African American Civil Rights Network Act of 2017

To amend title 54, United States Code, to establish within the National Park Service the African American Civil Rights Network, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the African American Civil Rights Network Act of 2017 2. Purposes The purposes of this Act are— (1) to recognize— (A) the importance of the African American civil rights movement; and (B) the sacrifices made by the people who fought against discrimination and segregation; and (2) to authorize the National Park Service to coordinate and facilitate Federal and non-Federal activities to commemorate, honor, and interpret— (A) the history of the African American civil rights movement; (B) the significance of the civil rights movement as a crucial element in the evolution of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000a (C) the relevance of the African American civil rights movement in fostering the spirit of social justice and national reconciliation. 3. U.S. Civil Rights Network Program (a) In general Subdivision 1 of Division B of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 3083 the following: 3084 U.S. Civil Rights Network Sec. 308401. Definition of network. 308402. U.S. Civil Rights Network. 308403. Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding. 308401. Definition of network In this chapter, the term Network 308402. U.S. Civil Rights Network (a) In general The Secretary shall establish, within the Service, a program to be known as the U.S. Civil Rights Network (b) Duties of Secretary In carrying out the Network, the Secretary shall— (1) review studies and reports to complement and not duplicate studies of the historical importance of the African American civil rights movement that may be underway or completed, such as the Civil Rights Framework Study; (2) produce and disseminate appropriate educational materials relating to the African American civil rights movement, such as handbooks, maps, interpretive guides, or electronic information; (3) enter into appropriate cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding to provide technical assistance under subsection (c); and (4) (A) create and adopt an official, uniform symbol or device for the Network; and (B) issue regulations for the use of the symbol or device adopted under subparagraph (A). (c) Elements The Network shall encompass the following elements: (1) All units and programs of the Service that are determined by the Secretary to relate to the African American civil rights movement during the period from 1939 through 1968. (2) With the consent of the property owner, other Federal, State, local, and privately owned properties that— (A) relate to the African American civil rights movement; (B) have a verifiable connection to the African American civil rights movement; and (C) are included in, or determined by the Secretary to be eligible for inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places. (3) Other governmental and nongovernmental facilities and programs of an educational, research, or interpretive nature that are directly related to the African American civil rights movement. 308403. Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding To achieve the purposes of this chapter and to ensure effective coordination of the Federal and non-Federal elements of the Network described in section 308402(c) with System units and programs of the Service, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding with, and provide technical assistance to the heads of other Federal agencies, States, units of local government, regional governmental bodies, and private entities. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of chapters for title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 3083 the following: 3084 U.S. Civil Rights Network 308401 . July 24, 2017 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: African American Civil Rights Network Act of 2017 (Sec. 3) This bill requires the Department of the Interior to establish within the National Park Service (NPS) a U.S. Civil Rights Network that encompasses: (1) all NPS units and programs that relate to the African American civil rights movement from 1939 through 1968; (2) with the property owner's consent, other federal, state, local, and privately owned properties that relate or have a verifiable connection to such movement and that are included in, or eligible for, the National Register of Historic Places; and (3) other governmental and nongovernmental facilities and programs of an educational, research, or interpretive nature that are directly related to such movement. In carrying out the network, Interior must: (1) review civil rights movement studies and reports, such as the Civil Rights Framework Study; (2) produce and disseminate educational materials relating to such movement; (3) provide technical assistance; and (4) adopt an official, uniform symbol or device for the Network and issue regulations for the symbol's use. The network shall expire seven years after enactment of this bill.