I

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 4073

To authorize the National Park Service to coordinate programs with, provide

technical assistance to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio,

and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 12, 1996

Mr. PORTMAN (for himself, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. STOKES, Mr. REGULA, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. CREMEANS, Mr. BUNNING of Kentucky, Mr. TORRICELLI,

Mr. HOBSON, Mr. LATOURETTE, Mr. HOKE, Mr. KASICH, Mr. SAWYER,

Mr. HALL of Ohio, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. BOEHNER, Ms. PRYCE,

Mr. TRAFICANT, Mr. NEY, Mr. OXLEY, Mr. JACOBS, Mr. ZIMMER, Mr.

LIPINSKI, Mr. EVANS, and Mr. TOWNS) introduced the following bill;

which was referred to the Committee on Resources

A BILL

To authorize the National Park Service to coordinate programs with, provide technical assistance to, and enter

into cooperative agreements with, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio,

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. FINDINGS.

4 The Congress finds that—
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1 (1) the story of the Underground Railroad,

2 which links historical themes related to slavery, the

3 desire for freedom, inter-racial cooperation, and the

4 African-American experience, is unique and nation5 ally significant;

6 (2) elements of the story of the Underground

7 Railroad are not adequately represented and pro8 tected;

9 (3) an entity to interpret and preserve the story

10 of the Underground Railroad is appropriate and nec11 essary; and

12 (4) the National Underground Railroad Free13 dom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, has been established

14 to commemorate historic themes related to slavery,

15 the desire for freedom, inter-racial cooperation, and

16 the African-American experience and to relate these

17 themes to the ongoing struggle for freedom among

18 men, women, and children around the world.

19 SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

20 The purposes of this Act are—

21 (1) to recognize the importance of the Under22 ground Railroad, the sacrifices made by those in

23 search of freedom from tyranny and oppression, and

24 the sacrifices made by those who helped those indi25 viduals in search of freedom;
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1 (2) to encourage and assist the National Under2 ground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati,

3 Ohio, in becoming a principal interpretive center of

4 the Underground Railroad experience in the United

5 States; and

6 (3) to provide a role for the Federal Govern7 ment in enhancing public understanding and appre8 ciation of the Underground Railroad and in preserv9 ing the many resources of the Underground Rail10 road.

11 SEC. 3. COORDINATION OF PROGRAMS; TECHNICAL ASSIST12 ANCE; AFFILIATED STATUS.

13 (a) COORDINATION OF PROGRAMS.—The Secretary

14 of the Interior may coordinate the Underground Railroad

15 interpretive programs of the National Park Service with

16 the interpretive activities of the National Underground

17 Railroad Freedom Center (in this Act referred to as the

18 ‘‘Center’’), which is to be built in Cincinnati, Ohio, and

19 is to be devoted to the story of the Underground Railroad.

20 (b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary may

21 provide technical assistance to the Center in developing

22 the interpretative programs of the Center.

23 (c) RELATIONSHIP TO NATIONAL PARK SERVICE.—

24 The Secretary shall treat the Center as an affiliated area

25 of the National Park System.
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1 SEC. 4. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS; PARTNERSHIP.

2 (a) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary of

3 the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements with

4 the State of Ohio, the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, and other

5 public or private entities to provide technical assistance

6 to the Center.

7 (b) PARTNERSHIP.—The National Park Service may

8 work in partnership with the Center in the efforts of the

9 Center to disseminate information on the Underground

10 Railroad.

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