[House Report 107-47]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
107th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 107-47
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GREAT FALLS HISTORIC DISTRICT STUDY ACT OF 2001
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April 24, 2001.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 146]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 146) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study
the suitability and feasibility of designating the Great Falls
Historic District in Paterson, New Jersey, as a unit of the
National Park System, and for other urposes, having considered
the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and
recommend that the bill do pass.
purpose of the bill
The purpose of H.R. 146 is to authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of
designating the Great Falls Historic District in Paterson, New
Jersey, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other
purposes.
background and need for legislation
The Great Falls Historic District of the Passaic River in
Paterson, New Jersey, is one of the earliest industrial centers
of America and was once considered the manufacturing center of
the United States. At 77 feet, the Great Falls is the second
highest waterfall on the East Coast, second only to Niagara
Falls. It was the waterfall at Paterson that led Alexander
Hamilton, then-Secretary of the Treasury, to invite Pierre
L'Enfant in 1791 to design the first planned industrial city in
America. The plan called for harnessing power for manufacturing
mills from the Great Falls through a series of canals, or
``raceways,'' and led to the first use of hydro-power in an
industrial area in this country.
Paterson became the most important American industrial site
between the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. Production
of various products, including cotton, paper, railroad
locomotives, iron, steel, and silk remained in Paterson until
the early 20th Century. It now contains one of the only
substantial collections of historic industrial structures
remaining in the United States. Among the structures still
standing is the Samuel Colt gun factory where the first
revolver was manufactured in 1836.
The Historic District currently exhibits many signs of
decline and renewal. While many buildings are deteriorating and
some are vacant, some industrial use has continued. Some of the
mill buildings have been reused primarily for housing and
office use, although other commercial, recreational and
cultural uses are also being considered.
The Great Falls Historic District has been a National
Historic Landmark since 1976. The proposed National Park area
would encompass 10 blocks and be approximately 87 acres. The
suitability study proposed by H.R. 146 has widespread community
support.
This study would evaluate the suitability and feasibility
of further recognizing the historic and cultural significance
of the lands and structures of the Great Falls Historic
District by designating it as a unit of the National Park
System. In addition to authorizing the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct the study, the bill would also require the
Secretary to submit a report describing the results of the
study to the House Committee on Resources and the Senate
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
committee action
H.R. 146 was introduced on January 3, 2001, by Congressman
Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ). The bill was referred to the
Committee on Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands. On
March 13, 2001, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On
March 22, 2001, the Subcommittee met to mark up the bill. No
amendments were offered and the bill was forwarded to the Full
Committee. On March 28, 2001, the Full Resources Committee met
to consider the bill. No amendments were offered and the bill
was 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 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 authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of
designating the Great Falls Historic District in Paterson, New
Jersey, as a unit of the National Park System.
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:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, March 29, 2001.
Hon. James V. Hansen,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 146, the Great
Falls Historic District Study Act of 2001.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact for this
estimate is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson.
(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 146--The Great Falls Historic District Study Act of 2001
H.R. 146 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a study on the suitability and feasibility of making
the Great Falls Historic District in New Jersey a unit of the
National Park System. The bill would require the Secretary to
report to the Congress on its findings within three years of
receiving funds. Finally, the bill would authorize the
appropriation of whatever sums are necessary to conduct the
study.
Based on information from the National Park Service, CBO
estimates that completing the required study and report would
cost the federal government $250,000 over the next three years,
assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. The bill would
not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-
go procedures would not apply. H.R. 146 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 contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
The estimate was approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Assistant
Director of Budget Analysis.
COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL OR TRIBAL LAW
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.