[106th Congress Public Law 135]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ135.106]
Public Law 106-135
106th Congress
An Act
To <<NOTE: Dec. 7, 1999 - [H.R. 791]>> amend the National Trails System
Act to designate the route of the War of 1812 British invasion of
Maryland and Washington, District of Columbia, and the route of the
American defense, for study for potential addition to the national
trails system.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in <<NOTE: Star-Spangled Banner National
Historic Trail Study Act of 1999. 16 USC 1241 note.>> Congress
assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Star-Spangled Banner National
Historic Trail Study Act of 1999''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the British invasion of Maryland and Washington,
District of Columbia, during the War of 1812 marks a defining
period in the history of our Nation, the only occasion on which
the United States of America has been invaded by a foreign
power;
(2) the Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail traces
the arrival of the British fleet in the Patuxent River in
Calvert County and St. Mary's County, Maryland, the landing of
British forces at Benedict, the sinking of the Chesapeake
Flotilla at Pig Point in Prince George's County and Anne Arundel
County, Maryland, the American defeat at the Battle of
Bladensburg, the siege of the Nation's Capital, Washington,
District of Columbia (including the burning of the United States
Capitol and the White House), the British naval diversions in
the upper Chesapeake Bay leading to the Battle of Caulk's Field
in Kent County, Maryland, the route of the American troops from
Washington through Georgetown, the Maryland Counties of
Montgomery, Howard, and Baltimore, and the City of
Baltimore, Maryland, to the Battle of North Point, and the
ultimate victory of the Americans at Fort McHenry on September
14, 1814, where a distinguished Maryland lawyer and poet,
Francis Scott Key, wrote the words that captured the essence of
our national struggle for independence, words that now serve as
our national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner; and
(3) the designation of this route as a national historic
trail--
(A) would serve as a reminder of the importance of
the concept of liberty to all who experience the Star-
Spangled Banner National Historic Trail; and
(B) would give long overdue recognition to the
patriots whose determination to stand firm against enemy
invasion and bombardment preserved this liberty for
future generations of Americans.
SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF TRAIL FOR STUDY.
Section 5(c) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(c))
is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (36) (as added by section 3
of the El Camino Real Para Los Texas Study Act of 1993 (107
Stat. 1497)) as paragraph (37) and in subparagraph (C) by
striking ``detemine'' and inserting ``determine'';
(2) by designating the paragraphs relating to the Old
Spanish Trail and the Great Western Scenic Trail as paragraphs
(38) and (39), respectively; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(40) Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail.--
``(A) In general.--The Star-Spangled Banner National
Historic Trail, tracing the War of 1812 route from the arrival
of the British fleet in the Patuxent River in Calvert County and
St. Mary's County, Maryland, the landing of the British forces
at Benedict, the sinking of the Chesapeake Flotilla at Pig
Point, the American defeat at the Battle of Bladensburg, the
siege of the Nation's Capital, Washington, District of Columbia
(including the burning of the United States Capitol and the
White House), the British naval diversions in the upper
Chesapeake Bay leading to the Battle of Caulk's Field in Kent
County, Maryland, the route of the American troops from
Washington through Georgetown, the Maryland Counties of
Montgomery, Howard, and Baltimore, and the City of
Baltimore, Maryland, to the Battle of North Point, and the
ultimate victory of the Americans at Fort McHenry on September
14, 1814.
``(B) Affected areas.--The trail crosses eight counties
within the boundaries of the State of Maryland, the City of
Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, District of Columbia.
``(C) Coordination with other congressionally mandated
activities.--The study under this paragraph shall be undertaken
in coordination with the study authorized under section 603 of
the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (16
U.S.C. 1a-5 note; 110 Stat. 4172) and the Chesapeake Bay
Gateways and Watertrails Network authorized under the Chesapeake
Bay Initiative Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 461 note; 112 Stat. 2961).
Such coordination shall extend to any research needed to
complete the studies and any findings and implementation actions
that result from the studies and shall use available resources
to the greatest extent possible to avoid unnecessary duplication
of effort.
``(D) Deadline for study.--Not later that 2 years after
funds are made available for the study under this paragraph, the
study shall be completed and transmitted with final
recommendations to the Committee on Resources in the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources in the Senate.''.
Approved December 7, 1999.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 791 (S. 441):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-189 (Comm. on Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-63 accompanying S. 441 (Comm. on Energy and
Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999):
June 30, considered and passed House.
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.
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