I 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4851 

To establish the Kennedy–King National Historic Site in the State of Indiana, 

and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JANUARY 19, 2018 

Mr. CARSON of Indiana (for himself, Mr. BANKS of Indiana, Mrs. BROOKS

of Indiana, Mr. BUCSHON, Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH, Mr. MESSER, Mr. 

ROKITA, Mr. VISCLOSKY, Mrs. WALORSKI, Mr. KENNEDY, and Mr. 

LEWIS of Georgia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To establish the Kennedy–King National Historic Site in 

the State of Indiana, 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 ‘‘Kennedy–King Estab5 lishment Act of 2018’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

7 Congress finds as follows: 

8 (1) On April 4, 1968, Robert F. Kennedy had 

9 scheduled a speech in Indianapolis, Indiana, during 


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1 his campaign for the presidency of the United 

2 States. 

3 (2) Just before giving his remarks, Mr. Ken4 nedy was informed of the assassination of Dr. Mar5 tin Luther King, Jr. before the news became widely 

6 known publicly. 

7 (3) Mr. Kennedy changed his planned remarks 

8 to instead inform the large gathering of Dr. King’s 

9 death and did so in a manner that called for a non10 violent reaction to the violent death. 

11 (4) Mr. Kennedy’s call for non-violence in a mo12 ment of unbearable pain helped temper Indianapolis’ 

13 reaction to Dr. King’s assassination so that, unlike 

14 many other cities that erupted in violence and riot15 ing, Indianapolis did not suffer riots or bloodshed in 

16 the days after Dr. King’s assassination. 

17 (5) Mr. Kennedy’s speech on this volatile occa18 sion has been described as one of the great address19 es of the 20th Century as a call for unity in a time 

20 of great unrest. 

21 (6) Mr. Kennedy’s heartfelt leadership and call 

22 for non-violence in the face of violence, and prior to 

23 his own assassination, continues to be a model for 

24 Americans everywhere. 


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1 (7) The current park site was established in 

2 1961 and has served the community as a gathering 

3 place for social movements and engagement, which is 

4 why it was selected as the location for Mr. Ken5 nedy’s speech. 

6 (8) A memorial sculpture, ‘‘Landmark for 

7 Peace’’ honoring Mr. Kennedy and Dr. King was 

8 erected on the site in 1994 to commemorate the 

9 events of April 4, 1968 and the message of non-vio10 lence taught by both leaders. 

11 (9) Mr. Kennedy’s improvised remarks to a 

12 stricken community continue to resonate today and 

13 this site continues to inspire social engagement with 

14 his words, ‘‘Why don’t we make a monument to 

15 peace where all of us can live together, not with 

16 walls coming up but with walls tearing down, so we 

17 can go forward together.’’ 

18 (10) The site of Mr. Kennedy’s speech on April 

19 4, 1968, should be preserved as a national treasure 

20 and this preservation is most fitting on the 50th an21 niversary of the speech. 

22 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

23 In this Act: 


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

2 means the Kennedy–King National Historic Site es3 tablished by section 4(a). 

4 (2) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en5 titled ‘‘Kennedy–King National Historic Site Pro6 posed Boundary.’’. 

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

8 the Secretary of the Interior. 

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

10 of Indiana. 

11 SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE KENNEDY–KING NA12 TIONAL HISTORIC SITE. 

13 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 

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

15 there is established the Kennedy–King National His16 toric Site in the State as a unit of the National Park 

17 System to preserve, protect, and interpret for the 

18 benefit of present and future generations the site of 

19 Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s April 4, 1968 speech 

20 associated with the Kennedy–King Park in Indian21 apolis, Indiana. 

22 (2) CONDITIONS FOR ESTABLISHMENT.—The 

23 Historic Site shall not be established until the date 

24 on which the Secretary determines that sufficient 


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1 land has been acquired for the Historic Site to con2 stitute a manageable unit. 

3 (b) BOUNDARIES.—The boundaries of the Historic 

4 Site shall be the boundaries generally depicted on the 

5 Map. 

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

7 and available for public inspection in the appropriate of8 fices of the National Park Service. 

9 (d) ACQUISITION AUTHORITY.— 

10 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may acquire 

11 any land or interest in land located within the 

12 boundary of the Kennedy–King Park by— 

13 (A) donation; 

14 (B) purchase with donated or appropriated 

15 funds; 

16 (C) exchange; 

17 (D) lease or no-cost lease; and 

18 (E) cooperative agreements to facilitate 

19 continued access, maintenance, and promote the 

20 success of the site, including revenue genera21 tion. 

22 (2) BOUNDARY REVISION.—On the acquisition 

23 of any property within the Kennedy–King Park 

24 under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall revise the 


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1 boundary of the Historic Site to include that prop2 erty. 

3 (3) PROHIBITION ON ADMISSION FEES.—The 

4 Secretary shall not charge for admission fees to the 

5 Historic Site. 

6 (e) ADMINISTRATION.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall admin8 ister the Historic Site in accordance with— 

9 (A) this Act; and 

10 (B) the laws generally applicable to units 

11 of the National Park System, including— 

12 (i) section 100101(a), chapter 1003, 

13 and sections 100751(a), 100752, 100753, 

14 and 102101 of title 54, United States 

15 Code; and 

16 (ii) chapter 3201 of title 54, United 

17 States Code. 

18 (2) MANAGEMENT PLAN.— 

19 (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 

20 months after the date on which funds are made 

21 available to prepare a general management plan 

22 for the Historic Site, the Secretary shall pre23 pare the general management plan in accord24 ance with section 100502 of title 54, United 

25 States Code. 


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1 (B) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Imme2 diately after completion of the general manage3 ment plan under subparagraph (A), the Sec4 retary shall submit the general management 

5 plan to the Committee on Natural Resources of 

6 the House of Representatives and the Com7 mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 

8 Senate. 

Æ 


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