River Raisin National Battlefield Act

        [Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[S. 110 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 110

To provide for the designation of the River Raisin National Battlefield
Park in the State of Michigan.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 6, 2009

Mr. Levin (for himself and Ms. Stabenow) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To provide for the designation of the River Raisin National Battlefield
Park in the State of Michigan.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``River Raisin National Battlefield
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds that--
(1) the War of 1812, often referred to as ``America's
Second War of Independence'', was significant in the
development of the United States because the War--
(A) helped forge a national identity;
(B) retained and solidified the northern border
with Canada; and
(C) firmly established the sovereignty of the
United States;
(2) in section 603 of division I of the Omnibus Parks and
Public Lands Management Act of 1996 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5 note;
Public Law 104-333), Congress found that ``the historical
integrity of many Revolutionary War sites and War of 1812 sites
is at risk'';
(3) the River Raisin battlefield is the site of a major
engagement of the War of 1812;
(4) the battles and subsequent massacre at the River Raisin
were some of the most significant military events of the entire
War;
(5) approximately 65 United States prisoners were killed or
burned alive the day after the second battle;
(6) out of the nearly 1,000 United States soldiers and
militia members who participated in the battle, only 33 escaped
death or capture;
(7) the defeat of the United States forces at Frenchtown,
now Monroe, Michigan, the subsequent massacre, and the burning
of the settlement were described by General William Henry
Harrison as a ``national calamity'';
(8) the outrage stemming from the catastrophe aided
recruitment efforts for the successful United States campaign
in the spring of 1813;
(9) soldiers marching to Canada the following summer passed
through the ashes of Frenchtown and were so moved by the tragic
scene that the soldiers were spurred on to victory at the
Battle of the Thames, where the soldiers shouted the emotional
battle cry, ``Remember the Raisin!'';
(10) the events that occurred on the River Raisin
battlefield remain a significant moment in United States
history; and
(11) the River Raisin battlefield where so many citizens
died defending the United States deserves the highest degree of
Federal protection and interpretation.

SEC. 3. RIVER RAISIN NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD PARK.

(a) In General.--If Monroe County or Wayne County, Michigan, or
other willing landowners in either County offer to donate to the United
States land relating to the Battles of the River Raisin on January 18
and 22, 1813, or the aftermath of the battles, the Secretary of the
Interior (referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall accept
the donated land.
(b) Designation of Park.--On the acquisition of land under
subsection (a) that is of sufficient acreage to permit efficient
administration, the Secretary shall designate the acquired land as a
unit of the National Park System, to be known as ``River Raisin
National Battlefield Park''.
(c) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of
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 describing the progress
made with respect to--
(1) acquiring real property under subsection (a); and
(2) designating the River Raisin National Battlefield Park.
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