I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7912 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study 
to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing a network 
of locations associated with lynchings in the vicinity of Memphis, Ten-
nessee, as a unit of the National Park System. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 31, 2022 
Mr. COHEN (for himself, Ms. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. CARSON, Mr. CARTER of 
Louisiana, Mr. CLEAVER, Mr. COSTA, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. JOHNSON of 
Georgia, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. MFUME, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, 
Ms. NORTON, Mr. RUSH, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mrs. WATSON 
COLEMAN, and Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special 
resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility 
of establishing a network of locations associated with 
lynchings in the vicinity of Memphis, Tennessee, as a 
unit of the National Park System. 
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 ‘‘Evaluating Lynching 
Locations (ELL) for National Park Sites Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY OF LYNCHING LOCA-
TIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall conduct a 
special resource study of the study area. 
(b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the special resource 
study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 
(1) evaluate the national significance of the 
study area; 
(2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 
designating the study area as a unit of the National 
Park System; 
(3) consider other alternatives for preservation, 
protection, and interpretation of the study area by 
the Federal Government, State or local government 
entities, or private and nonprofit organizations; 
(4) consult with interested Federal agencies, 
State or local governmental entities, private and 
nonprofit organizations, or any other interested per-
sons; and 
(5) identify cost estimates for any Federal ac-
quisition, development, interpretation, operation, and 
maintenance associated with the alternatives. 
(c) APPLICABLE LAW.—The study required under 
subsection (a) shall be conducted in accordance with sec-
tion 100507 of title 54, United States Code. 
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(d) REPORT.—Not later than 3 years after the date 
on which funds are made available to carry out this Act, 
the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
a report that describes— 
(1) the results of the study; and 
(2) any recommendations of the Secretary. 
(e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(2) STUDY
AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 
means sites within approximately 100 miles of Mem-
phis, Tennessee, at which lynchings took place, in-
cluding, but not limited to, the lynching sites of— 
(A) Wash Henley in 1869; 
(B) Christopher Bender and Bud Whitfield 
in 1868; 
(C) Thomas Moss, Will Stewart, and Cal-
vin McDowell in 1892 during the event referred 
to as ‘‘The People’s Grocery Lynchings’’; 
(D) Lee Walker in 1893; 
(E) Warner Williams, Daniel Hawkins, 
Robert Haynes, Edward Hall, John Hayes, and 
Graham White in 1894; 
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(F) Ell Persons in 1917; 
(G) Jesse Lee Bond in 1939; and 
(H) Elbert Williams in 1940. 
Æ 
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