39–006 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 113–577 

APPROVING THE LOCATION OF A MEMORIAL TO COMMEMORATE THE 

MORE THAN 5,000 SLAVES AND FREE BLACK PERSONS WHO FOUGHT 

FOR INDEPENDENCE IN THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION 

SEPTEMBER 8, 2014.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. HASTINGS of Washington, from the Committee on Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.J. Res. 120] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred the 

joint resolution (H.J. Res. 120) approving the location of a memorial to commemorate the more than 5,000 slaves and free Black 

persons who fought for independence in the American Revolution, 

having considered the same, report favorably thereon without 

amendment and recommend that the joint resolution do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.J. Res. 120 is to approve the location of a memorial to commemorate the more than 5,000 slaves and free Black 

persons who fought for independence in the American Revolution. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Public Law 112–239, the National Defense Authorization Act for 

Fiscal Year 2013, authorized The National Mall Liberty Fund to establish a memorial on eligible federal land to honor the more than 

5,000 courageous slaves and free Black persons who served as soldiers and sailors or provided civilian assistance during the American Revolution. 

Under the Commemorative Works Act (CWA), which details a 

process for placement of memorials and monuments in Washington, 

D.C., memorials must be recommended by the Government Services Administration (GSA) or the Department of the Interior for 

placement within what is known as Area I, as defined by the CWA. 

Area I is generally the locations around the National Mall, but not 

on the Mall itself. A recommendation is made if the Administrator 

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finds that the proposed memorial is of ‘‘of preeminence and lasting 

significance.’’ 

On June 3, 2014 the GSA Administrator notified the Natural Resources Committee that he has found the proposed National Liberty Memorial to be ‘‘of preeminence and lasting significance.’’ 

Under the requirements of the CWA, upon this notification, Congress has 150 days (until Oct. 31, 2014) to concur with the finding 

with a joint resolution, which legally clears the memorial to be 

placed within Area I. 

H.J. Res 120 provides Congressional approval of the recommendation made by the GSA Administrator to locate the memorial authorized by Public Law 112–239 in Area I. The memorial 

will be privately funded. 

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.J. Res. 120 was introduced on July 23, 2014, by Congressman 

G.K. Butterfield (D–NC), and was referred to the Committee on 

Natural Resources. On July 30, 2014, the Natural Resources Committee met to consider the bill. The bill was adopted and 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

1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(1) 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)(2)(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 prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 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.J. Res. 120—A joint resolution approving the location of a memorial to commemorate the more than 5,000 slaves and free Black 

persons who fought for independence in the American Revolution 

H.J. Res. 120 would approve the selection of a site to commemorate and honor African-Americans who fought in the Revolutionary 

War. In 2013, the National Mall Liberty Fund, a non-profit organization, was authorized to establish the commemorative work on 

federal land in Washington, DC, or its environs without the use of 

federal funds. CBO estimates that implementing H.J. Res. 120 

would not affect the federal budget. Because enacting H.J. Res. 120 

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would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

H.J. Res. 120 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 

would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Martin von Gnechten. 

The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

2. Section 308(a) of 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. CBO estimates that implementing H.J. Res. 120 

would not affect the federal budget. 

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 approve the location of a memorial to commemorate 

the more than 5,000 slaves and free Black persons who fought for 

independence in the American Revolution. 

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. The Chairman does not believe that this 

bill directs any executive branch official to conduct any specific 

rule-making proceedings. 

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 in existing law. 

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