The three properties to be acquired are considered by the National Park Service to be critical in preserving and interpreting the Truman home. All three homes are, for the most part, in the same condition as they were during President Truman's lifetime. The three sites are not only historically significant in their own right, but because of their proximity to the Truman home, they are important as well in ensuring the preservation of the entire Truman compound. The Noland/Haukenberry house, located across the street from the Truman residence, was the home of President Truman's aunt, Margaret Ellen Truman Noland. It was while visiting his aunt that Truman often visited his future wife, Bess Wallace, who lived across the street, in what eventually became the Truman residence. Frank G. Wallace and George P. Wallace were brothers of Mrs. Truman. Both houses lie directly east of the Truman home. Both home sites were part of the original Gates/Wallace property, now the Truman home. The Trumans lived as part of an extended family encompassing three generations within the entire Wallace/ Truman compound. Acquisition of the homes, which is supported by the Truman family, is considered necessary to preserve the site from increased development pressures near the National Historic Site boundaries resulting from the rapid growth of the city of Independence. H.R. 419 authorizes the appropriation of $250,000 for the acquisition of these three properties. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY H.R. 419 was introduced by Representative Wheat on January 3, 1989. The measure passed the House of Representatives by a voice vote on April 11, 1989. Identical legislation, S. 1090, was introduced in the Senate on June 1, 1989 by Senators Bond and Danforth. The Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks and Forests held a hearing on H.R. 419 on July 19, 1989. At the business meeting on August 2, 1989, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered H.R. 419 favorably reported. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS AND TABULATION OF VOTES The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on August 2, 1989, by a unanimous vote of a quorum present, recommends that the Senate pass H.R. 419, as described herein. The rollcall vote on reporting the measure was 19 yeas, 0 nays, as follows: Mr. Wirth Mr. Rockefeller Mr. McClure Mr. Murkowski Mr. Nickles Mr. Burns Mr. Garn Mr. McConnell* *Indicates voted by proxy. SUMMARY OF THE MEASURE H.R. 419, as ordered reported, amends Public Law 98-32, which established the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site in Independence, Missouri. It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire three home sites adjacent to the Truman home: the Noland/Haukenberry home on Delaware Street; and the Frank G. Wallace and George P. Wallace homes on Truman Road. Subsection (b)(2) grants the owners of the homes to be acquired the right to occupy the property for either a term of years up to 25 years, or until the death of the owner or the owner's surviving spouse. H.R. 419 authorizes the appropriation of $250,000 for the acquisition of the three sites. COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS The Congressional Budget Office estimate of the costs of this measure has been requested but was not received at the time the report was filed. When the report is available, the Chairman will request it to be printed in the Congressional Record for the advice of the Senate. 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 H.R. 419. The Act 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 H.R. 419, as reported. EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS On June 23, 1989, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources requested legislative reports from the Department of the Interior and the Office of Management and Budget setting forth the executive views on H.R. 419. These reports had not been received at the time the report was filed. When the views become available, the Chairman will request that they be printed in the Congressional Record for the advice of the Senate. The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the Subcommittee hearing follows: STATEMENT OF GERALD D. PATTEN, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, Mr. Chairman, it is a pleasure to appear before this Committee today to discuss H.R. 419 which would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire three properties adjacent to the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site in the State of Missouri. We support enactment of H.R. 419 if amended as described below. As an amendment to the Act which established the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site, H.R. 419, if enacted, would allow the National Park Service to acquire the now vacant Noland/Haukenberry house immediately west of the Truman home as well as the Frank G. and George P. Wallace houses immediately east and adjacent to the Truman home by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, transfer from another Federal agency, or otherwise. It would also permit the owners of these latter two properties to elect a term of use and occupancy of up to 25 years or life of the surviving spouse. Finally, H.R. 419 would authorize an appropriation of $250,000 for acquiring the above noted properties. These three homes are part of the historic scene and the story of the former President. The City Council of Independence recently passed a resolution supporting the acquisition of these three houses. We do not believe, however, that Federal acquisition in fee is necessary to protect these resources. Accordingly, we recommend that H.R. 419 be amended to expressly authorize the Park Service to acquire protective easements on the properties adjacent to the Truman home, in addition to authority to acquire them in fee. Acquisition of protective easements would be adequate to ensure preservation of the historic setting of the Truman home. Moreover, no more than one house need be acquired in fee to meet visitor and administrative needs at the national historic site. This option would also reduce acquisition costs and eliminate long-term costs of rehabilitating and maintaining all three adjacent properties. We believe it would be prudent to expressly authorize this alternative. We would be pleased to work with the City in securing private funding to assist us in the acquisition of protective easements and/or fee title to the three properties. This could permit more timely acquisition for inclusion in the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site than might otherwise be possible. Mr. Chairman, the story of President Truman, like so many of America's leaders, is a story of family, community, friends and neighbors. The name Truman immediately brings to mind a congenial yet determined walker being followed by an exhausted press corps struggling to catch up as he walked briskly around his neighborhood in Independence or the White House here in Washington. That neighborhood in Independence was of great importance to him, both as a person and as a political figure. It was here that he lived in a variety of houses as a youth with his family and later made occasional visits to the Noland/ Haukenberry house with an aunt while he courted Bess, his wife-to-be, who resided across the street in what is now the Truman home. It was also here that two of Bess's brothers, Frank and George Wallace, lived with their wives, one of whom still resides in the house adjacent to the Truman home. In 1972 Secretary of the Interior Morton, under the authority of the Historic Sites Act of 1935, established a historic district surrounding the Truman home based on the historic character of the neighborhood and the fact that the neighborhood environment is important to the Truman history. The official district nomination form described the neighborhood as "the setting which has been the physical nucleus of both Harry S. Truman's personal and his long and influential political life." Mr. Chairman, it would be our intent to make repairs and adaptations to the Noland/Haukenberry house prior to opening it for public access, if Federal acquisition proved necessary and the necessary funds became available from Federal and private sources. In this way we could improve visitor information and services. The house is now vacant, and we would have to spend approximately $75,000 to repair and modify the house to accommodate visitors. Federal acquisition in fee would also impose an operational cost of some $15,000 annually, attributable to utilities and 0.5 FTE for maintenance. Access to the other two houses would not be possible for some time even if acquired in fee, due to current occupancy. We fully concur with the bill's direction to offer the owners use and occupancy of these buildings in the event of Federal acquisition, and find no conflict with their current use. We estimate that land acquisition would cost approximately $250,000, but, as stated above, we do not believe these two properties will need to be acquired in fee. This concludes my prepared testimony on H.R. 419. I would be pleased to respond to any questions you may have at this time. 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 Act H.R. 419, as ordered reported, are shown as follows (existing law pro posed 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): ACT OF MAY 23, 1983 AN ACT to establish the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site in the State of Missouri, and for other purposes Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, [That], That (a) in order to preserve and interpret for the inspiration and benefit of present and future generations the former home of Harry S. Truman, thirty-third President of the United States, the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter referred to as the "Secretary") is authorized to acquire by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, transfer from another Federal agency, or otherwise, the residence and real property known as 219 North Delaware Street in the city of Independence, Missouri, as passed to Bess Wallace Truman upon the death of her husband. The Secretary may also acquire, by any of the above means, fixtures, and personal property for use in connection with the residence. (b)(1) The Secretary is further authorized to acquire by any means set forth in subsection (a) the real properties commonly referred to as (A) the Noland/Haukenberry house and associated lands on Delaware Street in the city of Independence, Missouri, and (B) the Frank G. Wallace house and the George P. Wallace house, and associated lands, both on Truman Road in the city of Independence, Missouri. (2) The owners of property referred to in paragraph (1) on the date of its acquisition by the Secretary may, as a condition to such acquisition, retain the right of use and occupancy of the improved property for a term of up to and including 25 years or, in lieu thereof, for a term ending at the death of the owner or the spouse of the owner, whichever is later. The owner shall elect the term to be reserved. (3) Unless a property acquired pursuant to this subsection is wholly or partially donated to the United States, the Secretary shall pay the owner the fair market value of the property on the date of acquisition less the fair market value, on that date, of the right retained by the owner under paragraph (2). SEC. 2. The property acquired pursuant to [subsection (a)] the first section of this Act is designated as the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site and shall be administered by the Secretary in accordance with the provisions of law 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 (39 Stat. 535; 16 U.S.C. 1-4), and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461-467). The Secretary is further authorized, in the administration of the site, to make available certain portions thereof for the use of Margaret Truman Daniel subject to reasonable terms and conditions which he may impose. SEC. 3. There is authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, except for sub |