[House Report 116-644]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
116th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 116-644
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WEIR FARM NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK REDESIGNATION ACT
_______
December 14, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 5852]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 5852) to redesignate the Weir Farm National
Historic Site in the State of Connecticut as the ``Weir Farm
National Historical Park'', having considered the same, reports
favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the
bill do pass.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 5852 is to redesignate the Weir Farm
National Historic Site in the State of Connecticut as the
``Weir Farm National Historical Park.''
Background and Need for Legislation
In 1882, the American artist Julian Alden Weir traded a
still life painting he had acquired in Europe for a 153-acre
farm in Branchville, Connecticut. At the farm, Weir spent many
years developing a new approach to landscape painting, using
the rural setting for inspiration, and gained a reputation as a
leader of the American Impressionists.\1\
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\1\National Park Service. (n.d.) Weir Farm National Historic Site,
Connecticut: Julian Alden Weir. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/
wefa/learn/historyculture/jaldenweir.htm.
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In 1990, Congress established the Weir Farm National
Historic Site (P.L. 101-485) in Fairfield County, Connecticut,
to preserve the house, studio, farm buildings, and rural
landscape that inspired Weir's transition into American
Impressionism. Today, the 68-acre National Historic Site
comprises 15 historic structures, including the studio of
American Master Sculptor Mahonri Young, as well as historic
gardens, orchards, terraces, fields, the Weir Pond, and
hundreds of historic painting sites. There are three miles of
trails on the site's property and more than seven miles of
trails in two bordering open spaces--the 110-acre Weir
Preserve, which is owned by the Weir Farm Art Alliance, and the
29-acre Nod Hill Refuge. The National Historic Site also
maintains a collection that contains more than 200,000 archives
and objects, including original paintings, sculptures, prints,
and furnishings associated with the site.
H.R. 5852 redesignates the Weir Farm National Historic Site
as the Weir Farm National Historical Park. As national
historical parks are typically areas of larger physical extent
with a greater diversity of historical resources than national
historic sites, the redesignation would bring the site into
conformance with the National Park Service's standard pattern
of nomenclature and help promote increased visitation and
recognition.
Committee Action
H.R. 5852 was introduced on February 11, 2020, by
Representative Jim Himes (D-CT). The bill was referred solely
to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee
to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public
Lands. On July 13, 2020, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the
bill. On September 30, 2020, the Natural Resources Committee
met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee was discharged by
unanimous consent. No amendments were offered, and the bill was
adopted and ordered favorably reported to the House of
Representatives by unanimous consent.
Hearings
For the purposes of section 103(i) of H.Res. 6 of the 116th
Congress--the following hearing was used to develop or consider
H.R. 5852: legislative hearing by the Subcommittee on National
Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held on July 13, 2020.
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.
Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional Budget Act
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of 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 and with respect to
requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives and section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested
but not received a cost estimate for this bill from the
Director of Congressional Budget Office. The Committee adopts
as its own cost estimate the forthcoming cost estimate of the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office, should such cost
estimate be made available before House passage of the bill.
The Committee has requested but not received from the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office a statement as to
whether this bill contains any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and
objectives of this bill are to redesignate the Weir Farm
National Historic Site in the State of Connecticut as the
``Weir Farm National Historical Park.''
Earmark Statement
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement
An estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee.
Existing Programs
This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of
the federal government known to be duplicative of another
program.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
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 italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
WEIR FARM NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE ESTABLISHMENT ACT OF 1990
* * * * * * *
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act--
(1) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the
Interior.
(2) The term ``[historic site] historical park''
means the Weir Farm [National Historic Site] National
Historical Park established in section 4.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF WEIR FARM NATIONAL [HISTORIC SITE] HISTORICAL
PARK.
(a) In General.--There is established, as a unit of the
National Park System, the Weir Farm National [Historic Site]
Historical Park in the State of Connecticut.
(b) Description.--The [historic site] historical park shall
consist of--
(1) the approximately 2-acre core parcel containing
the Weir house, studio, and barn;
(2) the approximately 60 acres and improvements
thereon owned by the State of Connecticut;
(3) the approximately 2-acre parcel of land situated
in the town of Wilton, Connecticut, designated as lot
18 on a map entitled ``Revised Map of Section I,
Thunder Lake at Wilton, Connecticut, Scale 1'=100',
October 27, 1978, Ryan and Faulds Land Surveyors,
Wilton, Connecticut'', that is on file in the office of
the town clerk of the town of Wilton, and therein
numbered 3673; and
(4) the approximately 0.9-acre western portion of a
parcel of land situated in the town of Wilton,
Connecticut, designated as Tall Oaks Road on the map
referred to in paragraph (3).
(c) General Depiction.--The parcels referred to in paragraphs
(1) through (4) of subsection (b) are all as generally depicted
on a map entitled ``Boundary Map, Weir Farm National Historic
Site, Fairfield County Connecticut'', dated June 1994. Such map
shall be on file and available for public inspection in the
appropriate offices of the National Park Service.
(d) Acquisition of Land for Visitor and Administrative
Facilities; Limitations.--
(1) Acquisition.--
(A) In general.--To preserve and maintain the
historic setting and character of the [historic
site] historical park, the Secretary may
acquire not more than 15 additional acres for
the development of visitor and administrative
facilities for the [historic site] historical
park.
(B) Proximity.--The property acquired under
this subsection shall be within Fairfield
County.
(C) Management.--The acquired property shall
be included within the boundary of the
[historic site] historical park and shall be
managed and maintained as part of the [historic
site] historical park.
(2) Development.--
(A) Maintaining natural character.--The
Secretary shall keep development of the
property acquired under paragraph (1) to a
minimum so that the character of the acquired
property will be similar to the natural and
undeveloped landscape of the property described
in subsection (b).
(B) Treatment of previously developed
property.--Nothing in subparagraph (A) shall
either prevent the Secretary from acquiring
property under paragraph (1) that, prior to the
Secretary's acquisition, was developed in a
manner inconsistent with subparagraph (A), or
require the Secretary to remediate such
previously developed property to reflect the
natural character described in subparagraph
(A).
(3) Agreements.--Prior to and as a prerequisite to
any development of visitor and administrative
facilities on the property acquired under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall enter into one or more
agreements with the local governmental entity that, in
accordance with applicable State law, has jurisdiction
over any property acquired under paragraph (1)(A) for
the purposes of--
(A) developing the parking, visitor, and
administrative facilities for the [historic
site] historical park; and
(B) managing bus traffic to the [historic
site] historical park and limiting parking for
large tour buses to an offsite location.
SEC. 5. ACQUISITION OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY AND SERVICES.
(a) Real and Personal Property.---The Secretary is
authorized to acquire by donation, exchange, or purchase with
donated or appropriated funds, the lands and improvements
within the boundaries of the [historic site] historical park,
except that any such lands and improvements owned by the State
of Connecticut may be acquired only by donation. The Secretary
may also acquire by the same methods personal property
associated with, and appropriate for, the interpretation of the
[historic site] historical park: Provided, That the Secretary
may acquire works of art associated with the Weir family, J.
Alden Weir, and other artists who lived at or visited the site
only by donation or purchase with donated funds.
(b) Other Property, Funds, and Services.--The Secretary is
authorized to accept and use donated funds, property, and
services to carry out this Act.
SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION OF [HISTORIC SITE] HISTORICAL PARK.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall administer the [historic
site] historical park in accordance with this Act and the laws
generally applicable to units of the National Park System,
including the Act entitled ``An Act to establish a National
Park Service, and for other purposes'', approved August 25,
1916 (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), and the Act entitled ``An Act to
provide for the preservation of historic American sites,
buildings, objects, and antiquities of national historic
significance, and for other purposes'', approved August 21,
1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.), except that the Secretary shall
take no action with respect to the 60 acres owned by the State
of Connecticut within the boundaries of the [historic site]
historical park until such time as the State has transferred
all right, title, and interests therein to the Secretary.
(b) Cooperative Agreements.--(1) The Secretary may consult
and enter into cooperative agreements with the Weir Farm
Heritage Trust, the State of Connecticut, the American Academy
of Arts and Letters, and other organizations and groups in the
development, presentation and funding of art exhibits, resident
artist programs, and other appropriate activities related to
the preservation, development, and use of the [historic site]
historical park.
(2) The Secretary may consult and enter into cooperative
agreements with the Nature Conservancy and the towns of
Ridgefield and Wilton for the purpose of coordinating
activities on the [historic site] historical park with
activities on the Nature Conservancy's Weir Preserve and lands
adjoining the [historic site] historical park owned by the
towns.
(c) Exhibits.--The Secretary may display, and accept for the
purpose of display, works of art associated with J. Alden Weir,
the Weir Farm, and the American Impressionist movement, as may
be necessary for the interpretation of the [historic site]
historical park.
(d) General Management Plan.--Within 2 complete fiscal years
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall submit to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
of the United States House of Representatives and to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States
Senate a general management plan for the [historic site]
historical park. The plan shall be prepared in accordance with
section 12(b) of the Act of August 18,1970 (16 U.S.C. la-1
through la-7) and other applicable law.
* * * * * * *
Supplemental, Minority, Additional, or Dissenting Views
None.
[all]