[Congressional Record: January 28, 2008 (Senate)]
[Page S396-S397]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
By Mr. REID:
S. 2561. A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
theme study to identify sites and resources to commemorate and
interpret the Cold War; to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources.
Mr. REID. Mr. President, 75 years ago yesterday, the U.S. conducted
the first nuclear test on American soil--the detonation of a one-
kiloton nuclear device in an area known as Frenchman Flat at the Nevada
Test Site.
Conducted in extraordinary secrecy, this first nuclear testing
program, known as Project Nutmeg, was representative of the efforts of
countless Americans in the 50 year struggle we know as the Cold War.
Lasting half a century, the Cold War was the longest sustained
conflict in U.S. history. The nuclear capabilities of our enemy posed
literally an existential threat to our Nation. The threat of mass
destruction left a permanent mark on American life.
The U.S. prevailed over this grave threat, through the technological
achievement, patriotism, and sacrifice of the people of the great State
of Nevada, and of others throughout the Nation.
It has been 18 years since the Malta Conference that marked the end
of the Cold War, yet the contributions and sacrifices of generations of
Americans have largely gone unrecognized.
The time has come to recognize and honor those Americans who toiled
in relative obscurity to bring us victory during this most dangerous
conflict in our Nation's history.
Today I introduce a bill that requires the Department of the Interior
to conduct a study to identify sites and resources to commemorate
heroes of the Cold War, and to interpret the Cold War for future
generations.
My legislation directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a
``Cold War Advisory Committee'' to oversee the inventory of Cold War
sites and resources; for potential inclusion in the National Park
System; as national historic landmarks; or other appropriate
designations.
The Advisory Committee will work closely with State and local
governments and local historical organizations. The Committee's
starting point will be a Cold War study completed by the Secretary of
Defense under the 1991 Defense Appropriations Act. Obvious Cold War
sites of significance include: intercontinental ballistic missile
launch sites; flight training centers; communications and command
centers, such as Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado; nuclear weapons test
sites, such as the Nevada Test Site; and sites of other strategic and
tactical significance.
Perhaps no state in the union played a more sigificant role than
Nevada in winning the Cold War.
The Nevada Test Site is a high-technology engineering marvel where
the U.S. developed, tested, and perfected a nuclear deterrent that
formed the cornerstone of America's security and leadership among
nations. Of the 1,149 nuclear detonations conducted by U.S. as part of
its nuclear testing program, 1,021 were performed at the Nevada Test
Site.
The Naval Air Station at Fallon, NV, home of the Navy's preeminent
tactical air warfare training center, was also the site of Cold War-era
nuclear testing.
Hawthorne Army Depot, formerly known as the Hawthorne Army Ammunition
Plant, likewise played an important role throughout the Cold War,
serving as a staging area for conventional bombs, rockets, and
ammunition as it had done since World War II.
Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas, home of the first dedicated
air warfare and later air/ground training facility, provided to Cold
War aviators and continues to provide advanced air combat training for
U.S. and Allied forces.
Generations of Nevadans bore and continue to bear extraordinary costs
as a result of these critical contributions to the Cold War effort.
The Advisory Committee established under this legislation will
develop an interpretive handbook telling the story of the Cold War and
its heroes.
I'd like to take a moment to relate a story of one group of Cold War
heroes.
On a snowy evening, November 17, 1955, a U.S. Air Force C-54 cargo
plane crashed near the summit of Mount Charleston in rural Nevada.
Kept secret for years, we now know that the four aircrew and ten
scientists aboard the doomed aircraft were bound for the secret Air
Force Flight Test Center, where they were developing a top-secret spy
plane that would become known as the U-2.
These men who gave their lives that day helped build the plane that
many critics said could never be built. Owing to the efforts of men
like these, the critics were proved wrong: the U-2 remains a vital
component of our reconnaissance forces to this day.
As a result of the absolute secrecy surrounding their work, the
families of the men who perished on Mount Charleston only recently
learned the true circumstances of the crash that
[[Page S397]]
took the lives of their loved ones and the nature of their vital work.
This legislation will provide $500,000 to identify historic
landmarks, like the Mount Charleston crash site, to recognize and pay
tribute to the sacrifices of these men and others.
I would like to reiterate my thanks for Mr. Steve Ririe of Las Vegas,
whose tireless efforts brought to light the events surrounding the
death of these fourteen men on Mount Charleston over fifty years ago,
and for the efforts of State Senator Raymond Rawson, who shepherded
through the Nevada legislature a resolution honoring these heroes.
A grateful Nation owes a debt of supreme gratitude to the silent
heroes of the Cold War. I urge my colleagues to support this long-
overdue tribute to the contribution and sacrifice of these Americans.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be
printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record as follows:
S. 2561
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.
(1) Advisory committee.--The term ``Advisory Committee''
means the Cold War Advisory Committee established under
section 3.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(3) Theme study.--The term ``theme study'' means the
national historic landmark theme study conducted under
section 2(a).
SEC. 2. COLD WAR THEME STUDY.
(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a national
historic landmark theme study to identify sites and resources
in the United States that are significant to the Cold War.
(b) Resources.--In conducting the theme study, the
Secretary shall consider--
(1) the inventory of sites and resources associated with
the Cold War completed by the Secretary of Defense under
section 8120(b)(9) of the Department of Defense
Appropriations Act, 1991 (Public Law 101-511; 104 Stat.
1906); and
(2) historical studies and research of Cold War sites and
resources, including--
(A) intercontinental ballistic missiles;
(B) flight training centers;
(C) manufacturing facilities;
(D) communications and command centers (such as Cheyenne
Mountain, Colorado);
(E) defensive radar networks (such as the Distant Early
Warning Line);
(F) nuclear weapons test sites (such as the Nevada test
site); and
(G) strategic and tactical aircraft.
(c) Contents.--The theme study shall include--
(1) recommendations for commemorating and interpreting
sites and resources identified by the theme study,
including--
(A) sites for which studies for potential inclusion in the
National Park System should be authorized;
(B) sites for which new national historic landmarks should
be nominated; and
(C) other appropriate designations;
(2) recommendations for cooperative agreements with--
(A) State and local governments;
(B) local historical organizations; and
(C) other appropriate entities; and
(3) an estimate of the amount required to carry out the
recommendations under paragraphs (1) and (2).
(d) Consultation.--In conducting the theme study, the
Secretary shall consult with--
(1) the Secretary of the Air Force;
(2) State and local officials;
(3) State historic preservation offices; and
(4) other interested organizations and individuals.
(e) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which
funds are made available to carry out this Act, 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 that describes the
findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the theme
study.
SEC. 3. COLD WAR ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--As soon as practicable after funds are
made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall
establish an advisory committee, to be known as the ``Cold
War Advisory Committee'', to assist the Secretary in carrying
out this Act.
(b) Composition.--The Advisory Committee shall be composed
of 9 members, to be appointed by the Secretary, of whom--
(1) 3 shall have expertise in Cold War history;
(2) 2 shall have expertise in historic preservation;
(3) 1 shall have expertise in the history of the United
States; and
(4) 3 shall represent the general public.
(c) Chairperson.--The Advisory Committee shall select a
chairperson from among the members of the Advisory Committee.
(d) Compensation.--A member of the Advisory Committee shall
serve without compensation but may be reimbursed by the
Secretary for expenses reasonably incurred in the performance
of the duties of the Advisory Committee.
(e) Meetings.--On at least 3 occasions, the Secretary (or a
designee) shall meet and consult with the Advisory Committee
on matters relating to the theme study.
SEC. 4. INTERPRETIVE HANDBOOK ON THE COLD WAR.
Not later than 4 years after the date on which funds are
made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall--
(1) prepare and publish an interpretive handbook on the
Cold War; and
(2) disseminate information in the theme study by other
appropriate means.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
Act $500,000.
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