COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS WAYNE N. ASPINALL, Colorado, Chairman LEO W. O'BRIEN, New York PHILLIP BURTON, California WALTER H. MOELLER, Ohio JONATHAN B. BINGHAM, New York N. NEIMAN CRALEY, JR., Pennsylvania JOHN A. RACE, Wisconsin RICHARD WHITE, Texas TENO RONCALIO, Wyoming SANTIAGO POLANCO-ABREU Resident Commissioner, Puerto Rico JOHN P. SAYLOR, Pennsylvania Ranking Minority Member E. Y. BERRY, South Dakota CHARLOTTE T. REID, Illinois ROGERS C. B. MORTON, Maryland GEORGE V. HANSEN, Idaho ED REINECKE, California THEODORE R. KUPFERMAN, New York T. RICHARD WITMER, Counsel and Consultant on National Parks and Recreation NOTE. The chairman, Hon. Wayne N. Aspinall, is an ex officio member of each subcommittee. House Joint Resolution 678, to provide for the administration and develop- ment of Pennsylvania Avenue as a national historic site... House Document 296, executive communication from President Lyndon Baumgartner, J. Hampton, Jr., attorney, Washington, D.C. Cain, Hon. Stanley A., Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish Colclough, O. S., chairman, Executive Committee, National Capital Herbst, R. V. Cortlandt, chairman, Committee for the Rights of the Washington, D.C., Business Community, Inc- Immer, John R., president of the Federation of Citizens Associations of the District of Columbia... Attachments to Mr. Immer's statement: Exhibit I-Testimony of John R. Immer, president of the Federation of Citizens Associations of the District of Columbia Exhibit II-Federation of Citizens Associations-resolution con- cerning Pennsylvania Avenue Commission... Exhibit III-(Letter) McCarter, Walter J., Administrator, Exhibit IV (Letter) Ripley, S. Dillon, Secretary, Smithsonian Exhibit V-Plan showing part of Kennedy Center Building on land not authorized by Congress, based on drawing published on page 132 of hearings held April 22 and 23, 1958, before Senate Subcommittee on Public Works on S. 3335.. Exhibit VI (Letter) Weitzel, Hon. Frank H., Assistant Comp- troller General of the United States, to Hon. Robert E. McLaughlin, dated August 31, 1956... Nutting, Dr. Charles B., chairman, Urban Development Committee, Owings, Nathaniel A., Chairman, President's Commission on Penn- 45, 60 Letters: Cain, Hon. Stanley A., Assistant Secretary of the Interior, to Hon. 5 Davis, F. Elwood, the Metropolitan Washington Board of Trade, to Foote, Edward T., Temporary Commission on Pennsylvania Avenue, Owings, Nathaniel A., Chairman, Temporary Commission on Penn- sylvania Avenue, to Hon. Wayne N. Aspinall, dated March 22, Rommel, Wilfred H., Acting Assistant Director for Legislative Refer- ence, Bureau of the Budget, to Hon. Wayne N. Aspinall, dated 6 H.J. RES. 678 TO PROVIDE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE MONDAY, MARCH 21, 1966 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, RECREATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS, The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 a.m., in room 1324, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Ralph J. Rivers (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. RIVERS. The Subcommittee on National Parks and Recreation will now come to order. The purpose of the meeting this morning is to hold a hearing on House Joint Resolution 678, introduced by the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Widnall, to provide for the administration and development of Pennsylvania Avenue as a national historic site. Also before the committee on this matter is an Executive Communication No. 296. I now yield to the distinguished chairman of the full committee, Mr. Aspinall. Mr. ASPINALL. Mr. Chairman, the bill was introduced immediately following the receipt of the Executive communication. The bill was not introduced in accordance with the provisions of the executive communication. I would ask unanimous consent that House Joint Resolution 678, together with the full contents of Document No. 296, which is the executive communication from the President of the United States, together with the joint resolution, which is proposed by the President of the United States, be made a part of the record at this place. Mr. RIVERS. Hearing no objection, the bill, House Joint Resolution 678, will be spread on the record at this point, along with the Executive Communication No. 296, to which Mr. Aspinall referred. (H.J. Res. 678 and accompanying communication is as follows:) [H.J. Res. 678, 89th Cong., 1st sess.] JOINT RESOLUTION To provide for the administration and development of Pennsylvania Avenue as a national historic site Whereas in April 1964 a Presidential Advisory Council on Pennsylvania Avenue made certain recommendations concerning the proper development, use, and control of the section of Pennsylvania Avenue and the area adjacent to it between the Capitol and the White House; and Whereas a Temporary Commission on Pennsylvania Avenue, established by Executive Order No. 11210 on March 25, 1965, has undertaken a review of the recommendations of the Advisory Council and has initiated plans and programs to implement certain of those recommendations; and Whereas the Secretary of the Interior, with the concurrence of the President, has declared Pennsylvania Avenue between the Capitol and the White House and certain areas adjacent to it, to be a historic site within the meaning and scope of the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666; 16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.): Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Congress hereby finds and determines— (a) that it is in the national interest that Pennsylvania Avenue and the area adjacent to it between the Capitol and the White House be developed, used, and maintained in a manner suitable to its ceremonial, historical, cultural, and physical relationship to the executive and legislative branches of the Government; (b) that the work of reviewing, programing, and implementing proposals for the proper development, use, and control of Pennsylvania Avenue and the area adjacent to it between the Capitol and the White House should be continued, with the maximum possible use of private enterprise in carrying out the development plan; and (c) that a Federal agency created especially for the purpose is the most appropriate means by which to coordinate and implement all such actions. SEC. 2. There is hereby established a Commission on Pennsylvania Avenue (hereinafter referred to as "the Commission"), which shall be composed of not more than twenty-one members to be appointed by the President from public and private life. One of the members shall be designated by the President as Chairman of the Commission. SEC. 3. (a) The Commission shall review the development plan for Pennsylvania Avenue and, in consultation with other interested agencies of the Federal Government and the District of Columbia, shall from time to time make such modifications therein as may be necessary. (b) The Commission shall coordinate the efforts of those agencies of the Federal Government and the District of Columbia which affect Pennsylvania Avenue and the area adjacent to it between the Capitol and the White House, and shall take such action as may be necessary to insure that plans, programs, and activities relating thereto are properly integrated with the comprehensive plan for the National Capital and any other related plans prepared or developed by the National Capital Planning Commission or other appropriate authority. (c) In addition to consulting with agencies of the Federal Government and the District of Columbia, the Commission shall consider the views of other public, quasi-public, and private organizations having a proper interest in the Pennslyvania Avenue area. The Commission shall also consider the views of owners and occupants of private property whose interests may be affected by any plans, programs, or actions of the Commission or the agencies whose activities are coordinated by the Commission. The Commission shall make every effort to minimize any harmful effects of such plans, programs, or activities on owners or occupants of private property on or adjoining the area affected thereby. (d) The Commission shall develop a feasible plan for relocating the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on or near Pennsylvania Avenue, near a subway station, and for the provision of cultural events to and for low- and moderate-income families, and shall present such plan to the President and the Congress, by January 31, 1966. (e) The Commission, in carrying out its functions, shall utilize the services and facilities of other agencies of the Federal Government and the District of Columbia to the maximum extent possible. (f) The Commission shall report to the President annually, and shall make such other reports to the President as he shall direct or as the Commission shall deem desirable. Such reports shall include recommendations for such further legislation as the Commission may consider appropriate for the proper performance of its funetions or for the development of the area in other respects. SEC. 4. No agency of the Federal Government or of the District of Columbia shall conduct, on Pennsylvania Avenue or the area adjacent to it between the Capitol and the White House, any project or program (1) relating to urban renewal, land redevelopment, or public housing, or (2) involving permanent construction, improvements, or facilities of a type designed to change the character of the area, without the approval of the Commission: Provided, That this prohibition shall not be effective if the President, notwithstanding the views of the Commission, shall approve such program or project: Provided further, That this section shall not be applicable to areas under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol. |