[House Report 115-241]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
115th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 115-241
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AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS NETWORK ACT OF 2017
_______
July 24, 2017.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Bishop of Utah, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted
the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1927]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 1927) to amend title 54, United States Code, to
establish within the National Park Service the African American
Civil Rights Network, and for other purposes, having considered
the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and
recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``African American Civil Rights Network
Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to recognize--
(A) the importance of the African American civil
rights movement; and
(B) the sacrifices made by the people who fought
against discrimination and segregation; and
(2) to authorize the National Park Service to coordinate and
facilitate Federal and non-Federal activities to commemorate,
honor, and interpret--
(A) the history of the African American civil rights
movement;
(B) the significance of the civil rights movement as
a crucial element in the evolution of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.); and
(C) the relevance of the African American civil
rights movement in fostering the spirit of social
justice and national reconciliation.
SEC. 3. U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS NETWORK PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subdivision 1 of Division B of subtitle III of title
54, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 3083 the
following:
``CHAPTER 3084--U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS NETWORK
``Sec.
``308401. Definition of network.
``308402. U.S. Civil Rights Network.
``308403. Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding.
``Sec. 308401. Definition of network
``In this chapter, the term `Network' means the African American
Civil Rights Network established under section 308402(a).
``Sec. 308402. U.S. Civil Rights Network
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish, within the Service,
a program to be known as the `U.S. Civil Rights Network'.
``(b) Duties of Secretary.--In carrying out the Network, the
Secretary shall--
``(1) review studies and reports to complement and not
duplicate studies of the historical importance of the African
American civil rights movement that may be underway or
completed, such as the Civil Rights Framework Study;
``(2) produce and disseminate appropriate educational
materials relating to the African American civil rights
movement, such as handbooks, maps, interpretive guides, or
electronic information;
``(3) enter into appropriate cooperative agreements and
memoranda of understanding to provide technical assistance
under subsection (c); and
``(4)(A) create and adopt an official, uniform symbol or
device for the Network; and
``(B) issue regulations for the use of the symbol or device
adopted under subparagraph (A).
``(c) Elements.--The Network shall encompass the following elements:
``(1) All units and programs of the Service that are
determined by the Secretary to relate to the African American
civil rights movement during the period from 1939 through 1968.
``(2) With the consent of the property owner, other Federal,
State, local, and privately owned properties that--
``(A) relate to the African American civil rights
movement;
``(B) have a verifiable connection to the African
American civil rights movement; and
``(C) are included in, or determined by the Secretary
to be eligible for inclusion in, the National Register
of Historic Places.
``(3) Other governmental and nongovernmental facilities and
programs of an educational, research, or interpretive nature
that are directly related to the African American civil rights
movement.
``Sec. 308403. Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding
``To achieve the purposes of this chapter and to ensure effective
coordination of the Federal and non-Federal elements of the Network
described in section 308402(c) with System units and programs of the
Service, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements and
memoranda of understanding with, and provide technical assistance to
the heads of other Federal agencies, States, units of local government,
regional governmental bodies, and private entities.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of chapters for title 54, United
States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter
3083 the following:
``3084 U.S. Civil Rights Network............................ 308401''.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 1927 is to amend title 54, United
States Code, to establish within the National Park Service the
African American Civil Rights Network.
Background and Need for Legislation
In 1999, Congress passed the ``National Park Service
Studies Act of 1999'' (Public Law 106-113). This Act required
the National Park Service (NPS) to conduct special resource
studies of various sites and areas. Among the areas to be
studied were ``Civil Rights Sites'' on a ``multi-State'' level.
To determine the best way to proceed, the NPS partnered with
the Organization of American Historians to develop an overview
of civil rights history entitled ``Civil Rights in America: A
Framework for Identifying Significant Sites.''\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\National Park Service. Civil Rights in America: A Framework for
Identifying Significant Sites. 2002, Revised 2008. Accessed June 19,
2017. https://www.nps.gov/nhl/learn/themes/CivilRights_Framework.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The framework found that while many civil rights sites had
been designated as National Historic Landmarks, other sites
still needed to be identified and evaluated. Therefore, the
framework recommended that four National Historic Landmarks
theme studies be prepared to identify sites that may be
nationally significant, and that the study be based on
provisions of the 1960s civil rights acts. Through completion
of these theme studies, NPS found that a number of sites
related to the African American Civil Rights Movement had not
been recognized and many were in immediate danger of being lost
or destroyed.
With these NPS studies in mind, several bills have been
introduced in recent Congresses intended to better recognize
and preserve sites related to the African American Civil Rights
Movement. H.R. 1927, introduced this Congress, requires the
Secretary of the Interior to establish, within the NPS, a
network, to coordinate federal and nonfederal activities to
commemorate, honor, and interpret the history of the African
American Civil Rights Movement during the period from 1939
through 1968.
The Network will be comprised of existing NPS units and
programs related to that historical period as well as the
properties and programs of other federal, state, local, and
private entities that join the Network. Additionally, NPS will
be required to produce and distribute educational materials,
create and adopt an official symbol for the network, establish
regulations for participation, and provide technical assistance
to other entities interested in joining. The Network
established by this bill is similar to ``The National
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom,'' authorized in 1998
by Public Law 105-203.
In the 114th Congress, the House Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Federal Lands held a hearing on nearly
identical legislation (H.R. 3683).
Committee Action
H.R. 1927 was introduced on April 5, 2017, by Congressman
Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO). The bill was referred to the Committee on
Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee
on Federal Lands. On June 22, 2017, the Natural Resources
Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee was
discharged by unanimous consent. Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT)
offered an amendment designated #1; it was adopted by unanimous
consent. No further amendments were offered, and the bill, as
amended, was ordered favorably reported to the House of
Representatives by unanimous consent on June 27, 2017.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional Budget Act
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, July 14, 2017.
Hon. Rob Bishop,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1927, the African
American Civil Rights Network Act of 2017.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani
Shankaran.
Sincerely,
Mark P. Hadley
(For Keith Hall Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 1927--African American Civil Rights Network Act of 2017
H.R. 1927 would require the Secretary of the Interior to
establish the U.S. Civil Rights Network, within the National
Park Service (NPS), to coordinate federal and nonfederal
activities to commemorate, honor, and interpret the history of
the African American civil rights movement during the 1939-1968
period. The network would comprise existing units and programs
of the NPS related to that historical period as well as the
properties and programs of other federal, state, local, and
private entities that join the network.
Under the bill, the NPS would produce and distribute
educational materials, create and adopt an official symbol for
the proposed network, establish regulations for participation,
and provide technical assistance to other entities interested
in joining. To support the network and its activities, the bill
would authorize the agency to execute cooperative agreements
and memoranda of understanding with private organizations and
state and local governments.
Based on information from the NPS about the costs of
administering similar programs, CBO estimates that the agency
would need less than $500,000 in the first year following
enactment for basic planning, developing educational materials
and interpretive exhibits, and coordinating federal activities
with those of other interested entities. In subsequent years,
CBO expects that the agency would require about $1.5 million
per year to manage the network and provide assistance to
participating entities under cooperative agreements. In total,
CBO estimates that implementing the legislation would cost
about $6 million over the 2018-2022 period and an additional
$1.5 million annually thereafter; such spending would be
subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending or
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply, CBO
estimates that enacting H.R. 1927 would not increase net direct
spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive
10-year periods beginning in 2028.
H.R. 1927 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act and
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani
Shankaran. The estimate was approved by H. Samuel Papenfuss,
Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to amend title 54, United States
Code, to establish within the National Park Service the African
American Civil Rights Network.
Earmark Statement
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
Compliance With H. Res. 5
Directed Rule Making. Under Section 3 of the bill, the
Secretary of the Interior is directed to issue regulations for
the use of the symbol or device adopted for the U.S. Civil
Rights Network within the National Park Service.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is
printed in italic and existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
TITLE 54, UNITED STATES CODE
Subtitle I--National Park System
DIVISION A--ESTABLISHMENT AND GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Chap. Sec.
General Provisions..........................................100101
* * * * * * *
Subtitle III--National Preservation Programs
* * * * * * *
DIVISION B--ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS
Subdivision 1--Administered by National Park Service
American Battlefield Protection Program.....................308101
* * * * * * *
308401S. Civil Rights Network.........................................
* * * * * * *
Subtitle III--NATIONAL PRESERVATION PROGRAMS
* * * * * * *
DIVISION B--ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS
SUBDIVISION 1--ADMINISTERED BY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
* * * * * * *
CHAPTER 3084--U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS NETWORK
Sec.
308401. Definition of network.
308402. U.S. Civil Rights Network.
308403. Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding.
Sec. 308401. Definition of network.
In this chapter, the term ``Network'' means the African
American Civil Rights Network established under section
308402(a).
Sec. 308402. U.S. Civil Rights Network.
(a) In general.--The Secretary shall establish, within the
Service, a program to be known as the ``U.S. Civil Rights
Network''.
(b) Duties of Secretary.--In carrying out the Network, the
Secretary shall--
(1) review studies and reports to complement and not
duplicate studies of the historical importance of the
African American civil rights movement that may be
underway or completed, such as the Civil Rights
Framework Study;
(2) produce and disseminate appropriate educational
materials relating to the African American civil rights
movement, such as handbooks, maps, interpretive guides,
or electronic information;
(3) enter into appropriate cooperative agreements and
memoranda of understanding to provide technical
assistance under subsection (c); and
(4)(A) create and adopt an official, uniform symbol
or device for the Network; and
(B) issue regulations for the use of the symbol or
device adopted under subparagraph (A).
(c) Elements.--The Network shall encompass the following
elements:
(1) All units and programs of the Service that are
determined by the Secretary to relate to the African
American civil rights movement during the period from
1939 through 1968.
(2) With the consent of the property owner, other
Federal, State, local, and privately owned properties
that--
(A) relate to the African American civil
rights movement;
(B) have a verifiable connection to the
African American civil rights movement; and
(C) are included in, or determined by the
Secretary to be eligible for inclusion in, the
National Register of Historic Places.
(3) Other governmental and nongovernmental facilities
and programs of an educational, research, or
interpretive nature that are directly related to the
African American civil rights movement.
Sec. 308403. Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding.
To achieve the purposes of this chapter and to ensure
effective coordination of the Federal and non-Federal elements
of the Network described in section 308402(c) with System units
and programs of the Service, the Secretary may enter into
cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding with, and
provide technical assistance to the heads of other Federal
agencies, States, units of local government, regional
governmental bodies, and private entities.
* * * * * * *