H.R. 622 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 622 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 12, 2013 Mr. Sablan (for himself, Mr. Holt, Mr. Pierluisi, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Young of Alaska, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Faleomavaega, and Mr. Honda) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior to develop, maintain, and administer an annex in Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as an extension of the American Memorial Park located in Saipan, and for other purposes. 1. American Memorial Park Annex in Tinian (a) Short title This section may be cited as the American Memorial Park Tinian Annex Act. (b) Findings Congress finds as follows: (1) In 2001 the National Park Service conducted a suitability and feasibility study of North Field on the island of Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, for inclusion in the National Park System. (2) North Field Tinian is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an historic district and has been designated a national historic landmark. (3) The Department of Defense holds a 50-year lease over North Field Tinian. (4) The National Park Service determined that North Field Tinian was suitable for inclusion as one of the most significant World War II sites in the Pacific because atomic bombs were flown to Hiroshima and Nagasaki from this site. (5) The National Park Service determined, however, that it was not feasible to include North Field Tinian as a unit of the National Park System because of the military’s future long term needs. (6) American Memorial Park on the island of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is managed by the National Park Service, as authorized under Public Law 94–241 and Public Law 95–348, to commemorate the World War II Marianas Campaign. (7) A Tinian Annex to the American Memorial Park could provide the opportunity for on and off site interpretation of North Field without conflicting with military needs. (c) Establishment Using existing facilities instead of developing new facilities to the extent practicable, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service, shall develop, maintain, and administer an annex in Tinian, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, as an extension of the American Memorial Park located in Saipan, on an appropriate parcel of Tinian Public Land to be agreed upon by the National Park Service and the Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands in consultation with the Mayor of Tinian. The annex shall be used to— (1) interpret the important aspects of North Field by highlighting the historic events related to the World War II Marianas Campaign; and (2) serve as a curatorial storage of World War II artifacts.