[House Report 107-581] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 107th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 107-581 ====================================================================== PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIC SITE STUDY ACT _______ July 16, 2002.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Hansen, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 3815] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 3815) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing a Presidential National Historic Site, in Hope, Arkansas, 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. 3815 is to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the suitability and feasibility of establishing a Presidential National Historic Site, in Hope, Arkansas, and for other purposes. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION Hope, Arkansas is the birthplace of William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of the United States. The residence on Hervey Street is currently owned and operated by the Clinton Birthplace Foundation in conjunction with the Clinton Center. The Clinton Birthplace Foundation was formed in 1993 as a non- profit corporation to serve the historic preservation opportunities in President Clinton's home state. The residence has been visited by thousands of individuals from across the nation and around the world and was nominated and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. The National Park Service currently manages 32 presidential sites. COMMITTEE ACTION H.R. 3815 was introduced on February 27, 2002 by Congressman Mike Ross (D-AR) and was referred to the Committee on Resources. On March 6, 2002, the bill was referred within the Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands. On June 6, 2002, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On June 26, 2002, the Full Resources Committee met to mark up the bill, and the Subcommittee was discharged from further consideration of the bill by unanimous consent. No amendments were offered and the bill 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 Resources' oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT Article I, section 8, and Article IV, section 3, of the Constitution of the United States grant 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. According to the Congressional Budget Office, enactment of this bill could cost the federal government $150,000 over two years to complete the required study and report. 3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. This bill does not authorize funding and therefore, clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not apply. 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, July 9, 2002. 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. 3815, the Presidential Historic Site Study Act. 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. 3815--Presidential Historic Site Study Act H.R. 3815 would direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the William Jefferson Clinton birthplace home in Hope, Arkansas, as a national historic site. The bill would require the Secretary to report findings and recommendations within two years of receiving funding for the study. Assuming appropriation of the necessary amount, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 3815 would cost the federal government $150,000 over the next two years to complete the required study and report. The bill would not affect direct spending or receipts; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. H.R. 3815 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 Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy 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 any state, local or tribal law. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW If enacted, this bill would make no changes in existing law.