On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, the House will consider H.R. 1289, the John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act, under suspension of the rules. H.R. 1289 was introduced on March 4, 2015 by Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, which ordered the bill reported by unanimous consent on June 11, 2015.
H.R. 1289 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire approximately 44 acres of land in Martinez, California.
“The John Muir National Historic Site, established by Congress in 1964, is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, in Martinez, California. The historic site preserves the 14-room Italianate Victorian mansion where the naturalist and writer John Muir lived, as well as a nearby 325 acre tract of native oak woodlands and grasslands historically owned by the Muir family.”[1]
H.R. 1289 authorizes the Department of the Interior to acquire by donation approximately 44 acres to include in the John Muir National Historic Site. The acreage to be donated by the John Muir Land Trust is directly adjacent to the current property boundary and will allow for better public access to trails.[2]
The House passed an identical bill (H.R. 5699) by a vote of 361 to 39 on December 11, 2014. The Senate did not act on that bill during the 113th Congress.
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[1] See House Report 114-213 at 2.
[2] Id.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that implementing H.R. 1289 would not have a significant impact on the federal budget. Enacting H.R. 1289 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
For questions or further information please contact Jerry White with the House Republican Policy Committee by email or at 5-0190.
