[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.

                                  [all]