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Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
R E P O R T The amendment is as follows: Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof the following: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site Act''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. As used in this Act: (1) Carter g. woodson home.--The term ``Carter G. Woodson Home'' means the property located at 1538 Ninth Street, Northwest, in the District of Columbia, as depicted on the map. (2) Historic site.--The term ``historic site'' means the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site. (3) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site'', numbered 876/82338-A and dated July 22, 2003. (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the Interior. SEC. 3. CARTER G. WOODSON HOME NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE. (a) Establishment.--Upon acquisition by the Secretary of the Carter G. Woodson Home, or interests there-in, the Secretary shall establish the historic site as a unit of the National Park System by publication of a notice to that effect in the Federal Register. (b) Additions to Historic Site.-- (1) In general.--The Secretary may acquire any of the 3 properties immediately north of the Carter G. Woodson Home located at 1540, 1542, and 1544 Ninth Street, Northwest, described on the map as ``Potential Additions to National Historic Site'', for addition to the historic site. (2) Boundary revision.--Upon the acquisition of any of the properties described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall revise the boundaries of the historic site to include the property. (c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. (d) Acquisition Authority.--The Secretary may acquire the Carter G. Woodson Home or any of the properties described in subsection (b)(1), including interests therein, and any improvements to the land by donation, purchase from a willing seller with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. (e) Administration.--The Secretary shall administer the historic site in accordance with this Act and with laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (16 U.S.C. 1, 2-4), and the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.). (2) General management plan.--The Secretary shall prepare a general management plan for the historic site not later than three years after the date on which funds are made available for that purpose. SEC. 4. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. (a) In General.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with public or private entities to provide public interpretation and education of African-American heritage in the Shaw area of the District of Columbia. (b) Rehabilitation.--In order to achieve cost efficiencies in the restoration of properties within the historic site, the Secretary may enter into an agreement with public or private entities to restore and rehabilitate the Carter G. Woodson Home and other properties within the boundary of the historic site, subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems necessary. (c) Agreement With the Association for the Study of African- American Life and History.--In order to reestablish the historical connection between the Carter G. Woodson Home and the association Dr. Woodson founded, and to facilitate interpretation of Dr. Woodson's achievements, the Secretary may enter into an agreement with The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History that allows the association to use a portion of the historic site for its own administrative purposes. Such agreement shall ensure that the association's use of a portion of the historic site is consistent with the administration of the historic site, including appropriate public access and rent, and such other terms and conditions as the Secretary deems necessary. SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act. PURPOSE OF THE MEASURE The purpose of H.R. 1012 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the home of historian and educator, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of the organization known today as The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, and upon its acquisition, to establish it as a unit of the National Park System. BACKGROUND AND NEED In 1915, Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, renamed as the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History. Through the Association, Dr. Woodson, the son of slaves who earned a Ph.D. from Harvard University, dedicated his life to educating the American public about the extensive and positive contributions of African Americans to the Nation's history and culture. Under Dr. Woodson's leadership, Negro History Week was designated in 1926. That designation has since evolved into Black History Month in February of each year. The property located at 1538 Ninth Street, Northwest, in Washington, D.C. was Dr. Woodson's home from 1915 to 1950, and also served as the headquarters and operations of the Association. The Carter G. Woodson home was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its national significance in African-American culture. A 2002 study conducted by the National Park Service found that the Carter G. Woodson Home is suitable for designation as a unit of the National Park System. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY H.R. 1012 was introduced by Representative Norton on February 27, 2003 and passed the House of Representatives by a voice vote on May 14, 2003. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on H.R. 1012 on June 10, 2003. At the business meeting on July 23, 2003, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered H.R. 1012, as amended, favorably reported. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on July 23, 2003, by unanimous vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 1012, if amended as described herein. COMMITTEE AMENDMENT During its consideration of H.R. 1012, the Committee adopted an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment removes Congressional findings and makes clarifying and technical corrections. The amendment is explained in detail in the section-by- section analysis, below. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS Section 1 entitles this Act as the ``Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2003.'' Section 2 contains definitions used in this Act. Section 3(a) states that upon acquisition of the Carter G. Woodson Home, the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) shall establish the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site as a unit of the National Park System. Subsection (b) authorizes the Secretary to acquire any of 3 properties immediately north of the Carter G. Woodson Home as described on map number 876/82338-A, for addition to the historic site, and upon acquisition, to include the properties within the park. Subsection (c) states that the relevant map shall be available for public inspection in appropriate offices of the National Park Service. Subsection (d) authorizes the Secretary to acquire the Carter G. Woodson Home or any of the properties described in subsection (b)(1), including interest in lands and improvements, by donation, or purchase from willing seller with donated or appropriated funds, or by exchange. Subsection (e)(1) directs the Secretary to administer the historic site in accordance with the National Park Service Organic Act and the Historic Sites, Buildings, and Antiquities Act. Paragraph (2) directs the Secretary to prepare a general management plan within three years after the date funds are made available. Section 4(a) authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements for the purpose of public interpretation and education of African-American heritage in the Shaw area of Washington, D.C. Subsection (b) authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with public or private entities to restore and rehabilitate the Carter G. Woodson Home and other properties within the boundary of the historic site, subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems necessary. Subsection (c) authorizes the Secretary to enter into an agreement with The Association for the Study of African- American Life and History that allows the association to use a portion of the historic site for its own administrative purposes, subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems necessary. Section 5 authorizes the appropriation of such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act. COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS The following estimate of the cost of this measure has been provided by the Congressional Budget Office: U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, August 1, 2003. Hon. Pete V. Domenici, Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1012, the Carter G. Woodson National Historic Site Act. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis. Sincerely, Robert A. Sunshine (For Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director). Enclosure. H.R. 1012--Carter G. Woodson National Historic Site Act H.R. 1012 would direct the National Park Service (NPS) to establish the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site on property in Washington, D.C. The bill would authorize the NPS to acquire the Woodson home and three other attached row houses by donation, purchase, or exchange. In order to facilitate interpretation of the new national historic site, the agency also would be authorized to execute cooperative agreements with local organizations that wish to restore the federally acquired properties, provide educational support, and lease onsite space from the NPS. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1012 would cost the Federal Government $9.5 million over the next five years. Of this amount, we estimate that the NPS would spend about $1.7 million in 2004 to acquire the Woodson home, the other three row houses, and the contents of the Woodson library. Beginning in 2005, about $5 million would be spent to restore the houses and develop interpretive exhibits. (Some of this work could be done, at Federal expense, by local nonprofit organizations.) Finally, we estimate that the NPS would spend about $2.7 over the five-year period to manage and operate the site, including the costs of preparing a general management plan and other related studies. This estimate is based on information provided by the NPS and by local tax authorities. For this estimate, CBO assumes that the NPS would acquire the contents of the Woodson library although the bill would not specifically authorize the acquisition of personal property. If the NPS did not purchase the library, the costs of implementing the bill would be about $0.8 million lower. The bill would authorize the NPS to lease space in one of the row houses to a local nonprofit organization. Rent collected by the agency could be spent (under existing laws) without further appropriation. This leasing authority would therefore result in additional offsetting receipts and direct spending. CBO estimates that the amounts involved would be less than $50,000 per year. H.R. 1012 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would have no significant impact on the budgets of State, local, or tribal governments. The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. This estimate was approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 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 H.R. 1012. 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 H.R. 1012, as ordered reported. EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS On, July 23, 2003, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget setting forth Executive agency recommendations on H.R. 1012. These reports had not been received at the time the report on H.R. 1012 as filed. When the reports become available, the Chairman will request that they be printed in the Congressional Record for the advice of the Senate. The testimony provided by the NPS at the Subcommittee hearing follows: Statement of D. Thomas Ross, Assistant Director, Recreation and Conservation, National Park Service, Department of the Interior Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to present the Department of the Interior's views on H.R. 1012, a bill to establish the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site in the District of Columbia. The Department recognizes the appropriateness of establishing the Carter G. Woodson home as a unit of the National Park System. The site was found to be nationally significant, as well as suitable and feasible for addition to the system, in a study conducted by the National Park Service and sent to Congress earlier this year. However, we recommend that the committee defer action on H.R. 1012 during the 108th Congress. The Administration is continuing to place a priority on reducing the National Park System's deferred maintenance backlog and wants to ensure that funding is not diverted to pay for the cost of a new unit of the National Park System, which would include acquiring and rehabilitating property along with operating and maintaining the site. Dr. Carter G. Woodson was a prominent American historian and is generally considered the preeminent historian of the African-American experience in the United States. Born in 1875 to former slaves, Woodson began his formal education at age 20 after being denied a public education in his home town of Canton, Virginia, and earned several degrees from institutions of higher learning. He became the second African-American, after W.E.B. DuBois, to earn a doctorate from Harvard. During much of Dr. Woodson's life, there was little information about African-American life and history. Dr. Woodson's research uncovered history that helped educate the American public about the contributions of African-Americans to our Nation's history and culture. From 1915 until 1950, Dr. Woodson lived at 1538 Ninth Street, Northwest, a Victorian-style row house built in 1890 in the Shaw neighborhood of Washington, D.C. His home was also the headquarters of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, which he founded. The organization, which was renamed the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, continued to operate out of the home until 1970. The association still owns the home, but it is unoccupied and in need of restoration. The home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976. The National Park Service conducted a special resource study on the Carter G. Woodson home during 2001-2002, pursuant to P.L. 106-349. The study found that in addition to being nationally significant, the site was suitable and feasible for inclusion in the National Park System. The suitability finding was based on the determination that no existing unit of the National Park System provides the opportunity to present the story of Dr. Woodson and his legacy, or interprets African- American history as a general subject. It was also based on the fact that the home offers the chance to interpret other aspects of the community in which Dr. Woodson worked and lived, which has numerous historically significant resources associated with achievements of African-Americans. The site was found feasible for inclusion, with qualifications. Along with acquiring the Woodson house itself, to make this a viable park unit, the National Park Service would need to acquire three adjacent properties to the north for administrative, interpretive, and visitor service needs, and to meet accessibility requirements. The study estimates that the one-time cost of acquiring and developing the site would be in the range of $5 million to $6.5 million, and the annual cost of operating and maintaining the site would be approximately $500,000. H.R. 1012 provides authority for the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Carter G. Woodson home as a national historic site after acquiring a majority of the property within the proposed boundary of the unit. The boundary encompasses the Woodson home and the three adjoining houses to the north. The bill also authorizes the Secretary to enter into certain agreements. One agreement would be with the Shiloh Community Development Corporation to redevelop the property. This corporation is a non-profit organization that intends to build senior housing on the same block as the Woodson home; discussions have begun between the National Park Service and the corporation about a potential development partnership which holds the possibility of providing a cost-effective means of restoring the property. Another potential agreement permitted by the bill would enable the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History to use a portion of the historic site for its own administrative purposes. The bill would also allow partnerships with public and private entities for the purpose of fostering interpretation of African-American heritage in the Shaw area. This provision is intended to facilitate connection of the Woodson home to other significant historical and cultural sites in the area for purposes of promoting education and tourism. These provisions are all consistent with the findings of the study. Mr. Chairman, that concludes my statement. I would be pleased to answer any questions that you or other members of the committee may 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 the act H.R. 1012, as ordered reported. | |||
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