[Senate Report 108-138]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 262
108th Congress Report
SENATE
1st Session 108-138
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CARTER G. WOODSON HOME NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ESTABLISHMENT ACT OF 2003
_______
August 26, 2003.--Ordered to be printed
Filed under authority of the order of the Senate of July 29
(legislative day, July 21), 2003
_______
Mr. Domenici, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1012]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the Act (H.R. 1012) to establish the Carter G. Woodson
Home National Historic Site in the District of Columbia, and
for other purposes, having considered the same, reports
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the
Act, as amended, do pass.
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.