National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1997

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 18th century to the end of the Civil War, was 1 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.




                                                       

Summary: National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1997 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to establish in the National Park Service (NPS) a program to be known as the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom under which the Secretary shall: (1) produce and disseminate educational materials about the Railroad. (2) provide technical assistance to other government agencies, private entities, or the Governments of Canada, Mexico, or any appropriate Caribbean country to ensure coordination of Federal and non-Federal elements of the Network. And (3) regulate use of an official symbol for the Network. Includes within the Network: (1) NPS units or programs pertaining to the Underground Railroad. (2) Federal, State, local, or privately-owned properties pertaining to the Railroad that have a verifiable connection to it and that are included or eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. And (3) governmental or nongovernmental facilities or programs of educational, research, or interpretive natures that are directly related to such Railroad. Authorizes appropriations.