[DOCID: f:hr797.110]
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110th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 110-797
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TO AUTHORIZE THE EXPANSION OF THE FORT DAVIS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE IN
FORT DAVIS, TEXAS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
_______
July 29, 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. 6176]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the
bill (H.R. 6176) to authorize the expansion of the Fort Davis
National Historic Site in Fort Davis, Texas, and for other
purposes, 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. 6176 is to authorize the expansion of
the Fort Davis National Historic Site in Fort Davis, Texas, and
for other purposes.
Background and Need for Legislation
H.R. 6176 would increase the acreage ceiling for the Fort
Davis National Historic Site in west Texas, and authorize the
National Park Service to acquire, from willing sellers,
approximately 55 acres adjacent to the historic site.
Fort Davis National Historic Site, authorized in 1961 (P.L.
87-213) is regarded as one of the best preserved forts in the
American Southwest. Named for then-Secretary of War Jefferson
Davis, the fort was strategically located to protect emigrants,
mail coaches, and freight wagons traveling through the
southwest from 1854 to 1891.
Fort Davis is also important to understanding the impact of
African Americans in the West and in the frontier military, as
the 24th and 25th U.S. Infantry and the 9th and 10th U.S.
Cavalry (the all-black ``Buffalo Soldier'' regiments
established after the Civil War) were stationed at this post.
The bill would expand the boundary of the historic site to
encompass some already-completed acquisitions and permit the
acquisition of several parcels that total approximately 55
acres on the southwestern boundary of the fort on a prominent
bluff. Purchase of the land will protect the rural backdrop
behind the officers' quarters and other portions of the fort so
that visitors will be able to see the land that surrounds the
fort as it appeared in the mid- to late-1800s.
This acquisition will also benefit the adjacent Davis
Mountains State Park. The land proposed to be added to Fort
Davis National Historic Site by H.R. 6176 is land that is
visible from Davis Mountains State Park's Skyline Drive, one of
that park's significant attractions. For that reason, the Texas
Parks and Wildlife Department strongly supports the passage of
this bill.
Committee Action
H.R. 6176 was introduced on June 4, 2008, by Representative
Ciro Rodriguez (D-TX). The bill was referred to the Committee
on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. At a
hearing before the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and
Public Lands on July 15, 2008, a representative of the National
Park Service testified that the administration supports the
bill.
On July 16, 2008, the Full Natural Resources Committee met
to consider H.R. 6176. The Subcommittee on National Parks,
Forest and Public Lands was discharged from further
consideration of the bill. H.R. 6176 was ordered favorably
reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.
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 authorize the expansion of the
Fort Davis National Historic Site in Fort Davis, Texas, and for
other purposes.
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. 6176--A bill to authorize the expansion of the Fort Davis National
Historic Site in Fort Davis, Texas
H.R. 6176 would expand the boundary of the Fort Davis
National Historic Site in Texas. The bill would authorize the
National Park Service (NPS) to acquire about 55 acres within
the expanded boundary.
Based on information provided by the NPS and assuming the
availability of appropriations, CBO estimates that implementing
the bill would cost about $1 million over the next two years.
That amount would be used to purchase about three parcels of
land totaling 55 acres near the park. We estimate that
additional costs to develop and operate the new acreage would
be minimal. Enacting H.R. 6176 would not affect revenues or
direct spending.
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 contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
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. 6176 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
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 (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
ACT OF SEPTEMBER 8, 1961
(Public Law 87-213)
AN ACT Authorizing the establishment of a national histortc site at
Fort Davis, Jeff Davis County, Texas.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That [the
Secretary of the Interior] (a) The Secretary of the Interior
shall acquire, on behalf of the United States, by gift,
purchase, condemnation, or otherwise, all right, title, and
interest in and to such lands, not to exceed [476 acres] 646
acres in all, together with any improvements thereon, as the
Secretary may deem necessary for the purpose of establishing a
national historic site at the site of Fort Davis, near the town
of Fort Davis, Jeff Davis County, Texas.
(b) The Secretary may acquire from willing sellers land
comprising approximately 55 acres, as depicted on the map
titled ``Fort Davis Proposed Boundary Expansion'', numbered
418/80,045, and dated April 2008. The map shall be on file and
available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of
the National Park Service. Upon acquisition of the land, the
land shall be incorporated into the Fort Davis National
Historic Site.
* * * * * * *
[Sec. 3. There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such
sums, but not more than $115,000 for land acquisition, as are
necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act.]
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