I 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 737 
To establish the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National Historic Site, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 1, 2023 
Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia (for herself, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. AUSTIN 
SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. CARTER of Georgia, Mrs. 
MCBATH, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. POCAN, Mr. 
COHEN, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CARSON, Mr. 
SCHIFF, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. GREEN 
of Texas, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. WILSON of Flor-
ida, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. DAVIS of 
Illinois, Ms. NORTON, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Ms. 
BUSH, and Ms. SEWELL) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To establish the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National 
Historic Site, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ralph David Aber-
nathy, Sr. National Historic Site Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY, SR. NATIONAL HIS-
TORIC SITE. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en-
titled ‘‘Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National His-
toric Site Proposed Boundary’’, numbered P99/ 
184,019, and dated August 2022. 
(2) HISTORIC SITE.—The term ‘‘Historic Site’’ 
means the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National 
Historic Site established by subsection (b). 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State 
of Georgia. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
there is established the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. 
National Historic Site in the State of Georgia as a 
unit of the National Park System to preserve, pro-
tect, and interpret for the benefit of present and fu-
ture generations— 
(A) the site where the Reverend Dr. Aber-
nathy served as pastor during the height of the 
modern civil rights movement, the historic West 
Hunter Street Baptist Church; and 
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(B) the role of Dr. Abernathy as an inter-
nationally recognized civil rights leader. 
(2) DETERMINATION
BY
THE
SECRETARY.— 
The Historic Site shall not be established until the 
date on which the Secretary determines that a suffi-
cient quantity of land and interests in land have 
been acquired to constitute a manageable park unit. 
(3) NOTICE.—Not later than 30 days after the 
date on which the Secretary makes a determination 
under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall publish in 
the Federal Register notice of the establishment of 
the Historic Site. 
(c) BOUNDARY.—The boundary of the Historic Site 
shall be the boundary generally depicted as ‘‘Proposed 
Boundary’’ on the Map. 
(d) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The Map shall be on file 
and available for public inspection in the appropriate of-
fices of the National Park Service. 
(e) ACQUISITION OF LAND.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary may acquire land and interests in land 
within the boundary of the Historic Site by— 
(A) donation; 
(B) purchase from a willing seller with do-
nated or appropriated funds; or 
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(C) exchange. 
(2) LIMITATION.—Any land or interests in land 
owned by the State or a political subdivision of the 
State may be acquired for inclusion in the Historic 
Site only by donation. 
(f) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall admin-
ister the Historic Site in accordance with— 
(1) this section; and 
(2) the laws generally applicable to units of the 
National Park System, including— 
(A) 
sections 
100101(a), 
100751(a), 
100752, and 100753 of title 54, United States 
Code; and 
(B) chapters 1003 and 3201 of title 54, 
United States Code. 
(g) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Not later than 3 years 
after the date on which funds are first made available to 
carry out this Act, the Secretary shall complete a manage-
ment plan for the Historic Site in accordance with section 
100502 of title 54, United States Code. 
(h) AGREEMENTS.—Within or outside the boundaries 
of the Historic Site, the Secretary may enter into coopera-
tive agreements, leases, or other agreements, as appro-
priate, with the State or other entities to provide and fa-
cilitate interpretive and educational services, administra-
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tive support, and technical assistance related to the His-
toric Site, including— 
(1) the placement of directional and interpretive 
signage; 
(2) exhibits; 
(3) parking and other administrative needs; 
(4) technology-based interpretive devices; 
(5) public interpretation and tours; and 
(6) the preservation of historic and cultural re-
sources. 
Æ 
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