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110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 110-736
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WASHINGTON-ROCHAMBEAU REVOLUTIONARY ROUTE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL
DESIGNATION ACT
_______
July 8, 2008.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Rahall, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1286]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the
bill (H.R. 1286) to amend the National Trails System Act to
designate the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
National Historic Trail, having considered the same, report
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill
as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary
Route National Historic Trail Designation Act''.
SEC. 2. ADDITION TO NATIONAL SCENIC AND NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS.
Section 5(a) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(a)) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(__) Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic
Trail.--
``(A) In general.--The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary
Route National Historic Trail, a corridor of approximately 600
miles following the route taken by the armies of General George
Washington and Count Rochambeau between Newport, Rhode Island,
and Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781 and 1782, as generally depicted
on the map titled `Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
National Historic Trail', numbered T01/80,001, and dated June,
2007.
``(B) Map.--The map referred to in subparagraph (A) shall be
on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate
offices of the National Park Service.
``(C) Administration.--The trail shall be administered by the
Secretary of the Interior, in consultation with--
``(i) other Federal, State, tribal, regional, and
local agencies; and
``(ii) the private sector.
``(D) Land acquisition.--The United States shall not acquire
for the trail any land or interest in land outside the exterior
boundary of any federally-managed area without the consent of
the owner of the land or interest in land.''.
SEC. 3. ENERGY.
Nothing in the amendment made by section 2 of this Act shall prohibit
or hinder the development, production, conveyance, or transmission of
energy.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 1286 is to amend the National Trails
System Act to designate the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary
Route National Historic Trail.
Background and Need for Legislation
H.R. 1286 would designate an approximately 600-mile
national historic trail tracing the routes taken by Continental
and French troops marching from New England to face the British
Army at Yorktown, Virginia.
In 1780, as part of the alliance with the 13 colonies
seeking to overthrow British rule, France sent an army to the
aid of General George Washington as he prepared for a decisive
campaign against General Charles Lord Cornwallis. General Jean
Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de (Count) Rochambeau sailed
into Newport, Rhode Island, at the head of the Expedition
Particuliere, an army of 450 officers and 5,300 men.
After wintering in Newport, Rochambeau's army marched
through Rhode Island and Connecticut in June and July of 1781,
and joined General George Washington's 4,000-man Continental
Army in Philipsburg, New York. The American and French troops
took a combination of strategic roads and waterways from
Philipsburg through New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, the future District of Columbia, and Virginia,
reaching Williamsburg in late September 1781.
With a French fleet blocking the Chesapeake, barring
British reinforcements from New York or a sea escape for
Cornwallis' army, Washington and Rochambeau's three-week siege
of Yorktown ended in Cornwallis' surrender to Washington on
October 19, 1781. After their victory, Washington and the
Continentals returned to defend northern posts while Rochambeau
and his troops wintered in Williamsburg prior to marching north
the following summer. Both armies were warmly celebrated by the
towns and cities along their return routes.
A study by the National Park Service, authorized by the
106th Congress (Public Law 106-473), examined the corridor
along that historic march and concluded that the trail is
suitable and feasible for designation as a national historic
trail under the National Trails System Act. The National Park
Service's preferred alternative, which the bill implements,
outlines a route that mostly follows existing public roads;
some segments are on public lands (especially lands owned by
local jurisdictions) or near publicly regulated navigable
waters. While the historic route does cross some private lands,
the NPS study states ``No federal acquisition of lands or
interests in lands is proposed or anticipated. . . . Management
of the trail would depend on cooperative partnerships.''
Committee Action
H.R. 1286 was introduced on March 21, 2007, by
Representative Maurice Hinchey (D-NY). The bill was referred to
the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to
the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.
On October 30, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the
bill, at which a representative of the National Park Service
testified that the Administration supports H.R. 1286.
On June 25, 2008, the Full Natural Resources Committee met
to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks,
Forests and Public Lands was discharged from further
consideration of H.R. 1286. Subcommittee Chairman Raul Grijalva
(D-AZ) offered an amendment to update the map citation. The
amendment was agreed to by voice vote. Representative Robert J.
Wittman (R-VA) offered an amendment to clarify that the
designation of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
National Historic Trail shall neither prohibit nor hinder the
development, production, conveyance or transmission of energy.
The amendment was agreed to by voice vote. The bill as amended
was then ordered favorably reported to the House of
Representatives by voice vote.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
Compliance With House Rule XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to amend the National Trails System
Act to designate the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route
National Historic Trail.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
H.R. 1286--Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic
Trail Designation Act
H.R. 1286 would amend the National Trails System Act to
designate the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route as a
National Historic Trail. The route spans over 600 miles across
nine states and the District of Columbia and traces the marches
taken by the American and French armies during the Yorktown
campaign of the Revolutionary War. The National Park Service
(NPS) would administer the trail and coordinate the efforts of
public and private entities on trail administration, planning,
development, and maintenance.
Based on information provided by the NPS and assuming the
availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates that
establishing, developing, and administering the proposed
historic trail would cost about $2 million over the 2009-2013
period. Of this amount, we estimate that the NPS would spend
about $300,000 over the next three years to prepare a
comprehensive management plan for the trail. In addition, we
estimate that the NPS would spend about $350,000 annually
beginning in 2010 to operate and maintain the interpretive
program for trail visitors.
The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and
would impose no costs on State, local, or tribal governments.
The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Deborah Reis
and Matthew Pickford. The estimate was approved by Theresa
Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
Earmark Statement
H.R. 1286 does not contain any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9(d), 9(e) or 9(f) of rule XXI.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is
printed in italic and existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
SECTION 5 OF THE NATIONAL TRAILS SYSTEM ACT
* * * * * * *
NATIONAL SCENIC AND NATIONAL HISTORICAL TRAILS
Sec. 5. (a) National scenic and national historic trails
shall be authorized and designated only by Act of Congress.
There are hereby established the following National Scenic and
National Historic Trails:
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(__) Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National
Historic Trail.--
(A) In general.--The Washington-Rochambeau
Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, a corridor
of approximately 600 miles following the route taken by
the armies of General George Washington and Count
Rochambeau between Newport, Rhode Island, and Yorktown,
Virginia, in 1781 and 1782, as generally depicted on
the map titled ``Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary
Route National Historic Trail'', numbered T01/80,001,
and dated June, 2007.
(B) Map.--The map referred to in subparagraph (A)
shall be on file and available for public inspection in
the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
(C) Administration.--The trail shall be administered
by the Secretary of the Interior, in consultation
with--
(i) other Federal, State, tribal, regional,
and local agencies; and
(ii) the private sector.
(D) Land acquisition.--The United States shall not
acquire for the trail any land or interest in land
outside the exterior boundary of any federally-managed
area without the consent of the owner of the land or
interest in land.
* * * * * * *
