59–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110–248 

NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK TO 

FREEDOM AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2007 

JULY 23, 2007.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. RAHALL, from the Committee on Natural Resources, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1239] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

bill (H.R. 1239) to amend the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 to provide additional staff and oversight of funds to carry out the Act, and for other purposes, having 

considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments 

and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

The amendments are as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Amendments Act of 2007’’. 

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZING APPROPRIATIONS FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSES. 

The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 

469l et seq.) is amended— 

(1) by striking section 3(d); 

(2) by striking section 4(d); and 

(3) by adding at the end the following new section: 

‘‘SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

‘‘(a) AMOUNTS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 

$2,500,000 for each fiscal year, to be allocated as follows: 

‘‘(1) $2,000,000 is to be used for the purposes of section 3. 

‘‘(2) $500,000 is to be used for the purposes of section 4. 

‘‘(b) RESTRICTIONS.—No amounts may be appropriated for the purposes of this Act 

except to the Secretary for carrying out the responsibilities of the Secretary as set 

forth in this Act.’’. 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMRPT
2 

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. 

The amendments made by section 2 shall take effect at the beginning of the fiscal 

year immediately following the date of the enactment of this Act. 

Amend the title so as to read: 

A bill to amend the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act 

of 1998 to authorize additional funding to carry out the Act, and for other purposes. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 1239, as ordered reported, is to amend the 

National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 

to authorize additional funding to carry out the Act, and for other 

purposes. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The Underground Railroad was a historic protest movement 

against slavery in the United States that helped escaped slaves 

find freedom in northern states and Canada. Until the passage of 

the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 

1998 (Public Law 105–203), the Underground Railroad had not 

been officially recognized. In 1990, Congress passed legislation directing the National Park Service to conduct a study of options for 

commemorating the Underground Railroad. The study was completed in 1996, and focused on sites, routes, and other resources 

that remain throughout the United States. That study found the 

Underground Railroad to be nationally significant and suitable for 

inclusion in the National Park System. 

The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 

1998 required that the Secretary of the Interior establish in the 

National Park Service the National Underground Railroad Network 

to Freedom program. Under the Act, the National Park Service is 

required to develop and distribute materials and enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate entities to provide technical assistance in the preservation and interpretation of the Underground 

Railroad. The authorization of appropriations to carry out the 1998 

Act was limited to not more than $500,000 annually. 

The Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2001 included a section with language from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Act, introduced as 

H.R. 2919 in the 106th Congress. This language amended the 1998 

Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make grants for 

the preservation of historic sites or structures and authorized 

$2,500,000 for fiscal year 2001 and subsequent fiscal years. However, not more than $500,000 annually has been appropriated for 

this program. 

Today, the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom encompasses over 250 programs, sites, and partners in 27 states and the 

District of Columbia. H.R. 1239, as amended by the Committee, 

raises the general authorization for the National Underground 

Railroad Network Program from $500,000 to $2,000,000 and lowers 

the authorization for the preservation of historic sites and structures from $2,500,000 to $500,000. 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMRPT
3 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 1239 was introduced on February 28, 2007, by Representative Alcee Hastings (D–FL). The bill was referred to the Committee 

on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. On May 

15, 2007, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On June 28, 

2007, the Natural Resources Committee met to consider the measure and the Subcommittee was discharged from further consideration of the bill. 

National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee Chairman Rau ́l Grijalva (D–AZ) offered an amendment in the nature of 

a substitute to make changes to the bill as introduced based on 

concerns raised by the Administration. 

The Grijalva substitute was adopted by a voice vote. The bill, as 

amended, was then ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

Section 1 entitles the bill the ‘‘National Underground Railroad 

Network to Freedom Amendments Act of 2007’’. 

Section 2. Authorizing appropriations for specific purposes 

Section 2 amends the National Underground Railroad Network 

to Freedom Act of 1998 by striking sections 3(d) and 4(d) of the 

1998 Act and adding a new section 5 to authorize $2,500,000 for 

each year to carry out the Act, including $2,000,000 for the purposes of section 3, and $500,000 for the purposes of section 4 of the 

Act. 

Section 3. Effective date 

Section 3 states that the amendments made in section 2 shall 

take effect at the beginning of the fiscal year immediately following 

the date of the enactment of this Act. 

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. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United States 

grants Congress the authority to enact this bill. 

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII 

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of 

the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides 

that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill preVerDate Aug 31 2005 04:35 Jul 25, 2007 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR248.XXX HR248

hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMRPT
4 

pared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2) of rule 

XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 

308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this bill does not 

contain any new budget authority, spending authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax expenditures. 

3. 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 the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 to authorize additional funding to 

carry out the Act, and for other purposes. 

4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause 

3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 

section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for this bill from the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office: 

H.R. 1239—National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom 

Amendments Act of 2007 

Summary: H.R. 1239 would authorize the appropriation of $2.5 

million a year to carry out activities of the National Underground 

Railroad Network to Freedom, a program administered by the National Park Service (NPS) that is dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and dissemination of Underground Railroad history. 

Under the legislation, $2 million of the amounts authorized for 

each year would be spent on NPS projects and $0.5 million would 

be provided to nonfederal entities for historic preservation of eligible sites. 

Assuming appropriation of the authorized amount, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1239 would cost $2 million in 2008 

and $12.5 million over the 2008–2012 period. Enacting the legislation would have no effect on direct spending or revenues. 

H.R. 1239 contains no private-sector or intergovernmental mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) 

and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 1239 is shown in the following table. The costs 

of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources 

and environment). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 

CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Authorization Level ........................................................................................ 3 3 3 3 3 

Estimated Outlays ......................................................................................... 2 3 3 3 3 

Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the legislation will be enacted before the start of fiscal year 2008 and that 

the authorized amount will be appropriated for each year. 

H.R. 1239 would amend the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act to authorize the appropriation of $2.5 million 

per year to carry out activities under the program. The Network to 

Freedom encompasses over 250 programs, sites, and partners in 27 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMRPT
5 

States and the District of Columbia. For fiscal year 2007, NPS received an appropriation of $500,000 for that purpose. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 1239 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis and David 

Reynolds; Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Leo 

Lex; Impact on the Private Sector: Amy Petz. 

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4 

This bill contains no unfunded mandates. 

EARMARK STATEMENT

H.R. 1239 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e) 

or 9(f) of rule XXI. 

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 (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK TO 

FREEDOM ACT OF 1998 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 3. NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK TO FREEDOM 

PROGRAM. 

(a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

ø(d) APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act not more than $500,000 for each fiscal year. 

No amounts may be appropriated for the purposes of this Act except to the Secretary for carrying out the responsibilities of the 

Secretary as set forth in section 3(a).¿ 

SEC. 4. PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC SITES OR STRUCTURES. 

(a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

ø(d) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the 

Secretary for purposes of this section $2,500,000 for fiscal year 

2001 and each subsequent fiscal year. Amounts authorized but not 

appropriated in a fiscal year shall be available for appropriation in 

subsequent fiscal years.¿ 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMRPT
6 

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) AMOUNTS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 

out this Act $2,500,000 for each fiscal year, to be allocated as follows: 

(1) $2,000,000 is to be used for the purposes of section 3. 

(2) $500,000 is to be used for the purposes of section 4. 

(b) RESTRICTIONS.—No amounts may be appropriated for the purposes of this Act except to the Secretary for carrying out the responsibilities of the Secretary as set forth in this Act. 

Æ 


hmoore on PRODPC68 with HMRPT