II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 507 

To establish the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National Historic Site, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 16, 2023 

Mr. OSSOFF (for himself and Mr. WARNOCK) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To establish the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National 

Historic Site, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ralph David Aber5 nathy, Sr., National Historic Site Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) HISTORIC SITE.—The term ‘‘Historic Site’’ 

9 means the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National 

10 Historic Site established by section 3(a). 


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1 (2) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en2 titled ‘‘Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National His3 toric Site Proposed Boundary’’, numbered P99/ 

4 184,019, and dated August 2022. 

5 (3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

6 the Secretary of the Interior. 

7 (4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 

8 of Georgia. 

9 SEC. 3. RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY, SR., NATIONAL HIS10 TORIC SITE. 

11 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

13 there is established the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., 

14 National Historic Site in the State as a unit of the 

15 National Park System to preserve, protect, and in16 terpret for the benefit of present and future genera17 tions— 

18 (A) the site where the Reverend Dr. Aber19 nathy served as pastor during the height of the 

20 modern civil rights movement, the historic West 

21 Hunter Street Baptist Church; and 

22 (B) the role of Dr. Abernathy as an inter23 nationally recognized civil rights leader. 

24 (2) DETERMINATION BY THE SECRETARY.— 

25 The Historic Site shall not be established until the 


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1 date on which the Secretary determines that a suffi2 cient quantity of land and interests in land have 

3 been acquired to constitute a manageable unit. 

4 (3) NOTICE.—Not later than 30 days after the 

5 date on which the Secretary makes a determination 

6 under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall publish in 

7 the Federal Register notice of the establishment of 

8 the Historic Site. 

9 (b) BOUNDARY.—The boundary of the Historic Site 

10 shall be the boundary generally depicted as ‘‘Proposed 

11 Boundary’’ on the Map. 

12 (c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The Map shall be on file 

13 and available for public inspection in the appropriate of14 fices of the National Park Service. 

15 (d) ACQUISITION OF LAND.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

17 the Secretary may acquire land and interests in land 

18 within the boundary of the Historic Site by— 

19 (A) donation; 

20 (B) purchase from a willing seller with do21 nated or appropriated funds; or 

22 (C) exchange. 

23 (2) LIMITATION.—Any land or interests in land 

24 owned by the State or a political subdivision of the 


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1 State may be acquired for inclusion in the Historic 

2 Site only by donation. 

3 (e) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall admin4 ister the Historic Site in accordance with— 

5 (1) this section; and 

6 (2) the laws generally applicable to units of the 

7 National Park System, including— 

8 (A) sections 100101(a), 100751(a), 

9 100752, and 100753 of title 54, United States 

10 Code; and 

11 (B) chapters 1003 and 3201 of title 54, 

12 United States Code. 

13 (f) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Not later than 3 years 

14 after the date on which funds are first made available to 

15 carry out this Act, the Secretary shall complete a manage16 ment plan for the Historic Site in accordance with section 

17 100502 of title 54, United States Code. 

18 (g) AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary may enter into co19 operative agreements, leases, or other agreements, as ap20 propriate, with the State or other entities to provide and 

21 facilitate interpretive and educational services, administra22 tive support, and technical assistance related to the His23 toric Site within or outside the boundaries of the Historic 

24 Site, including— 


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1 (1) the placement of directional and interpretive 

2 signage; 

3 (2) exhibits; 

4 (3) parking and other administrative needs; 

5 (4) technology-based interpretive devices; 

6 (5) public interpretation and tours; and 

7 (6) the preservation of historic and cultural re8 sources. 

Æ 


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