[House Report 108-252]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 108-252
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COLTSVILLE STUDY ACT OF 2003
_______
September 3, 2003.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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Mr. Pombo, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 233]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(S. 233) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
study of Coltsville in the State of Connecticut for potential
inclusion in the National Park System, having considered the
same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend
that the bill do pass.
PURPOSE OF THE BILL
The purpose of S. 233 is to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a study of Coltsville in the State of
Connecticut for potential inclusion in the National Park
System.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Coltsville, a site in Hartford, Connecticut, was inspired
by Samuel Colt, founder of Colt Manufacturing Company and his
wife, Elizabeth. Coltsville flourished during the Industrial
Revolution spurring innovation not only in the production of
firearms, but also with the development of technology that led
to changes in the American way of life. Coltsville set the
standard of excellence during the Industrial Revolution and
continues to be significant as a place where Americans learn
the importance of that period in history. In 1998 the National
Park Service conducted a special resource reconnaissance study
of the Connecticut River Valley to evaluate the significance of
historic manufacturing sites and found that the Coltsville
region contains an unequaled concentration of historic
resources relating to precision manufacturing. Further study is
needed to find if the area warrants designation as a unit of
the National Park System. As part of the study, the Committee
expects that the Secretary of the Interior will determine any
potential impacts that designation of the site is likely to
have on land within or bordering the study area that is
privately owned at the time that the study is conducted.
COMMITTEE ACTION
S. 233 was introduced on January 29, 2003, by Senator
Christopher Dodd (D-CT) and passed in the Senate on March 4,
2003 by unanimous consent. The bill was then referred to the
Committee on Resources and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands. On
July 9, 2003, the Full Resources Committee met to consider the
bill. The Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public
Lands was discharged from further consideration of the bill by
unanimous consent. No amendments were offered and the bill was
then 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 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 direct the Secretary of the
Interior to conduct a study of Coltsville in the State of
Connecticut for potential inclusion in the National Park
System.
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, August 11, 2003.
Hon. Richard Pombo,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 233, the Coltsville
Study Act of 2003.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Douglas Holtz-Eakin,
Director.
Enclosure.
S. 233--Coltsville Study Act of 2003
S. 233 would direct the Department of the Interior to
conduct a study of an area in Connecticut known as Coltsville
to evaluate the area's national significance. The study also
would assess the feasibility and suitability of designating
Coltsville as a unit of the National Park System. The act would
authorize the appropriation of whatever amounts are necessary
for the study and would require the department to report on its
findings and recommendations within three years of receiving
funds.
Assuming the availability of appropriated funds, CBO
estimates that it would cost about $250,000 over the next three
years to complete the required study and report. Enacting the
legislation would not affect spending or revenues.
S. 233 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.
On February 7, 2003, CBO transmitted a cost estimate for S.
233 as ordered reported by the Senate Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources on February 5, 2003. The two versions of S.
233 are identical, as are the cost estimates.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis.
The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy
Assistant Director of the Budget Analysis Division.
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.