‘‘(5) educational programming about Freedom 
Settlement history. 
‘‘(b) APPLICATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—Each of the fol-
lowing entities are eligible for a grant under the 
Program: 
‘‘(A) A property owner of a property asso-
ciated with Freedom Settlements. 
‘‘(B) Tribal, State, or local governments. 
‘‘(C) Community organizations that have 
demonstrated local leadership and a commit-
ment to community development. 
‘‘(2) SUBMISSION.—To be eligible for a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall submit to 
the Secretary an application at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may require. 
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out this section $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 
through 2031. 
‘‘§ 309205. Freedom Settlements Study 
‘‘(a) STUDY.—The Secretary shall conduct a study 
to identify key sites that— 
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‘‘(1) illustrate the period in American history 
when formerly enslaved African Americans estab-
lished Freedom Settlements to provide their commu-
nities with education, security, and belonging which 
were previously denied under slavery and discrimina-
tory laws; and 
‘‘(2) may be suitable for inclusion in the Pro-
gram. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—The Study shall be conducted 
with public involvement and in consultation with— 
‘‘(1) the Advisory Committee; 
‘‘(2) State and local officials; 
‘‘(3) educational institutions; and 
‘‘(4) other interested organizations and individ-
uals. 
‘‘§ 309206. Registry 
‘‘The Secretary shall maintain and regularly update 
a comprehensive registry of Freedom Settlements, as they 
are identified and verified through the research and docu-
mentation process outlined in this chapter, including but 
not limited to historically documented settlements engaged 
in preservation efforts, such as— 
‘‘(1) Nicodemus, Kansas; 
‘‘(2) Africatown, Alabama; 
‘‘(3) Mound Bayou, Mississippi; 
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‘‘(4) Eatonville, Florida; 
‘‘(5) Boley, Oklahoma; 
‘‘(6) Hobson City, Alabama; 
‘‘(7) Allensworth, California; 
‘‘(8) Freedmen’s Town Historic District, Hous-
ton, Texas; 
‘‘(9) Independence Heights, Texas; 
‘‘(10) Mossville, Louisiana; 
‘‘(11) Oberlin Village, North Carolina; 
‘‘(12) Kinloch, Missouri; 
‘‘(13) New Philadelphia, Illinois; 
‘‘(14) Rosewood, Florida; 
‘‘(15) Weeksville, New York; 
‘‘(16) Freedman’s Village, Arlington, Virginia; 
‘‘(17) Sandy Ground, New York; 
‘‘(18) Princeville, North Carolina; 
‘‘(19) Greenwood District (Black Wall Street), 
Tulsa, Oklahoma; and 
‘‘(20) Freedmen’s Town, Dallas, Texas. 
‘‘§ 309207. Private Property Protection 
‘‘Nothing in this chapter— 
‘‘(1) authorizes the Secretary to require or af-
fect the management or use of private property with-
out the written consent of the owner of the private 
property; or 
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‘‘(2) prohibits the Secretary from providing 
land management guidance or requirements relating 
to private property as a condition of a grant pro-
vided to the owner of the private property under this 
chapter. 
‘‘§ 309208. Cooperative agreements and memoranda 
of understanding 
‘‘The Secretary may enter into cooperative agree-
ments and memoranda of understanding with, and provide 
technical assistance to, the heads of other Federal agen-
cies, States, units of local government, Tribal govern-
ments, regional governmental bodies, African American- 
serving groups, residents and descendants of residents of 
Freedom Settlements, scholars of this specific history, and 
nonprofit organizations such as the Chisholm Legacy 
Project, Ubuntu Climate, and the Texas Freedom Colonies 
Project, educational institutions, and private entities— 
‘‘(1) to achieve the purposes of this chapter; 
‘‘(2) to facilitate cooperation with the Advisory 
Committee; and 
‘‘(3) to ensure effective coordination of the Fed-
eral elements and non-Federal elements provided a 
grant or other assistance under the Program with 
System units and programs of the Service. 
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‘‘§ 309209. Freedom Settlements Advisory Committee 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the Study under 
section 309205, the Secretary shall establish a committee 
to be known as the ‘Freedom Settlements Advisory Com-
mittee’ to assist with the Study. 
‘‘(b) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Committee shall 
be composed of members, appointed by the Secretary, 
who— 
‘‘(1) are residents or descendants of residents 
of Freedom Settlements; 
‘‘(2) have demonstrated expertise in— 
‘‘(A) African-American history; or 
‘‘(B) Reconstruction or Jim Crow era his-
tory; or 
‘‘(3) are community leaders and advocates for 
African-American community heritage, preservation, 
and development.’’. 
Æ 
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