HR 437 IH

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.

January 29, 2003

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut (for himself, Ms. DELAURO, and Mr. SHAYS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Coltsville Study Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--

(1) Hartford, Connecticut, home to Colt Manufacturing Company (referred to in this Act as `Colt'), played a major role in the Industrial Revolution;

(2) Samuel Colt, founder of Colt, and his wife, Elizabeth Colt, inspired Coltsville, a community in the State of Connecticut that flourished during the Industrial Revolution and included Victorian mansions, an open green area, botanical gardens, and a deer park;

(3) the residence of Samuel and Elizabeth Colt in Hartford, Connecticut, known as `Armsmear', is a national historic landmark, and the distinctive Colt factory is a prominent feature of the Hartford, Connecticut, skyline;

(4) the Colt legacy is not only about firearms, but also about industrial innovation and the development of technology that would change the way of life in the United States, including--

(A) the development of telegraph technology; and

(B) advancements in jet engine technology by Francis Pratt and Amos Whitney, who served as apprentices at Colt;

(5) the influence of Colt extended beyond the United States when Samuel Colt was the first resident of the United States to open a manufacturing plant overseas;

(6) Coltsville--

(A) set the standard for excellence during the Industrial Revolution; and

(B) continues to prove significant--

(i) as a place in which people of the United States can learn about that important period in history; and

(ii) by reason of the close proximity of Coltsville to the Mark Twain House, Trinity College, Old North Cemetery, and many historic homesteads and architecturally renowned buildings;

(7) in 1998, the National Park Service conducted a special resource reconnaissance study of the Connecticut River Valley to evaluate the significance of precision manufacturing sites; and

(8) the report on the study stated that--

(A) no other region of the United States contains an equal concentration of resources relating to the precision manufacturing theme that began with firearms production;

(B) properties relating to precision manufacturing encompass more than merely factories; and

(C) further study, which should be undertaken, may recommend inclusion of churches and other social institutions.

SEC. 3. STUDY.

(a) IN GENERAL- Not later than three years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act as the `Secretary') shall complete a study of the site in the State of Connecticut commonly known as `Coltsville' to evaluate--

(1) the national significance of the site and surrounding area;

(2) the suitability and feasibility of designating the site and surrounding area as a unit of the National Park System; and

(3) the importance of the site to the history of precision manufacturing.

(b) APPLICABLE LAW- The study required under subsection (a) shall be conducted in accordance with Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-1 et seq.).

SEC. 4. REPORT.

Not later than 30 days after the date on which the study under section 3(a) is completed, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes--

(1) the findings of the study; and

(2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

END