facility.
    Chairman King, this concludes my statement. I would be 
pleased 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, the Committee notes that no 
changes in existing law are made by S. 2367 as ordered 
reported.

                                  [all]