THIS SEARCH     THIS DOCUMENT     GO TO
Next Hit        Forward           New Bills Search
Prev Hit        Back              HomePage
Hit List        Best Sections     Help
                Contents Display   

Bill PDFBillno should always have and extension i.e. h1.ih

Printer Friendly[Help]

Congressional Record References

Bill Summary & Status

S 1184 IS

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study regarding the suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

April 23, 2007

Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Mr. KERRY) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study regarding the suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Taunton, Massachusetts Special Resources Study Act'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds the following:

(1) The city of Taunton, Massachusetts, is home to 9 distinct historic districts, with nearly 100 properties on the National Register of Historic Places. Included among these districts are the Church Green Historic District, the Bristol County Courthouse Complex, the Taunton Green Historic District, and the Reed and Barton Historic District.

(2) All of these districts include buildings and building facades of great historical, cultural, and architectural value.

(3) Taunton Green is the site where the Sons of Liberty first raised the Liberty and Union Flag in 1774, an event that helped to spark a popular movement, culminating in the American Revolution, and Taunton citizens have been among the first to volunteer for America's subsequent wars.

(4) Robert Treat Paine, a citizen of Taunton and the first Attorney General of Massachusetts, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

(5) Taunton was a leading community in the Industrial Revolution, and its industrial area has been the site of many innovations in such industries as silver manufacture, paper manufacture, and ship building.

(6) The grounds of the Bristol County Courthouse Complex were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed many other important national sites.

(7) Main Street and Summer Street, which connect many of the historic districts, are home to several historically and architecturally significant structures, including Taunton City Hall and the Leonard Block building, 2 outstanding examples of 19th Century American architecture.

(8) The city and people of Taunton have preserved many artifacts, gravesites, and important documents dating back to 1638 when Taunton was founded.

(9) Taunton was and continues to be an important destination for immigrants from Europe and other parts of the world who have helped to give Southeastern Massachusetts its unique ethnic character.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) CITY- The term `city' means the city of Taunton, Massachusetts.

(2) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior.

(3) STATE- The term `State' means the State of Massachusetts.

SEC. 4. STUDY.

(a) In General- The Secretary, in consultation with appropriate State historic preservation officers, State historical societies, the city, and other appropriate organizations, shall conduct a special resources study regarding the suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic buildings and areas in the city as a unit of the National Park System.

(b) Requirements- The study required under subsection (a) shall--

(1) be conducted and completed in accordance with section 8(c) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. la-5(c)); and

(2) include analysis, documentation, and determinations regarding whether the historic areas in Taunton--

(A) can be managed, curated, interpreted, restored, preserved, and presented as an organic whole under management--

(i) by the National Park Service; or

(ii) under an alternative management structure;

(B) have an assemblage of cultural, historic, and natural resources that together represent distinctive aspects of the heritage of the United States worthy of recognition, conservation, interpretation, and continuing use;

(C) reflect traditions, customs, beliefs, and historical events that are valuable parts of the national story;

(D) provide outstanding--

(i) opportunities to conserve architectural, cultural, historical, natural, or scenic features; and

(ii) recreational and educational opportunities; and

(E) can be managed by the National Park Service, in partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit organizations, and State and local governments, to develop a unit of the National Park System consistent with State and local economic activity.

SEC. 5. REPORT.

Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that--

(1) describes the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study; and

(2) includes a discussion and consideration of the concerns expressed by private landowners with respect to designating certain structures studied under this Act as a unit of the National Park System.

THIS SEARCH     THIS DOCUMENT     GO TO
Next Hit        Forward           New Bills Search
Prev Hit        Back              HomePage
Hit List        Best Sections     Help
                Contents Display