I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8502 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource 

study of the site formerly known as ‘‘Rosewood’’, located in Levy County, 

Florida, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 1, 2020 

Mr. YOHO (for himself, Mr. SOTO, Mr. RUTHERFORD, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. 

SPANO, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. 

SHALALA, and Ms. FRANKEL) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a 

special resource study of the site formerly known as 

‘‘Rosewood’’, located in Levy County, Florida, 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 ‘‘Rosewood Study Act’’. 

5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

6 Congress finds as follows: 


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1 (1) The town of Rosewood was originally sur2 veyed in 1847 in Levy County, Florida, and quickly 

3 became a majority minority community. 

4 (2) On January 1, 1923, a young married 

5 White woman from a neighboring town falsely ac6 cused an African-American man of assault. 

7 (3) This accusation started a riot and the ma8 jority of Rosewood was burned to the ground. 

9 (4) This riot led to an unjust massacre and 

10 death toll that is still unknown. 

11 (5) Survivors were forced to flee to the woods 

12 and ultimately resettle around the State of Florida. 

13 (6) The town of Rosewood never recovered from 

14 this event. 

15 (7) The Governor of Florida was notified of the 

16 events, but did not intervene. 

17 (8) A small attempt was eventually made to in18 dict locals by a grand jury, but this was unsuccess19 ful. 

20 (9) This tragedy went unnoticed by those who 

21 were not immediately affected for almost 60 years, 

22 until 1982 when a reporter for the Saint Petersburg 

23 Times began to investigate the massacre. 

24 (10) In 1993, the State of Florida formally in25 vestigated the event and eventually passed a law 


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1 issuing compensation for the losses to the victims 

2 and creating a scholarship fund. 

3 (11) Violence and prejudice have no place in 

4 our society. 

5 (12) Our society cannot be complacent in sense6 less acts of violence. 

7 (13) In order to learn from history, our society 

8 must make sure to remember it. 

9 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

10 In this Act: 

11 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

12 the Secretary of the Interior. 

13 (2) STUDY AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 

14 means the site formerly known as ‘‘Rosewood’’, 

15 ‘‘grounds of the Rosewood massacre’’, and ‘‘State 

16 Road 24, Rosewood’’ located in Levy County, Flor17 ida. 

18 SEC. 4. ROSEWOOD SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY. 

19 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

20 date on which funds are first made available for this pur21 pose, the Secretary shall complete a special resource study 

22 of the study area. 

23 (b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study pursuant to 

24 subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 


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1 (1) evaluate the national significance of the 

2 study area; 

3 (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 

4 designating the study area as a unit of the National 

5 Park System; 

6 (3) consider other alternatives for preservation, 

7 protection, and interpretation of the study area by 

8 the Federal Government, State or local government 

9 entities, or private and nonprofit organizations; 

10 (4) consult with interested Federal agencies, 

11 State or local governmental entities, private and 

12 nonprofit organizations, or any other interested indi13 viduals; and 

14 (5) identify cost estimates for any Federal ac15 quisition, development, interpretation, operation, and 

16 maintenance associated with the alternatives de17 scribed in paragraphs (2) and (3). 

18 (c) APPLICABLE LAW.—Except as provided by sub19 section (a), the study required by subsection (a) shall be 

20 conducted in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, 

21 United States Code. 

22 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

23 on which funds are first made available to carry out the 

24 study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to 

25 the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of RepVerDate Sep 11 2014 22:38 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8502.IH H8502

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1 resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 

2 Resources of the Senate a report that describes— 

3 (1) the results of the study; and 

4 (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the 

5 Secretary. 

Æ 


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