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A bill to provide financial assistance to the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts for reconstruction of the Filene Center in Wolf Trap Farm Park, and for other purposes.

Public Law 97-310 · H.R. 7293 · 97th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Oct 14, 1982 · Public Lands and Natural Resources

Sponsor: Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA-10)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Wolf Trap Farm Park Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to make available to the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts for the reconstruction of the Filene Center in Wolf Trap Farm Park: (1) a grant of $9,000,000 to be provided in increments as needed and only if the Foundation agrees to provide contributions from non-Federal sources to complete the reconstruction; and (2) loans in an amount equal to twice the amount of non-Federal contributions received, but not to exceed $8,000,000, to be repaid in full with interest at a rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury plus any additional charge needed to cover the costs of servicing the loan. Prohibits the term of any such loan from exceeding five years.

Requires the Foundation to agree, as a condition of receiving such assistance, to: (1) expend all funds for the reconstruction of the Filene Center in accordance with appropriate Office of Management and Budget circulars and the Davis-Bacon Act; (2) comply with the Secretary's terms; and (3) maintain insurance on the Filene Center during the period of the cooperative agreement required by this Act. Makes repairs or reconstruction carried out with insurance proceeds subject to the Secretary's approval.

Makes the Secretary responsible for overseeing the reconstruction and for giving final approval of the plans for, and location and design of, the Filene Center. Requires the Foundation to manage the construction activities.

Prohibits grants or loans from being made under this Act, unless the Secretary has received written assurance from the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) that any easement granted to the Commonwealth of Virginia for construction of the Dulles Toll Road will contain: (1) noise standards and other standards legally enforceable by the Administrator and the Secretary to protect the park from undue noise pollution and other environmental degradation; and (2) legally enforceable assurances that the Commonwealth will enforce such conditions.

Authorizes the Secretary to provide support services for reconstruction, upon request by the Foundation, on a reimbursable basis.

Directs the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Foundation for the presentation of performing arts and related educational and cultural programs at the Filene Center. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance under such agreement.

Requires the Foundation to maintain insurance on the Filene Center and to maintain its nonprofit, tax-exempt status as conditions of entering into such agreement.

Provides that, pursuant to the cooperative agreement, the Secretary and the Comptroller General shall have access to the Foundation's permanent books and records for audit and other purposes and the Foundation shall submit an annual report to the Secretary and the appropriate congressional committees. Permits the cooperative agreement to be terminated at the Government's convenience if it is required in the public interest.

Provides that the agreement dated September 16, 1980, between the National Park Service and the Foundation shall remain in effect until terminated under its terms or until the cooperative agreement is entered into under this Act.

Provides that all right, title, and interest in the Filene Center shall vest in the United States.

Requires the Secretary to submit to the appropriate congressional committees quarterly reports on the progress of the reconstruction of the Filene Center, following disbursement of any grant under this Act.

Directs the Secretary and Federal, State, and local agencies to cooperate with each other to protect the park from undue noise intrusions, air pollution, and visual degradation. Requires the Secretary to monitor noise pollution within the park associated with the Dulles road corridor and to notify the Administrator of the FAA if the noise pollution exceeds the standards in the easement for the Dulles Toll Road. Requires the Administrator to reduce the noise pollution within 60 days after such notification. Permits the Secretary or the Foundation to bring an action to enjoin any violation of the easement by the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Requires a general management plan for the park to be prepared and periodically revised by the Director of the National Park Service and to be submitted to specifed congressional committees.

Authorizes appropriations for making the grant and the loans. Makes the authority to enter into contracts or to make payments under this Act effective only to the extent and in such amounts as provided in advance in appropriations Acts.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 10 actions.

  1. Oct 14, 1982Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-310.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 13, 1982PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 2, 1982FloorFloor · Received in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.
  5. Oct 1, 1982FloorFloor · Passed House by Voice Vote.
  6. FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
  7. CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from House Natural Resources Committee
  8. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Natural Resources Committee
  9. CommitteeCommittee · Referred to National Parks and Public Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee
  10. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.