S. 214 Text
3/04/2003
Passed by Unanimous Consent
Referred to House committee

To designate Fort Bayard Historic District in the State of New Mexico as a National Historic Landmark, and for other purposes.

January 23, 2003

Mr. BINGAMAN (for himself and Mr. Domenici) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

To designate Fort Bayard Historic District in the State of New Mexico as a National Historic Landmark, and for other purposes.

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 `Fort Bayard National Historic Landmark Act'.

SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

The Congress finds that--

(1) Fort Bayard, located in southwest New Mexico, was an Army post from 1866 until 1899, and served an important role in the settlement of New Mexico;

(2) among the troops stationed at the fort were several `Buffalo Soldier' units who fought in the Apache Wars;

(3) following its closure as a military post, Fort Bayard was established by the War Department as general hospital for use as a military sanatorium;

(4) in 1965 the State of New Mexico assumed management of the site and currently operates that Fort Bayard State Hospital;

(5) the Fort Bayard historic site has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of the national significance of its history, both as a military fort and as an historic medical facility.

SEC. 3. FORT BAYARD NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK.

(a) Designation- The Fort Bayard Historic District in Grant County, New Mexico, as listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is hereby designated as the Fort Bayard National Historic Landmark.

(b) Administration-

(1) Consistent with the Department of the Interior's regulations concerning National Historic Landmarks (36 C.F.R. part 65), designation of the Fort Bayard Historic District as a National Historic Landmark shall not prohibit under Federal law or regulations any actions which may otherwise be taken by the property owner with respect to the property.

(2) Nothing in this Act shall affect the administration of the Fort Bayard Historic District by the State of New Mexico.

SEC. 4. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

(a) In General- The Secretary, in consultation with the State of New Mexico, may enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate public or private entities, for the purposes of protecting historic resources at Fort Bayard and providing educational and interpretive facilities and programs for the public. The Secretary shall not enter into any agreement or provide assistance to any activity affecting Fort Bayard State Hospital without the concurrence of the State of New Mexico.

(b) Technical and Financial Assistance- The Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance with any entity with which the Secretary has entered into a cooperative agreement under subsection (a) in furtherance of the agreement.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

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

END