69–006 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 115–241 

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: 

2 

‘‘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. 

‘‘§ 308401. Definition of network 

‘‘In this chapter, the term ‘Network’ means the African American Civil Rights 

Network established under section 308402(a). 

‘‘§ 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. 

‘‘§ 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 

3 

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. 

Rights in America: A Framework for Identifying Significant 

Sites.’’ 1

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. 

4 

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. 

5 

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): 

6 

TITLE 54, UNITED STATES CODE 

Subtitle I—National Park System 

DIVISION A—ESTABLISHMENT AND GENERAL 

ADMINISTRATION 

Chap. Sec. 

1001. General Provisions ..........................................................100101 

* * * * * * * 

Subtitle III—National Preservation Programs 

* * * * * * * 

DIVISION B—ORGANIZATIONS AND PROGRAMS 

SUBDIVISION 1—ADMINISTERED BY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

3081. American Battlefield Protection Program .....................308101 

* * * * * * * 

3084. U.S. Civil Rights Network ..............................................308401 

* * * * * * * 

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. 

§ 308401. Definition of network. 

In this chapter, the term ‘‘Network’’ means the African American 

Civil Rights Network established under section 308402(a). 

§ 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 AmerVerDate Sep 11 2014 06:45 Jul 25, 2017 Jkt 069006 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6603 E:\HR\OC\HR241.XXX HR241
7 

ican 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. 

§ 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. 

* * * * * * * 

Æ