[Senate Report 118-152]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 304
118th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 118-152
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SALEM MARITIME NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK REDESIGNATION AND BOUNDARY
STUDY ACT
_______
January 9, 2024.--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. 961]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 961) to redesignate the Salem Maritime
National Historic Site in Salem, Massachusetts, as the ``Salem
Maritime National Historical 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 S. 961 is to redesignate the Salem Maritime
National Historic Site in Salem, Massachusetts as the Salem
Maritime National Historical Park, and to authorize a boundary
study to evaluate the suitability and feasibility of adding
additional sites to the park.
BACKGROUND AND NEED
Salem Maritime National Historic Site was established in
1938 as the first national historic site. The national historic
site consists of several historic structures along the Salem,
Massachusetts waterfront, the downtown visitor center, and the
Friendship of Salem, a replica of a three-masted sailing ship
built in Salem in 1797. The national historic site preserves
and interprets over 600 years of New England's maritime history
and global connections, including the colonial period trade;
American Revolution privateers; and global maritime trade with
the Far East, after independence.
S. 961 redesignates the national historic site as the Salem
Maritime National Historic Park to make the park's name
consistent with National Park Service site nomenclature.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
Senator Markey introduced S. 961 on March 23, 2023. The
Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on S. 961 on June
21, 2023. Representative Moulton introduced companion
legislation in the House of Representatives, H.R. 1647, on
March 17, 2023.
In the 117th Congress, Senator Markey introduced similar
legislation, S. 5240, on December 13, 2022.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in
open business session on September 21, 2023, by a voice vote of
a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 961.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 provides the short title of the bill, the ``Salem
Maritime National Historical Park Redesignation and Boundary
Study Act.''
Section 2. Salem Maritime National Historical Park
Section 2 designates the Salem Maritime National Historic
Site as the Salem Maritime National Historical Park.
Section 3. Boundary study
Section 3 directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct
a boundary study to evaluate the suitability and feasibility of
including the Salem Armory Visitor Center building and Salem
Armory Park within the park boundary. The Secretary is directed
to submit a report to the House and Senate authorizing
committees within three years after the date funds are made
available for the study.
COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
The Congressional Budget Office's cost estimate of S. 961
follows:
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
S. 961 would rename the Salem Maritime National Historic
Site in Salem, Massachusetts, as the Salem Maritime National
Historical Park. The bill also would require the Department of
the Interior to report, within three years of enactment, to
Congress on the feasibility of including the Salem Armory
Visitor Center and an adjacent area in the renamed park.
Using information from the National Park Service about
similar activities, CBO estimates that implementing the bill
would cost less than $500,000 over the 2024-2028 period. Any
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated
funds.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Kelly Durand.
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy
Director of Budget Analysis.
Phillip L. Swagel,
Director, Congressional Budget Office.
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. 961. 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. 961, as ordered reported.
CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING
S. 961, 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 of the National Park Service from the
Subcommittee on National Parks June 21, 2023, hearing on S.
961, 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
Committee, thank you for the opportunity to present the
Department of the Interior's views on S. 961, a bill to
redesignate the Salem Maritime National Historic Site in Salem,
Massachusetts, as the ``Salem Maritime National Historical
Park'', and for other purposes.
The Department supports S. 961.
S. 961 would redesignate Salem Maritime National Historic
Site as ``Salem Maritime National Historical Park''. The bill
would also direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
boundary study to evaluate including any sites and resources
located within the city of Salem, Massachusetts that are
associated with Salem's maritime history, coastal defenses, or
military history, including National Guard and militia
activity. This would include the Salem Armory Visitor Center
and the Salem Armory Park. The bill provides for the boundary
study to be completed within three years of funding being made
available for the study.
Designated by Secretarial Order in 1938, Salem Maritime
National Historic Site was the first designated national
historic site. The park preserves and interprets America's and
New England's maritime history and the important role that
Salem played in the development of international maritime trade
from the late 17th century through the 19th century. While the
park was originally limited to interpreting the theme of
maritime trade through the early 19th century, subsequent
legislation broadened the park's focus to include the domestic
life of colonial Salem, and immigration and industrial history
of the city in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Currently, the park is an 8.93-acre historic district
containing ten historic buildings, nine archeological sites,
four historic wharves, and a historic light station, dating
between 1675 and 1944. The Friendship of Salem, a replica late-
18th century tall ship owned and operated by the National Park
Service, reflects Salem's economic heyday from the 1790's
through the 1830's. The diverse historic resources and replica
tall ship provide living classrooms within which visitors can
consider the ways that tall ships and the rise of global
maritime trade networks in New England contributed to the
American Revolution and helped shape modern socioeconomic and
political development in the United States.
The park is also responsible for managing the Salem
Regional Visitor Center in downtown Salem at the Salem Armory
in which the National Park Service has a limited ownership
interest. The Salem Regional Visitor Center serves as the
primary Salem Maritime National Historic Site visitor center,
provides community spaces to explore the park unit's
interpretive themes in modern contexts, and supports the Essex
National Heritage Area. The park is a key site and gateway to
the national heritage area.
The Department believes that the redesignation of Salem
Maritime National Historic Site as a national historical park,
as provided by S. 961, is appropriate. Generally, National Park
System units designated as ``national historical parks'' have a
greater diversity of historical resources and interpretive
themes than those designated as ``historic sites'' and may be
spread out over noncontiguous lands. As is reflected in its
long history, Salem Maritime National Historic Site has
expanded in the scope of its resources and its interpretation.
The deeper and broader experience it now offers to visitors
supports the basis for redesignation of this park as a national
historical park.
The Department also believes that the boundary study
provided by S. 961 could be very beneficial. The study would be
useful in identifying important maritime-related resources in
the vicinity of Salem that should be preserved and protected to
enhance our understanding of the significant contributions of
this area to our nation's history.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement. I would be
pleased to answer questions that you or other members of the
Committee might 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. 961 as ordered reported.
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