I 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 520 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of alternatives 
for commemorating and interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers 
in the early years of the National Parks, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 5, 2013 
Ms. SPEIER (for herself, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. CLAY, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. ELLI-
SON, Ms. ESHOO, Mr. FARR, Mr. ISRAEL, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. 
MCDERMOTT, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Ms. MOORE, Mr. NAD-
LER, Ms. NORTON, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. HUFFMAN, and 
Mr. GRIJALVA) 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 
study of alternatives for commemorating and interpreting 
the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early years of 
the National Parks, 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 ‘‘Buffalo Soldiers in 
the National Parks Study Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) In the late 19th century and early 20th cen-
tury, African-American troops who came to be 
known as the Buffalo Soldiers served in many crit-
ical roles in the western United States, including 
protecting some of the first National Parks. 
(2) Based at the Presidio in San Francisco, 
Buffalo Soldiers were assigned to Sequoia and Yo-
semite National Parks where they patrolled the 
backcountry, built trails, stopped poaching, and oth-
erwise served in the roles later assumed by National 
Park rangers. 
(3) The public would benefit from having op-
portunities to learn more about the Buffalo Soldiers 
in the National Parks and their contributions to the 
management of National Parks and the legacy of Af-
rican-Americans in the post-Civil War era. 
(4) As the centennial of the National Park 
Service in 2016 approaches, it is an especially ap-
propriate time to conduct research and increase pub-
lic awareness of the stewardship role the Buffalo 
Soldiers played in the early years of the National 
Parks. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to author-
ize a study to determine the most effective ways to in-
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crease understanding and public awareness of the critical 
role that the Buffalo Soldiers played in the early years 
of the National Parks. 
SEC. 3. STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior shall 
conduct a study of alternatives for commemorating and 
interpreting the role of the Buffalo Soldiers in the early 
years of the National Parks. 
(b) CONTENTS
OF STUDY.—The study shall in-
clude— 
(1) a historical assessment, based on extensive 
research, of the Buffalo Soldiers who served in Na-
tional Parks in the years prior to the establishment 
of the National Park Service; 
(2) an evaluation of the suitability and feasi-
bility of establishing a national historic trail com-
memorating the route traveled by the Buffalo Sol-
diers from their post in the Presidio of San Fran-
cisco to Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks and 
to any other National Parks where they may have 
served; 
(3) the identification of properties that could 
meet criteria for listing in the National Register of 
Historic Places or criteria for designation as Na-
tional Historic Landmarks; 
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(4) an evaluation of appropriate ways to en-
hance historical research, education, interpretation, 
and public awareness of the story of the Buffalo Sol-
diers’ stewardship role in the National Parks, in-
cluding ways to link the story to the development of 
National Parks and the story of African-American 
military service following the Civil War; and 
(5) any other matters that the Secretary of the 
Interior deems appropriate for this study. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after funds are 
made available for the study, the Secretary of the Interior 
shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on En-
ergy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report con-
taining the study’s findings and recommendations. 
Æ 
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