Michele Bachmann, back from a Thanksgiving break in which we still have seen no signs of an open forum or a town hall meeting for constituents, has decided that preserving historical sites is unacceptable. Now, mind you, this is not a bill in which funds are being allocated but rather to study the feasibility of preserving these sites.
Here's the bill:
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct special resources studies of certain lands and structures to determine the appropriate means for preservation, use, and management of the resources associated with such lands and structures. 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 `America's Historical and Natural Legacy Study Act'.
SEC. 2. SECRETARY.
For the purposes of this Act, the term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior.
SEC. 3. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Secretary.
Sec. 3. Table of contents.
TITLE I--HARRY S TRUMAN BIRTHPLACE STUDY ACT
Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Special resource study.
TITLE II--LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL EXTENSION STUDY ACT
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Definitions.
Sec. 203. Special resource study.
TITLE III--BATTLE OF MATEWAN STUDY ACT
Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Special resource study.
TITLE IV--BATTLE OF CAMDEN STUDY ACT
Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Special resource study.
TITLE V--MISSISSIPPI RIVER STUDY ACT
Sec. 501. Short title.
Sec. 502. Special resource study.
TITLE VI--FORT SAN GERONIMO STUDY ACT
Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Definitions.
Sec. 603. Special resource study.
TITLE VII--WOLF HOUSE STUDY ACT
Sec. 701. Short title.
Sec. 702. Special resource study.
TITLE VIII--RIM OF THE VALLEY CORRIDOR STUDY ACT
Sec. 801. Short title.
Sec. 802. Special resource study.
TITLE IX--STRANAHAN HOUSE, TRADING POST AND CAMPSITE STUDY ACT
Sec. 901. Short title.
Sec. 902. Special resource study.
TITLE X--BUTTERFIELD OVERLAND TRAIL STUDY ACT
Sec. 1001. Short title.
Sec. 1002. Special resource study.
Michele Bachmann, who touts her undying patriotism, decided that even studying these sites for future ways to preserve them is unacceptable. Is this a huge deal? Perhaps not, but as a patriotic citizen one would think that studying ways to protect our heritage would be a way to show that patriotism. An even bigger issue here is that this bill affects us here in Minnesota and in the 6th District. The Mississippi River is the lifeblood of our state and region. To vote against the lifeblood of Minnesota is tantamount to voting against Minnesotans themselves.
TITLE V--MISSISSIPPI RIVER STUDY ACT SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the `Mississippi River Study Act'.
SEC. 502. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.
(a) In General- The Secretary shall complete a special resource study along the route of the Mississippi River in the counties contiguous to the river from its headwaters in the State of Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico to evaluate--
(1) a range of alternatives for protecting and interpreting the resources along the route of the Mississippi River, including alternatives for potential addition of all or portions of the route to the National Trails System; and
(2) the methods and means for the protection and interpretation of the route by the National Park Service, other Federal, State, or local government entities or private or non-profit organizations.
(b) Study Requirements- The Secretary shall conduct the study in accordance with section 8 (c) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5) or section 5(b) of the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1244(b)) as appropriate.
(c) Report- Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this title, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report containing--
(1) the results of the study; and
(2) any recommendations of the Secretary.
This bill authorizes a study of the Mississippi River (which, the last time I checked, passes through the 6th District) to see how it can be preserved. The bill sets no commitment to fund such an operation. Rather, it is merely a way to find out what the best ways to move forward.
What possible reason could Michele have for voting against a study to preserve the Mississippi River and these other historical sites? Those people in the 6th that value the river and its protection really ought to be calling or emailing Heidi Frederickson to find out why Michele is opposed to such a preservation study.
What possible reason could Michele have for voting against a study to preserve the Mississippi River and these other historical sites? Those people in the 6th that value the river and its protection really ought to be calling or emailing Heidi Frederickson to find out why Michele is opposed to such a preservation study.
Cross Posted on Dump Bachmann
