105^TH CONGRESS

1^ST SESSION                                                               S. 887 

To establish in the National Park Service the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, and for other purposes.                                                          

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

June 11, 1997 

Ms., MOSELEY-BRAUN. (for herself and Mr. DeWine), introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

A BILL

To establish in the National Park Service the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, and for other purposes.

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 “National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1997”.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 

(a)  FINDINGS. – Congress finds that –  

(1)  The Underground Railroad, which flourished from the end of the 18^th century to the end of the Civil War, was one of the most significant expressions of the American civil rights movement during its evolution over more than 3 centuries;

(2)  The Underground Railroad bridged the divides of race, religion, sectional differences, and nationality, spanned State lines and international borders, and joined the American ideals of liberty and freedom expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to the extraordinary actions of  ordinary men and women working in common purpose to free a people.

(3   Pursuant to Title VI of Public Law 101-628 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5 note; 104 Stat. 4495), the Underground Railroad Advisory Committee conducted a study of the appropriate means of establishing an enduring national commemorative Underground Railroad program of education, example, reflection, and reconciliation.

(4)  The Underground Railroad Advisory Committee found that—

(A)  although a few elements of the Underground Railroad story are represented in existing National  Park Service units and other sites, many sites are in imminent danger of being lost or destroyed, and many important resource types are not adequately represented and protected;

(B)  there are many important sites that have high potential for preservation and visitor use in 29 States, the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands;

(C)  no single site or route completely reflects and characterizes the Underground Railroad, since the Underground Railroad’s story and associated resources involve networks and regions of the country rather than individual sites and trails; and

(D)  establishment of a variety of partnerships between the Federal Government and other levels of government and the private sector would be most appropriate for the protection and interpretation of the Underground Railroad; 

(5) The National Park Service can play a vital role in facilitating the national commemoration of the Underground Railroad; and

(6)  The story and significance of the Underground Railroad can best engage the American people through a national program of the National Park Service that links historic buildings, structures, and sites, routes, geographic areas, and corridors, interpretive centers, museums, and institutions, and programs, activities, community projects, exhibits, and multimedia materials, in a manner that is both unified and flexible.

(b) PURPOSES.-The purposes of this Act are— 

(1) to recognize the importance of –

(A) The Underground Railroad;

(B) the sacrifices made by slaves who used the Underground Railroad in search of freedom from tyranny and oppression; and

(C) the sacrifices made by the people who helped those slaves; and 

(2) to authorize the National Park Service to coordinate and facilitate—

(A)  Federal and non-Federal activities to commemorate, honor, and interpret the history of the Underground Railroad;

(B)  The Underground Railroad’s significance as a crucial element in the evolution of the national civil rights movement; and

(C)  The Underground Railroad’s relevance in fostering a spirit of racial harmony and national reconciliation. 

SEC. 3. NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK TO FREEDOM PROGRAM.  

(a)  IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this Act as the “Secretary”) shall establish in the National Park Service a program to be known as the “National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom”. (referred to in this Act as the “National Network”). Under the program, the Secretary shall— 

(1)  produce and disseminate appropriate educational materials, such as handbooks, maps, interpretive guides, or electronic information;

(2)  Enter into appropriate cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding to provide technical assistance under subsection (c); and

(3)  Create and adopt an official and uniform symbol or device for the National Network and issue regulations for use of the symbol or device.

(b)  ELEMENTS.—The National Network shall include— 

(1)  any unit or program of the National Park Service determined by the Secretary to pertain to the Underground Railroad;

(2)  any other Federal, State, local, or privately owned property pertaining to the Underground Railroad that has a verifiable connection to the Underground Railroad and that is included on, or determined by the Secretary to be eligible for inclusion, on the National Register of Historic Places;

(3)  any other governmental or nongovernmental facility or program of an educational, research, or interpretive nature that is directly related to the Underground Railroad.

(c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING.—To achieve  the purposes of this Act and to ensure effective coordination of the Federal and non-Federal elements of the National Network referred to in subsection (b) with National Park Service units and programs, the Secretary may enter into a cooperative agreement or memorandum of understanding with and provide technical assistance to—

(1) the head of another Federal agency, a State, a locality, a regional governmental body, or a private entity; or    

(2) in cooperation with the Secretary of State, the Government of Canada, Mexico, or any appropriate country in the Caribbean.

           (d)  AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act— 

(1)     $500,000 for fiscal year 1998; and
(2)     $1,000,000 for each fiscal year thereafter.