[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1105 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1105
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and
feasibility of designating the French Colonial Heritage Area in the
State of Missouri as a unit of the National Park System, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 22, 2003
Mr. Bond introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and
feasibility of designating the French Colonial Heritage Area in the
State of Missouri 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 ``French Colonial Heritage National
Historic Site Study Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that:
(1) The French Colonial Heritage Area has great historical
significance as the home of two of the five poteaux-en-terre
(post in the ground) vertical log French homes remaining in
North America, dating from circa 1800, in addition to several
other important historical artifacts.
(2) The area is located within the Ste. Genevieve National
Historic District, and is adjacent to related historic
properties including the third North American poteaux-en-terre
home, the ``Le Grand Champ'' (common field used by French
settlers), historic downtown Ste. Genevieve, and a pre-historic
Native American village still evidenced by several ceremonial
mounds.
(3) The Area contains some of the only existing examples of
a French Colonial Period settlement, which was characterized by
contact that emphasized integration with the local culture.
(4) Local state agencies and organizations have undertaken
significant efforts to preserve the historic architecture of
Ste. Genevieve and convert it to educational facilities devoted
to the history of the early French experience in the New World.
(5) No current National Park System unit has comparable
historic features providing the cultural backdrop required to
adequately interpret the story of the early French in the New
World.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Area.--The term ``Area'' means the French Colonial
Heritage Area, which includes the Bequette-Ribault, St. Gemme-
Amoureaux, and Wilhauk homes, and the related and supporting
historical assets located in Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National
Park Service.
SEC. 4. STUDY.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which
funds are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall, in
consultation with the State of Missouri--
(1) complete a study on the suitability and feasibility of
designating the Area as a unit of the National Park System; and
(2) submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate a report describing the findings of the
study.
(b) Contents.--The study under subsection (a) shall be conducted in
accordance with Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-1 et seq.).
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary
to carry out this Act.
<all>
Introduced in Senate
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S6985)
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
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