[Senate Report 111-311]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 597
111th Congress Report
SENATE
2d Session 111-311
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GEORGE C. MARSHALL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE STUDY ACT
_______
September 27, 2010.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bingaman, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 1750]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 1750) to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a special resource study of the General of
the Army George Catlett Marshall National Historic Site at
Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia, and for other purposes,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE
The purpose of S. 1750 is to authorize the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a special resource study of Dodona Manor in
Leesburg, Virginia, the former residence of General of the Army
George Catlett Marshall.
BACKGROUND AND NEED
Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia, was the primary
residence of George C. Marshall from 1941 until his death in
1959, a time that includes the most important period of his
career and his many military and diplomatic accomplishments.
From 1939 to 1945, Marshall served as the U.S. Army Chief of
Staff, organizing the largest military expansion in U.S.
history and preparing the Army for the invasion of Europe. He
was named the nation's first 5-star general in 1944. He served
as Secretary of State from 1947 to 1949, during which time he
planned and helped implement the Marshall Plan, the U.S.-
sponsored program to provide economic aid to European countries
after World War II. Marshall also served as President of the
American Red Cross from 1949 to 1950 and as Secretary of
Defense from 1950 to 1951 during the Korean War.
Dodona Manor was designated a National Historic Landmark in
1996. It contains nearly all furnishings original to the
Marshall residence, including oriental rugs, books, personal
belongings, and Chinese furniture and artwork. The George C.
Marshall International Center operates the Dodona Manor museum
and gardens.
S. 1750 would permit the consideration of affiliate status
with the National Park Service for Dodona Manor through a
special resource study. Should the NPS study determine that
affiliate status would be appropriate, it could establish a
public-private partnership with the George C. Marshall
International Center in order to preserve and protect the home
and interpret the life and accomplishment of George C.
Marshall.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
S. 1750 was introduced by Senator Webb on October 5, 2009.
The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on the bill
on May 19, 2010. At its business meeting on July 21, 2010, the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 1750
favorably reported without amendment.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open
business session on July 21, 2010, by a voice vote of a quorum
present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 1750.
SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS
Section 1 provides the short title as the ``George C.
Marshall National Historic Site Study Act''.
Section 2 contain Congressional findings regarding George
C. Marshall and the Dodona Manor.
Section 3(a) authorizes the Secretary of the Interior
(Secretary) to conduct a special resource study of Dodona Manor
and gardens in Leesburg, Virginia.
Subsection (b) directs the Secretary, in conducting the
study, to evaluate Dodona Manor and gardens to determine the
suitability and feasibility of adding the site as an affiliated
area of the National Park System, including consideration of
alternatives for the preservation, protection, and
interpretation of the home by Federal, State, or local
government entities or any other interested individuals, and to
identify the costs estimates for any Federal acquisition,
development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance
associated with the range of management alternatives.
Subsection (c) directs the study to be conducted in
accordance with section 8 of Public Law 91-383, which sets
forth requirements for National Park Service studies.
Subsection (d) requires the Secretary to prepare and submit
for review the results, conclusions, and recommendations of the
study.
COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS
The following estimate of costs of this measure has been
provided by the Congressional Budget Office:
S. 1750--George C. Marshall National Historic Site Study Act
S. 1750 would require the National Park Service (NPS) to
conduct a special resource study of the Dodona Manor and other
property in Leesburg, Virginia, the home of George C. Marshall
during an important part of his career. In the study, the NPS
would evaluate the resources of the site and determine the
suitability and feasibility of designating it as a unit of the
National Park System. The NPS would have three years to
complete the study and report to the Congress on its results.
Based on information provided by the NPS and assuming the
availability of appropriated funds, CBO estimates that carrying
out the study required by S. 1750 would cost about $250,000
over the next three years. Enacting S. 1750 would not affect
direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go
procedures do not apply.
S. 1750 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.
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 S. 1750.
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 S. 1750, as ordered reported.
CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING
S. 1750, as ordered reported, does not contain any
congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits,
or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the
May 19, 2010 Subcommittee hearing on S. 1750 follows:
Statement of Stephen E. Whitesell, Associate Director, Park Planning,
Facilities and Lands, National Park Service, Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear
before you to provide the Department of the Interior's views on
S. 1750, a bill to authorize a special resource study to
determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the
General of the Army George Catlett Marshall National Historic
Site at Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia and for other
purposes.
The Department supports enactment of S. 1750. However, we
recommend that the title of the bill be amended to refer to the
``General George C. Marshall House (Dodona Manor)'' rather than
the ``General of the Army George Catlett Marshall National
Historic Site,'' as the former is consistent with the
landmark's current listing on the National Register of Historic
Places. We also believe that priority should be given to the 45
previously authorized studies for potential units of the
National Park System, potential new National Heritage Areas,
and potential additions to the National Trails System and
National Wild and Scenic River System that have not yet been
transmitted to the Congress.
S. 1750 authorizes a special resource study for General
George C. Marshall's home, Dodona Manor. One of the options
that the study would consider is making the site an affiliated
area of the National Park System. The study would also consider
other alternatives for preservation and protection of the home
and interpretation of the life and accomplishments of George C.
Marshall. The home was designated a National Historic Landmark
in 1996. We estimate the cost of this study to range from
$200,000 to $300,000, based on similar types of studies
conducted in recent years.
Born in 1880 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, George Marshall
attended the Virginia Military Institute to prepare for a
military career. He rose steadily through the ranks, serving
with distinction in various posts in the United States, the
Philippines, and China, and in Europe during World War I. In
World War II, General Marshall led the Allied forces to victory
in the Atlantic Theatre. Following the war, as Secretary of
State, Marshall designed a humanitarian program for rebuilding
war-ravaged Europe. For his ambitious European Recovery Plan,
more broadly known as the Marshall Plan, Marshall was awarded
the 1953 Nobel Peace Prize.
General Marshall enjoyed living at Dodona Manor for 18
years from 1941 until his death in 1959. At the time of the
Civil War, the house was called Oak Hill. Marshall, who likened
the sound of the white oak leaves rustling in the wind to the
ancient Greek oracle of Zeus speaking through the oak forest of
Dodona Grove in Epirus, renamed the house ``Dodona Manor.''
While living there, he rose from being an Army officer
respected for his military contributions to one of the most
important and respected world figures of the 20th Century.
Winston Churchill, recalling the years of World War II, said
that the only individual on whom all the leaders conferred
unqualified praise and admiration was General Marshall.
Many military post houses across the United States were
occupied by General Marshall and his first and second wives,
but never for long. Dodona Manor was his residence for the last
18 years of his life, coinciding with his years of national and
international achievement. General Marshall brought his best
possessions to Dodona Manor--oriental rugs purchased during
duty in China, and books in large number, which he owned and
read. He indulged his favorite pastime of tilling the earth and
planting gardens. From there he commuted to Washington during
his military service and later as Secretary of State and
Secretary of Defense. Dodona Manor has survived almost entirely
as he left it and no other site provides the opportunity for
reflection on the years when Marshall rose to become one of the
great figures of the 20th Century.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my prepared statement. I would
be happy to answer any questions that you or other Committee
members may have regarding this bill.
PROPOSED AMENDMENT FOR S. 1750, GEORGE C. MARSHALL NATIONAL HISTORIC
SITE STUDY ACT
On page 1, line 5, strike ``National Historic Site'' and
insert ``House''.
Amend the title to read: ``To authorize the Secretary of
the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the General
George C. Marshall House at Dodona Manor in Leesburg, Virginia,
and for other purposes.''
Justification: Changing the name of the site used in this
bill will make it consistent with the name used in the site's
listing as a National Historic Landmark on the National
Register of Historic Places. Also, the study will determine if
it is appropriate to designate the house as a national historic
site. Naming the house as a national historic site in this bill
is premature.
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 bill S. 1750, as
ordered reported.