[Senate Report 117-157]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 500
117th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 117-157
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CANE RIVER CREOLE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK BOUNDARY MODIFICATION ACT
_______
September 21, 2022.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Manchin, from the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2438]
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was
referred the bill (S. 2438), to modify the boundary of the Cane
River Creole National Historical Park in the State of
Louisiana, and for other purposes, having considered the same,
reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that
the bill, as amended, do pass.
Amendment
The amendment is as follows:
On page 2, strike lines 3 through 11, and insert the 2 following:
``(5) The approximately 46.1 acres of land identified as `Proposed
Addition', as generally depicted on the map entitled `Cane River Creole
National Historical Park Proposed Addition--Magnolia Plantation Unit',
numbered 494/176,958, and dated October 2021.''
Purpose
The purpose of S. 2438 is to modify the boundary of Cane
River Creole National Historical Park in the State of Louisiana
to add approximately 46 acres to the park.
Background and Need
The Cane River Creole National Historical Park in
northwestern Louisiana was established in 1994 to provide for
the preservation and interpretation of, and education
concerning, the Creole culture and diverse history of the
Natchitoches region. The historical park interprets and
preserves the landscape of the Oakland and Magnolia
Plantations, two of the most intact Creole cotton plantations
in the United States. The two sites include a total of 87
historic structures encompassing almost 200 years of plantation
life.
In 1997 the owners of the Magnolia property donated some of
the plantation outbuilding to the National Park Service, but
the main house and other property remained in private
ownership. The owners of the Magnolia property are now willing
to donate the main house and 46 acres of surrounding lands for
inclusion in the park.
Legislative History
Senator Cassidy introduced S. 2438 on July 22, 2021. The
Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on the bill on
October 6, 2021.
A companion bill, H.R. 4648 was introduced in the House of
Representatives by Representative Mike Johnson on July 22,
2021. H.R. 4648 was ordered reported by the House Natural
Resources Committee on November 17, 2021.
Committee Recommendation
The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in
open business session on May 3, 2022, by a voice vote of a
quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass S. 2438, if
amended as described herein.
Committee Amendment
During its consideration of S. 2438, the Committee adopted
an amendment that updates the map reference.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 provides the short title, the ``Cane River Creole
National Historical Park Boundary Modification Act.''
Section 2. Cane River Creole National Historical Park boundary
modification
Section 2 amends section 303(b) of the park's enabling
legislation (Public Law 103-449 (16 U.S.C. 410ccc-1(b))) to add
a new paragraph expanding the boundary of the park to include
approximately 46.1 acres as depicted on the referenced map.
Cost and Budgetary Considerations
The Committee has requested, but has not yet received, the
Congressional Budget Office's estimate of the cost of S. 2438
as ordered reported. When the Congressional Budget Office
completes its cost estimate, it will be posted on the Internet
at www.cbo.gov.
Regulatory Impact Evaluation
In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following
evaluation of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in
carrying out S. 2438. The bill is not a regulatory measure in
the sense of imposing Government-established standards or
significant economic responsibilities on private individuals
and businesses. No personal information would be collected in
administering the program. Therefore, there would be no impact
on personal privacy. Little, if any, additional paperwork would
result from the enactment of S. 2438, as ordered reported.
Congressionally Directed Spending
S. 2438, as ordered reported, does not contain any
congressionally directed spending items, limited tax benefits,
or limited tariff benefits as defined in rule XLIV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate.
Executive Communications
The testimony provided by the Department of the Interior at
the October 6, 2021, hearing on S. 2438 follow:
Statement of Joy Beasley, Associate Director for Cultural Resources,
Partnership and Science, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the
Interior
Chairman King, Ranking Member Daines, and members of the
Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to present the
Department of the Interior's views on S. 2438, a bill to modify
the boundary of the Cane River Creole National Historical Park
in the State of Louisiana, and for other purposes. The
Department supports S. 2438 with technical amendments.
S. 2438 would expand the legislative boundary of the
Magnolia Plantation Unit of Cane River Creole National
Historical Park in Louisiana by approximately 46.1 acres. The
land that would be added to the boundary is part of the
historic Magnolia Plantation, which is a National Historic
Landmark and is currently owned by the descendants of the
original plantation owners. The property includes the main
house, seven outbuildings, and several cultural landscape
features and archeological sites. At present, the National Park
Service owns a smaller portion of Magnolia Plantation,
maintaining 18-acres with approximately 20 historic structures.
Cane River Creole National Historical Park was established
by Public Law 103-499 in order to ``recognize the importance of
the Cane River Creole culture as a nationally significance
element of the cultural heritage of the United States'' and to
commemorate the blending of Native American, French, Spanish,
and African cultures in the Cane River region that occurred
from 1714 to present. Today, Cane River Creole National
Historical Park protects two of the most intact Creole cotton
plantations in the United States--Oakland Plantation and
portions of Magnolia Plantation. Magnolia Plantation was the
largest plantation in Natchitoches Parish in the mid-1800s,
both in terms of land and in terms of enslaved peoples. It has
direct ties to African American history from the late 1700s to
1970s, from the period of enslavement, to the Civil War,
Reconstruction, sharecropping and tenant farming of the mid-
20th century. The plantation is also a recognized Bicentennial
Farm, owned by descendants of the same family for over 200
years.
When Cane River Creole National Historical Park was
established in 1994, the Magnolia Plantation core was divided
in half: half was acquired by the National Park Service, and
the other half remained in private ownership. However, at the
time it was noted that important plantation resources existed
outside the current 18-acre park boundary. This legislation
would allow the National Park Service to acquire and preserve
the privately-owned half of the historic plantation core,
fulfilling the park's mission to protect Magnolia Plantation in
its entirety. Doing so would allow the National Park Service to
tell the complete story of all people, of French and African
descent, free and enslaved, at Magnolia Plantation. Enlargement
of the park to include the entire Magnolia Plantation core is
welcomed as an opportunity to present this important place as a
whole. This change in land administration is supported locally
among city, county, and state officials, as well as the
landowners and family descendants.
While the Department supports S. 2438, we recommend
amending the legislation to include a revised legislative map.
We would be pleased to provide a legislative map and
recommended amendments for these purposes.
Chairman King, Ranking Member Daines, thank you for the
opportunity to appear before you today. I would be happy to
answer any questions you or other Members may have.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the bill S. 2438, as ordered reported, are shown as follows
(existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black
brackets, new matter is printed in italic, existing law in
which no change is proposed is shown in roman):
Public Law 103-449
AN ACT To establish the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National
Heritage Corridor in the State of Connecticut, and for other purposes
* * * * * * *
TITLE III--CANE RIVER CREOLE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
Titles 111 and IV of this Act may be cited as the ``Cane
River Creole National Historical Park and National Heritage
Area Act''.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 303. ESTABLISHMENT OF CANE RIVER CREOLE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.
* * * * * * *
(b) Area Included.--The historical park shall consist of
lands and interests therein as follows:
(1) Lands and structures associated with the Oakland
Plantation as depicted on map CARI, 80,002, dated
January 1994.
(2) Lands and structures owned or acquired by Museum
Contents, Inc. as depicted on map CARI, 80,00lA, dated
May 1994.
(3) Sites that may be the subject of cooperative
agreements with the National Park Service for the
purposes of historic preservation and interpretation
including, but not limited to, the Melrose Plantation,
the Badin-Rouge site, the Cherokee Plantation, the Beau
Fort Plantation, and sites within the Natchitoches
National Historical Landmark District: Provided, That
such sites may not be added to the historical park
unless the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter
referred to as the ``Secretary'') determines, based on
further research and planning, that such sites meet the
applicable criteria for national historical
significance, suitability, and feasibility, and
notification of the proposed addition has been
transmitted to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the United States Senate and the
appropriate committees of the House of Representatives.
(4) Not to exceed 10 acres of land that the Secretary
may designate for an interpretive visitor center
complex to serve the needs of the historical park and
heritage area established in title IV of this Act.
(5) The approximately 46.1 acres of land identified
as ``Proposed Addition'', as generally depicted on the
map entitled ``Cane River Creole National Historical
Park Proposed Addition--Magnolia Plantation Unit'',
numbered 494/176,958, and dated October 2021.
* * * * * * *
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