PUBLIC LAW 115–104—JAN. 8, 2018 

AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS NETWORK 

ACT OF 2017 


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131 STAT. 2260 PUBLIC LAW 115–104—JAN. 8, 2018 

Public Law 115–104 

115th Congress 

An Act 

To amend title 54, United States Code, to establish within the National Park 

Service the African American Civil Rights Network, 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 ‘‘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. 

‘‘308404. Sunset. 

‘‘§ 308401. Definition of network 

‘‘In this chapter, the term ‘Network’ means the African American Civil Rights Network established under section 308402(a). 

54 USC 308401. 

54 USC 308401 

prec. 

54 USC 308401 

note. 

African American 

Civil Rights 

Network Act 

of 2017. 

54 USC 100101 

note. 

Jan. 8, 2018 

[H.R. 1927] 


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PUBLIC LAW 115–104—JAN. 8, 2018 131 STAT. 2261 

‘‘§ 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. 

‘‘§ 308404. Sunset 

‘‘This program shall expire on the date that is 7 years after 

the date of enactment of this chapter.’’. 

(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’’. 

54 USC 100101 

prec. 

54 USC 308404. 

54 USC 308403. 

Historic 

preservation. 

Regulations. 

Contracts. 

Review. 

54 USC 308402. 


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131 STAT. 2262 PUBLIC LAW 115–104—JAN. 8, 2018 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1927: 

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–241 (Comm. on Natural Resources). 

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 

July 26, considered and passed House. 

Dec. 21, considered and passed Senate. 

Æ 

SEC. 4. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED. 

No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act and the amendments made by this Act. Such 

requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized. 

Approved January 8, 2018. 


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