text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
       This Act may be cited as the ``Crossroads of the American 
  Revolution National Heritage Area Act of 2003''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
  
      (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
              (1) New Jersey was of critical importance during the 
          American Revolution due to its strategic location between the 
          British armies headquartered in New York City and the 
          Continental Congress sitting in the City of Philadelphia.
              (2) General George Washington spent almost half of the 
          period of the American Revolution personally commanding troops 
          of the Continental Army in New Jersey including 2 severe winter 
          encampments at what is now Morristown National Historical Park, 
          a unit of the National Park System.
              (3) It was during the 10 crucial days of the American 
          Revolution between December 25, 1776, and January 3, 1777, when 
          General Washington, after retreating across New Jersey from New 
          York City to Pennsylvania in the face of total defeat for the 
          Nation``s cause, recrossed the Delaware River on Christmas 
          night, 1776, and won crucial battles at Trenton and Princeton. 
          Thomas Paine, who accompanied the troops during the retreat, 
          described the events as, `the times that try men's souls''.
              (4) There are situated in the State of New Jersey the sites 
          of 296 engagements including several important battles of the 
          American Revolution, which collectively are of significant 
          importance to the outcome of the overall conflict and the 
          history of the United States. Among these are National Historic 
          Landmarks including Washington's Crossing, the Old Trenton 
          Barracks, and Princeton, Monmouth and Red Bank Battlefields.
              (5) Additional national Historic Landmarks include the 
          homes of Richard Stockton, Joseph Hewes, John Witherspoon, and 
          Francis Hopkinson, all signers of the Declaration of 
          Independence, Elias Boudinout, President of the Continental 
          Congress and William Livingston, patriot and Governor of New 
          Jersey from 1776 to 1790.
              (6) Portions of the landscapes important to the strategies 
          of both armies including waterways, mountains, farms, wetlands, 
          villages and roadways retain integrity of the period of the 
          American Revolution and offer outstanding opportunities for 
          conservation, education, and recreation.
              (7) The National Register of Historic Places lists 251 
          buildings and sites in the National Park Service study area for 
          Crossroads of the American Revolution associated with the 
          period of the American Revolution.
              (8) Civilian populations residing in New Jersey suffered 
          extreme hardships during the American Revolution due to the 
          continuous conflict within its borders, foraging armies, and 
          marauding contingents of loyalist Tories and rebel 
          sympathizers.
              (9) Because of the important role that New Jersey played in 
          the successful outcome of the American Revolution there is a 
          Federal interest for the development of a regional framework to 
          assist the State of New Jersey, other local organizations and 
          governments, and private citizens to preserve and protect 
          natural, cultural, and historic resources of the period and to 
          bring recognition to this important heritage for the 
          educational and recreational benefit of this and future 
          generations of Americans.
              (10) The National Park Service has conducted a National 
          Heritage Feasibility Study in the State of New Jersey that 
          demonstrates the sufficient assemblage of nationally 
          distinctive natural, cultural, and historic resources necessary 
          to establish the Crossroads of the American Revolution National 
          Heritage Area.
      (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are as follows:
              (1) To build the capacity of communities, organizations, 
          and citizens in New Jersey to preserve the special historic 
          identity of the region and its importance to the Nation.
              (2) To foster a close working relationship with all levels 
          of government, the private sector, and the local communities in 
          New Jersey.
              (3) To provide for the management, preservation, 
          protection, and interpretation of the natural, historic, and 
          cultural resources of the region for the educational and 
          inspirational benefit of future generations.
              (4) To strengthen the value of Morristown National 
          Historical Park as an asset to the region by establishing a 
          network of related historic resources, protected landscapes, 
          educational opportunities, and events depicting the 
          revolutionary landscape of New Jersey.
              (5) To strengthen partnerships among Morristown National 
          Historical Park and other public and privately owned resources 
          in the heritage area, that together represent the strategic 
          fulcrum of the American Revolution, as assets in the quality of 
          life in the region.
              (6) To authorize Federal financial and technical assistance 
          to serve these purposes.
  
  SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
  
       For the purposes of this Act:
              (1) Association.--The term ``Association'' means the 
          Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Inc., a 
          nonprofit corporation in the State of New Jersey.
              (2) Boundaries.--The term ``boundaries'' means the 
          boundaries of the heritage area specified in section 4.
              (3) Heritage area.--The term ``heritage area'' means the 
          Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area as 
          established in section 4.
              (4) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
          the management plan submitted under section 5.
              (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of the Interior.
  
  SEC. 4. CROSSROADS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.
  
      (a) Establishment.--There is established in the State of New Jersey 
  the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area.
      (b) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the heritage area shall include 
  all those lands and waters depicted on a map entitled ``Crossroads of 
  the American Revolution National Heritage Area'', numbered CRREL80,000 
  and dated April 2002. The map shall be on file in the appropriate 
  offices of the National Park Service.
      (c) Management Entity.--The management entity for the heritage area 
  shall be the Association.
  
  SEC. 5. AUTHORITIES, PROHIBITIONS, AND DUTIES OF THE ASSOCIATION.
  
      (a) Duties of the Association.--To further the purposes of the 
  heritage area, the Association shall--
              (1) prepare and submit a management plan for the heritage 
          area to the Secretary in accordance with section 6;
              (2) assist units of local government, regional planning 
          organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing the 
          approved management plan by--
                      (A) carrying out programs and projects that 
                  recognize, protect, and enhance important resource 
                  values within the heritage area;
                      (B) establishing and maintaining interpretive 
                  exhibits and programs within the heritage area;
                      (C) developing recreational and educational 
                  opportunities in the heritage area;
                      (D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation 
                  for natural, historic, and cultural resources of the 
                  heritage area;
                      (E) protecting and restoring historic sites and 
                  buildings in the heritage area that are consistent with 
                  heritage area themes;
                      (F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and 
                  appropriate signs identifying points of public access 
                  and sites of interest are posted throughout the 
                  heritage area; and
                      (G) promoting a wide range of partnerships among 
                  governments, organizations, and individuals to further 
                  the purposes of the heritage area;
              (3) consider the interests of diverse units of government, 
          businesses, organizations, and individuals in the heritage area 
          in the preparation and implementation of the management plan;
              (4) conduct Association meetings open to the public at 
          least semiannually regarding the development and implementation 
          of the management plan;
              (5) submit an annual report to the Secretary for any fiscal 
          year in which the Association receives Federal funds under this 
          Act, setting forth its accomplishments, expenses, and income, 
          including grants to any other entities during the year for 
          which the report is made;
              (6) make available for audit for any fiscal year in which 
          it receives Federal funds under this Act, all information 
          pertaining to the expenditure of such funds and any matching 
          funds, and require in all agreements authorizing expenditures 
          of Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving 
          organizations make available for such audit all records and 
          other information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds;
              (7) encourage by appropriate means economic viability that 
          is consistent with the purposes of the heritage area; and
              (8) maintain its headquarters at Morristown National 
          Historical Park and in Mercer County.
      (b) Authorities.--The Association may, for the purposes of 
  preparing and implementing the management plan for the heritage area, 
  use Federal funds made available through this Act to__
              (1) make grants to the State of New Jersey, its political 
          subdivisions, nonprofit organizations and other persons;
              (2) enter into cooperative agreements with or provide 
          technical assistance to the State of New Jersey, its political 
          jurisdictions, nonprofit organizations, and other interested 
          parties;
              (3) hire and compensate staff which shall include 
          individuals with expertise in natural, cultural, historic 
          resources protection, and heritage programming;
              (4) obtain money or services from any source, including any 
          that are provided under any other Federal law or program;
              (5) contract for goods or services; and
              (6) undertake to be a catalyst for any other activity that 
          furthers the purposes of the heritage area and is consistent 
          with the approved management plan.
      (c) Prohibitions on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The 
  Association may not use Federal funds received under this Act to 
  acquire real property, but may use any other source of funding, 
  including other Federal funding, intended for the acquisition of real 
  property.
  
  SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN.
  
      (a) In General.--The management plan for the heritage area shall--
              (1) include comprehensive polices, strategies and 
          recommendations for conservation, funding, management, and 
          development of the heritage area;
              (2) take into consideration existing State, county, and 
          local plans in the development of the management plan and its 
          implementation;
              (3) include a description of actions that governments, 
          private organizations, and individuals have agreed to take to 
          protect the natural, historic, and cultural resources of the 
          heritage area;
              (4) specify the existing and potential sources of funding 
          to protect, manage, and develop the heritage area in the first 
          5 years of implementation;
              (5) include an inventory of the natural, historical, 
          cultural, educational, scenic and recreational resources of the 
          heritage area related to the themes of the heritage area that 
          should be preserved, restored, managed, developed, or 
          maintained;
              (6) recommend policies and strategies for resource 
          management which consider and detail the application of 
          appropriate land and water management techniques including, but 
          not limited to, the development of intergovernmental and 
          interagency cooperative agreements to protect the heritage 
          area's natural, historical, cultural, educational, scenic and 
          recreational resources;
              (7) describe a program of implementation for the management 
          plan including plans for resource protection, restoration, 
          construction, and specific commitments for implementation that 
          have been made by the Association or any government, 
          organization, or individual for the first 5 years of 
          implementation;
              (8) include an analysis and recommendations for ways in 
          which local, State, and Federal programs, including the role of 
          the National Park Service in the heritage area, may best be 
          coordinated to further the purposes of this Act; and
              (9) include an interpretive plan for the heritage area.
      (b) Deadline and Termination of Funding.--
              (1) Deadline.--The Association shall submit the management 
          plan to the Secretary for approval within 3 years after funds 
          are made available for this Act.
              (2) Termination of funding.--Upon completion of the 3-year 
          period in this subsection, further funding pursuant to this Act 
          shall only be made available to the Association for the 
          implementation of the management plan upon approval by the 
          Secretary as provided in Section 7 of this Act.
  
  SEC. 7. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY.
  
      (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary may, upon the request of the 
          Association provide technical assistance on a reimbursable or 
          nonreimbursable basis and financial assistance to the heritage 
          area to develop and implement the approved management plan. The 
          Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements 
          with the Association and other public or private entities for 
          this purpose. In assisting the heritage area, the Secretary 
          shall give priority to actions that in general assist in--
                      (A) conserving the significant natural, historic, 
                  cultural, and scenic resources of the heritage area; 
                  and
                      (B) providing educational, interpretive, and 
                  recreational opportunities consistent with the purposes 
                  of the heritage area.
              (2) Other assistance.--Upon request, the Superintendent of 
          Morristown National Historical Park may provide to public and 
          private organizations within the heritage area, including the 
          Association, such operational assistance as appropriate to 
          support the implementation of the management plan for the 
          heritage area, subject to the availability of appropriated 
          funds. The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative 
          agreements with public and private organizations for the 
          purpose of implementing this subsection.
              (3) Preservation of historic properties.--The Secretary may 
          provide assistance to State or local government or nonprofit 
          organizations for appropriate treatment of historic objects or 
          structures listed or eligible for listing on the National 
          Register of Historic Places to further the purposes of this 
          Act.
      (b) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall approve or disapprove 
          the management plan not later than 90 days after receiving the 
          management plan.
              (2) Criteria for approval.--In determining to approve the 
          management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether--
                      (A) the Board of Directors of the Association is 
                  representative of the diverse interests of the heritage 
                  area including governments, natural and historic 
                  resource protection organizations, education, business, 
                  and recreation;
                      (B) the Association has afforded adequate 
                  opportunity, including public hearings, for public and 
                  governmental involvement in the preparation of the 
                  management plan;
                      (C) the resource protection and interpretation 
                  strategies contained in the management plan, if 
                  implemented, would adequately protect the natural, 
                  historic, and cultural resources of the heritage area; 
                  and
                      (D) the Secretary has received adequate assurances 
                  from the appropriate State and local officials whose 
                  support is needed to ensure the effective 
                  implementation of the State and local aspects of the 
                  management plan.
              (3) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary 
          disapproves the management plan, the Secretary shall advise the 
          Association in writing of the reasons therefore and shall make 
          recommendations for revisions to the management plan. The 
          Secretary shall approve or disapprove a proposed revision 
          within 60 days after the date it is submitted.
              (4) Approval of amendments.--Substantial amendments to the 
          management plan shall be reviewed by the Secretary and approved 
          in the same manner as provided for the original management 
          plan. The Association shall not use Federal funds authorized by 
          this Act to implement any amendments until the Secretary has 
          approved the amendments.
  
  SEC. 8. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.
  
       Any Federal agency conducting or supporting activities directly 
  affecting the heritage area shall--
              (1) consult with the Secretary and the Association with 
          respect to such activities;
              (2) cooperate with the Secretary and the Association in 
          carrying out their duties under this Act and, to the maximum 
          extent practicable, coordinate such activities with the 
          carrying out of such duties; and,
              (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or support 
          such activities in a manner which the association determines 
          will not have an adverse effect on the heritage area.
  
  SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated for the 
  purposes of this Act not more than $1,000,000 for any fiscal year. Not 
  more than a total of $10,000,000 may be appropriated for the 
  Association under this Act.
      (b) Matching Funds.--Federal funding provided under this Act may 
  not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of any assistance or grant 
  provided or authorized under this Act.
  
  SEC. 10. SUNSET.
  
       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this 
  Act shall terminate on the day occurring 15 years after the date of the 
  enactment of the Act.
target: Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area Act of 2003 - Establishes the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area in New Jersey.Designates the Crossroads of the American Revolution Association, Inc. as the Area's management entity. Directs the Association to submit, and to assist local governments, regional planning organizations, and nonprofit entities in implementing, an area management plan which includes strategies for conservation, funding, management, and development of the Area.Bars the Association from using Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property, but permits the Association to use any other source of funding, including other Federal funding, intended for the acquisition of real property. Limits Federal funding to 50 percent of any assistance provided.Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance to: (1) the Area to develop and implement the management plan; and (2) State or local government or nonprofit organizations for treatment of historical objects or structures eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Authorizes the Superintendent of Morristown National Historical Park to provide operational assistance supporting implementation of the management plan to public and private organizations within the Area, including the Association.
feat_title: To establish the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area in the State of New Jersey, and for other purposes.