as the Texas Freedom Colonies Project, the Map-
ping Blackness Project, as well as the Freedmen’s 
Bureau Search Portal created by the National Mu-
seum of African-American History and Culture, 
among others. 
(15) The presence and location of historic 
Freedmen’s Settlements should be recorded. There 
should be coordinated national, State, local, and 
Tribal efforts to preserve and restore Freedmen’s 
Settlements. 
(16) Freedmen’s Settlements are an integral 
component of the heritage of the United States, and 
their preservation and revitalization crucial for the 
communities themselves as well as a more complete 
understanding of American history and the ongoing 
struggle for racial equity. Establishing a program to 
recognize previously underserved Freedmen’s Settle-
ments would help communities identify and record 
these settlements, preserve local history, and better 
inform development decisions and community plan-
ning. 
(17) By investing in the preservation of Free-
dom Settlements, which include Freedmen’s Settle-
ments, Freedom Colonies, and Black Towns, the 
United States has an opportunity to honor the leg-
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acy of self-determination and community-building 
that these settlements represent, while also creating 
models for sustainable, equitable community develop-
ment that can inform broader efforts to address his-
torical inequities and build stronger, more inclusive 
communities across the Nation. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL FREEDOM SETTLEMENTS PRESERVA-
TION PROGRAM. 
Division B of subtitle III of title 54, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 3092—NATIONAL FREEDOM 
SETTLEMENTS PRESERVATION PROGRAM 
‘‘309201. Definitions. 
‘‘309202. Purpose. 
‘‘309203. National Freedom Settlements Preservation Program. 
‘‘309204. Authority to award grants. 
‘‘309205. Freedom Settlements Study. 
‘‘309206. Registry. 
‘‘309207. Private Property Protection. 
‘‘309208. Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding. 
‘‘309209. Freedom Settlements Advisory Committee. 
‘‘§ 309201. Definitions 
‘‘In this chapter: 
‘‘(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘Advi-
sory Committee’ means the Freedom Settlements 
Advisory 
Committee 
established 
under 
section 
309209. 
‘‘(2) 
FREEDOM
SETTLEMENT.—The 
term 
‘Freedom Settlement’ means a community estab-
lished by formerly enslaved African Americans fol-
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lowing emancipation (also commonly referred to as 
‘Freedmen’s Settlements’, ‘Freedom Colonies’, or 
‘Black Towns’). 
‘‘(3) PROGRAM.—The term ‘Program’ means 
the National Freedom Settlements Preservation Pro-
gram established under section 309204. 
‘‘(4) STUDY.—The term ‘Study’ means the 
study required under section 309205. 
‘‘§ 309202. Purpose 
‘‘The purpose of this chapter is to— 
‘‘(1) recognize the importance of Freedom Set-
tlements, including communities established by for-
merly enslaved people, free African Americans, and 
their descendants, the sacrifices made by those who 
used the Underground Railroad in search of free-
dom, equality, and material security, and the vision 
of Settlements founders; and 
‘‘(2) authorize the Secretary of the Interior to 
coordinate and facilitate Federal and non-Federal 
activities to identify, research, record, preserve, com-
memorate, honor, and interpret the history of Free-
dom Settlements, their significance as a crucial ele-
ment in the evolution of African-American history, 
and their relevance in fostering the spirit of racial 
justice and wealth equality. 
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‘‘§ 309203. National Freedom Settlements Preserva-
tion Program 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
within the Service a program to be known as the ‘National 
Freedom Settlements Preservation Program’. 
‘‘(b) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—In carrying out the 
Program, the Secretary shall develop a program for the 
provision of grants in accordance with section 309204(a), 
in consultation with— 
‘‘(1) organizations, experts, and community 
leaders who serve African-American communities; 
‘‘(2) organizations involved with Freedom Set-
tlements; and 
‘‘(3) residents and descendants of residents of 
Freedom Settlements. 
‘‘(c) DONATIONS.—The Secretary may accept dona-
tions of funds, services, or property for the purposes of 
carrying out this chapter. 
‘‘(d) CONSENT OF PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNER RE-
QUIRED.—Freedom Settlements may only be considered 
for a grant under the Program— 
‘‘(1) with the consent of the owner of the appli-
cable property; and 
‘‘(2) at the request of an individual, landowner, 
private or nonprofit organization, State, Tribal, or 
local government, or other entity. 
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‘‘(e) SCOPE.—The Secretary may consider the fol-
lowing for inclusion in the Program: 
‘‘(1) All units and programs of the National 
Park Service determined by the Secretary to pertain 
to Freedom Settlements. 
‘‘(2) Historic properties pertaining to Freedom 
Settlements. 
‘‘(3) Other governmental and nongovernmental 
facilities and programs of an educational, research, 
or interpretive nature that are directly related to 
Freedom Settlements. 
‘‘§ 309204. Authority to award grants 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the Program, the 
Secretary may award grants to eligible entities described 
in subsection (b)(1) for— 
‘‘(1) the identification of Freedom Settlements 
that may qualify for the Program; 
‘‘(2) cultural and heritage preservation, restora-
tion, and tourism program development of Freedom 
Settlements; 
‘‘(3) related research and documentation of 
Freedom Settlements; 
‘‘(4) capacity-building to operate and maintain 
recognized Freedom Settlement sites; and 
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