[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.
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