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[House Report 115-644]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

115th Congress    }                                     {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                     {      115-644

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 TO DIRECT THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO CONDUCT A SPECIAL RESOURCE 
STUDY TO DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY AND FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING THE 
BIRTHPLACE OF JAMES WELDON JOHNSON IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, AS A UNIT 
                      OF THE NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

                                _______
                                

 April 24, 2018.--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. 5005]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 5005) to direct the Secretary of the Interior to 
conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability 
and feasibility of establishing the birthplace of James Weldon 
Johnson in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the National 
Park System, having considered the same, report favorably 
thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 5005 is to direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the 
suitability and feasibility of establishing the birthplace of 
James Weldon Johnson in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the 
National Park System.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    James Weldon Johnson was born in 1871 in the LaVilla 
neighborhood at 120 Lee Street in Jacksonville, Florida. The 
birth home no longer exists and there are no structures on the 
property.\1\ However, the lot was designated by the City of 
Jacksonville as ``Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park'' in June 
2015.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\Patton, Charlie. ``Jacksonville native left a huge legacy, but 
nothing marks it.'' The Florida Times. June 15, 2012. Accessed February 
23, 2018. http://www.jacksonville.com/article/20120615/ENTERTAINMENT/
801251861.
    \2\McIntyre, Mary. ``Jacksonville To Dedicate `Lift Ev'ry Voice and 
Sing' Park.'' WJCT NEWS. June 15, 2015. Accessed February 23, 2018. 
http://news.wjct.org/post/jacksonville-dedicate-lift-ev-ry-voice-and-
sing-park.
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    James Weldon Johnson was accomplished in several fields: a 
renowned statesmen, educator, songwriter, author, lawyer, and 
civil rights activist. He served as the principal at Stanton 
Grade School in Jacksonville, and in 1898, became the first 
African American admitted to the Florida Bar.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\``James Weldon Johnson.'' Biography.com. April 02, 2014. 
Accessed February 23, 2018. https://www.biography.com/people/james-
weldon-johnson-9356013.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    After moving to New York City at the turn of the century, 
he found success writing songs for Broadway shows with his 
brother. In addition, Johnson wrote poetry and fiction, and 
published anthologies contributing to the Harlem Renaissance. 
He wrote the song ``Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing,'' which is often 
referred to as the ``Black National Anthem.''\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\``Lift Every Voice and Sing.'' PBS. Accessed February 23, 2018. 
http://www.pbs.org/black-culture/explore/black-authors-spoken-word-
poetry/lift-every-voice-and-sing/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Beginning in 1916, he worked for the National Association 
for the Advancement of Colored People in various roles, 
ultimately serving as Executive Secretary. He expanded the 
organization in the Southern States and campaigned against 
lynching and segregation.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\``NAACP History: James Weldon Johnson.'' NAACP. Accessed 
February 23, 2018. http://www.naacp.org/oldest-and-boldest/naacp-
history-james-weldon-johnson/.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Johnson served as the U.S. consul in Venezuela and 
Nicaragua under President Roosevelt. He was the first African 
American professor at New York University, where he taught 
courses in literature and culture. He also taught at Fisk 
University in Nashville, Tennessee.\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\Ibid.
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    Johnson's New York City residence (187 West 135th Street), 
which he occupied from 1925 until his death in 1938, was 
declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, and is listed on 
the National Register of Historic Places.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\``National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination 
Form--James Weldon Johnson Residence'' NPS.gov, accessed February 23, 
2018, https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/14000527.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    H.R. 5005 directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a special resource study of James Weldon Johnson's birthplace 
in Jacksonville, Florida, to determine the national 
significance of the site and its suitability for inclusion as a 
unit of the National Park System.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 5005 was introduced on February 13, 2018, by 
Congressman Al Lawson, Jr. (D-FL). The bill was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the 
Subcommittee on Federal Lands. On February 28, 2018, the 
Subcommittee held a hearing on the legislation. On April 11, 
2018, the Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. 
The Subcommittee was discharged by unanimous consent. No 
amendments were offered and the bill was ordered favorably 
reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

            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, April 18, 2018.
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. 5005, a bill to 
direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 
resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of 
establishing the birthplace of James Weldon Johnson in 
Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the National Park System.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Janani 
Shankaran.
            Sincerely,
                                                Keith Hall,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 5005--A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 
        special resource study to determine the suitability and 
        feasibility of establishing the birthplace of James Weldon 
        Johnson in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the National 
        Park System

    H.R. 5005 would direct the National Park Service to study 
the suitability and feasibility of establishing the birthplace 
of James Weldon Johnson in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of 
the National Park System.
    Based on the costs of similar studies, CBO estimates that 
implementing H.R. 5005 would cost less than $500,000; such 
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated 
funds.
    Enacting H.R. 5005 would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5005 would not increase 
net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four 
consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2029.
    H.R. 5005 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Janani 
Shankaran. The estimate was reviewed 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 direct the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the 
suitability and feasibility of establishing the birthplace of 
James Weldon Johnson in Jacksonville, Florida, as a unit of the 
National Park System.

                           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. This bill does not contain any 
directed rule makings.
    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

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing 
law.

                                  [all]
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