[House Report 106-915]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
106th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 106-915
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HISTORICALLY WOMEN'S PUBLIC COLLEGES OR UNIVERSITIES HISTORIC BUILDING
RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION ACT
_______
September 29, 2000.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
together with
ADDITIONAL VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 4503]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 4503) to provide for the preservation and restoration of
historic buildings at historically women's public colleges or
universities, 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 ``Historically Women's Public Colleges
or Universities Historic Building Restoration and Preservation Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Historically women's public college or university.--The
term ``historically women's public college or university''
means a public institution of higher education created in the
United States between 1884 and 1908 to provide industrial
education for women, including the institutions listed in
clauses (i) through (vii) of section 3(d)(2)(A).
(2) Historic building or structure.--The term ``historic
building or structure'' means a building or structure listed
(or eligible to be listed) on the National Register of Historic
Places, designated as a National Historic Landmark, or located
within a designated historic district.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
the Interior.
SEC. 3. PRESERVATION AND RESTORATION GRANTS FOR HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND
STRUCTURES AT HISTORICALLY WOMEN'S PUBLIC COLLEGES
OR UNIVERSITIES.
(a) Authority To Make Grants.--
(1) In general.--From amounts made available under paragraph
(2), the Secretary shall award grants in accordance with this
section to historically women's public colleges or universities
for the preservation and restoration of historic buildings and
structures on their campuses.
(2) Source of funding.--Grants under paragraph (1) shall be
awarded from amounts appropriated to carry out the National
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.) for fiscal
years 2001 through 2005.
(b) Grant Conditions.--Grants made under subsection (a) shall be
subject to the condition that the grantee agree, for the period of time
specified by the Secretary, that--
(1) no alteration will be made in the property with respect
to which the grant is made without the concurrence of the
Secretary; and
(2) reasonable public access to the property for which the
grant is made will be permitted by the grantee for interpretive
and educational purposes.
(c) Matching Requirement for Buildings and Structures Listed on the
National Register of Historic Places.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided by paragraph (2), the
Secretary may obligate funds made available under this section
for a grant with respect to a building or structure listed on
the National Register of Historic Places, designated as a
National Historic Landmark, or located within a designated
historic district, only if the grantee agrees to provide for
activities under the grant, from funds derived from non-Federal
sources, an amount equal to 50 percent of the costs of the
program to be funded under the grant with the Secretary
providing 50 percent of such costs under the grant.
(2) In-kind contributions.--In addition to cash outlays and
payments, in-kind contributions of property or personnel
services by non-Federal interests may be used for the non-
Federal share of costs required by paragraph (1).
(d) Funding Provisions.--
(1) Amounts to be made available.--Not more than $14,000,000
for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2005 may be made
available under this section.
(2) Allocations for fiscal year 2001.--
(A) In general.--Of the amounts made available under
this section for fiscal year 2001, there shall be
available only for grants under subsection (a)
$2,000,000 for each of the following:
(i) Mississippi University for Women in
Colombus, Mississippi.
(ii) Georgia College and State University in
Milledgeville, Georgia.
(iii) University of North Carolina in
Greensboro, North Carolina.
(iv) Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South
Carolina.
(v) University of Montevallo in Montevallo,
Alabama.
(vi) Texas Woman's University in Denton,
Texas.
(vii) University of Science and Arts of
Oklahoma in Chickasha, Oklahoma.
(B) Less than $14,000,000 available.--If less than
$14,000,000 is made available under this section for
fiscal year 2001, then the amount made available to
each of the institutions listed in subparagraph (A)
shall be reduced by the same amount.
(3) Allocations for fiscal years 2002-2005.--Any funds which
are made available during fiscal years 2002 through 2005 under
subsection (a)(2) shall be distributed by the Secretary in
accordance with the provisions of subparagraphs (A) and (B) of
paragraph (2) to those grantees named in paragraph (2)(A) which
remain eligible and desire to participate, on a uniform basis,
in such fiscal years.
(e) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations as
are necessary to carry out this Act.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of H.R. 4503 is to provide for the preservation
and restoration of historic buildings at historically women's
public colleges or universities.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Beginning in 1884, seven institutions became established as
industrial schools for women. These institutions are the
Mississippi University for Women, the University of Montevallo
in Alabama, Georgia College and State University, Winthrop
University in South Carolina, the University of North Carolina
at Greensboro, Texas Women's University, and the University of
Science and Arts of Oklahoma. These seven institutions have
remained open, providing a liberal arts education for both men
and women. Despite their continued use, many of the structures
located on these campuses are facing destruction or closure
because preservation funds are not available.
As ordered reported by the Committee on Resources, H.R.
4503 would provide funding for the preservation of historic
buildings at the seven historically women's public colleges or
universities identified above. Funding would originate from the
National Historic Preservation Fund and would be distributed in
equal amounts to the seven institutions. The bill also requires
a 50 percent matching contribution from non-federal sources and
assures that alterations in properties using the funds are
subject to approval from the Secretary of the Interior and
reasonable public access for interpretive and educational
purposes. In addition, in-kind contributions of property or
personnel services by non-federal sources may be considered as
a share of the matching requirement.
COMMITTEE ACTION
H.R. 4503 was introduced by Congressman Charles (Chip)
Pickering (R-MS) on May 19, 2000. The bill was referred to the
Committee on Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands. On September
7, 2000, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On
September 20, 2000, the Full Committee met to consider the
bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands was
discharged from further consideration of the bill by unanimous
consent. Congressman James V. Hansen (R-UT) offered an
amendment in the nature of a substitute which was adopted 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 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. Government Reform Oversight Findings. Under clause
3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee has received no report of
oversight findings and recommendations from the Committee on
Government Reform on this bill.
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:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, September 27, 2000.
Hon. Don Young,
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. 4503, the
Historically Women's Public Colleges or Universities Historic
Building Restoration and Preservation Act.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson
(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
H.R. 4503--Historically Women's Public Colleges or Universities
Historic Building Restoration and Preservation Act
Summary: H.R. 4503 would authorize the appropriation of $14
million annually over the 2001-2005 period for matching grants
to seven colleges and universities. Those institutions, which
were created to provide education for women, would each be
eligible to receive $2 million annually from the Historic
Preservation Fund (HPF) for one-half of the cost of restoring
historic buildings on their campuses. CBO estimates that
appropriation of the authorized amounts would result in outlays
of $53 million over the 2001-2005 period.
The legislation would not affect direct spending or
receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply.
H.R. 4503 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA).
State and local governments might incur some costs to match the
federal funds authorized by this bill, but any such costs would
be voluntary.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of H.R. 4503 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment).
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By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
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SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
HPF Spending Under Current Law:
Budget Authority \1\.......... 75 77 78 79 80 82
Estimated Outlays............. 72 75 78 77 79 80
Proposed Changes:
Authorization Level........... 0 14 14 14 14 14
Estimated Outlays............. 0 4 8 13 14 14
Spending Under H.R. 4503:
Authorization Level........... 75 91 91 93 94 96
Estimated Outlays............. 72 79 86 90 93 94
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\1\ The 2000 level is the amount appropriated for that year from the Historic Preservation Fund. For fiscal
years 2001-2005, the amounts shown are equal to the CBO baseline for this account, assuming annual adjustments
for anticipated inflation.
Basis of estimate: Assuming appropriation of the authorized
amounts and the availability of nonfederal funds to match
federal grants, CBO estimates that the National Park Service
would obligate a total of $14 million a year to the seven
eligible schools in fiscal years 2001 through 2005. Estimated
outlays are based on spending patterns for other grants from
the HPF. For this estimate, we assume that these grants would
be in addition to other amounts appropriated from that fund.
Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 4503
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis. Impact
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Marjorie Miller.
Impact on the Private Sector: Lauren Marks.
Estimate approved by: Robert A. Sunshine, Assistant
Director for 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 State, local, or
tribal law.
changes in existing law
If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing
law.
ADDITIONAL VIEWS
H.R. 4503 earmarks up to $70 million over five years from
the Historic Preservation Fund for grants to 7 public colleges
and universities, most located in the Southeast, which were
originally founded to serve women. The grantees would be
required to provide a 50% match and the funds could be used to
restore historic buildings and structures. The schools would
divide the money equally. We fully support historic
preservation in general, and could support aid to historically
women's colleges and universities for the preservation of
historic structures on their campuses. However, we have serious
concerns regarding the approach taken in this legislation.
Under current law, the Secretary of the Interior is
authorized to make grants from the Historic Preservation Fund,
based on statutory criteria, to states or local governments to
preserve the precise sites or buildings that would receive
funding under this legislation. Since these sites are eligible
under current law, the effect of H.R. 4503 is to single out
these 7 specific schools, all located in a particular part of
the country, and move them up to the front of the line by
fencing off $14 million a year that must bypass the Secretary
and go directly to these schools. The bill sets out no criteria
for why these schools need these funds and makes no distinction
between the schools themselves.
Furthermore, while we are considering legislation to
earmark $14 million for these schools from the Historic
Preservation Fund, the House-passed version of the FY 2001
Interior Appropriations bill contains just $41.3 million total
for historic preservation. If the House funding level were to
become law, these seven schools would receive roughly one third
of all historic preservation funds nation-wide.
Finally, this legislation includes no standards which
explain how these seven schools were selected. There are nearly
80 women's colleges and universities in the United States and
it is unclear why these seven schools are deserving of this
earmarked funding and the other women's schools are not.
If the historic sites on these campuses are deserving of
historic preservation funding, the relevant state or locality
should apply for such funding under the current system. The
kind of earmarks contained in this legislation undermine our
historic preservation efforts and work to benefit a small group
of schools unfairly.
George Miller.
Carlos Romero-Barcelo.
Dale E. Kildee.
Owen Pickett.
Cal Dooley.
Rush Holt.