I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 972 
To redesignate the Reconstruction Era National Monument as the 
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 5, 2019 
Mr. CLYBURN (for himself and Mr. CUNNINGHAM) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources 
A BILL 
To redesignate the Reconstruction Era National Monument 
as the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, 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 ‘‘Reconstruction Era 
National Historical Park Act’’. 
SEC. 2. RECONSTRUCTION ERA NATIONAL HISTORICAL 
PARK. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
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(1) HISTORICAL PARK.—The term ‘‘historical 
park’’ means the Reconstruction Era National His-
torical Park. 
(2) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the maps 
entitled ‘‘Reconstruction Era National Monument 
Old Beaufort Firehouse’’, numbered 550/135,755 
and dated January 2017; ‘‘Reconstruction Era Na-
tional Monument Darrah Hall and Brick Baptist 
Church’’, numbered 550/135,756 and dated January 
2017; and ‘‘Reconstruction Era National Monument 
Camp Saxton’’, numbered 550/135,757 and dated 
January 2017, collectively. 
(3) NETWORK.—The term ‘‘Network’’ means 
the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network 
established pursuant to this Act. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) REDESIGNATION OF RECONSTRUCTION ERA 
NATIONAL MONUMENT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Reconstruction 
Era National Monument is redesignated as the 
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park, 
as generally depicted on the map. 
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(B) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Any funds 
available for the purposes of the Reconstruction 
Era National Monument shall be available for 
the purposes of the historical park. 
(C) REFERENCES.—Any references in a 
law, regulation, document, record, map, or 
other paper of the United States to the Recon-
struction Era National Monument shall be con-
sidered to be a reference to the historical park. 
(2) BOUNDARY EXPANSION.— 
(A) BEAUFORT NATIONAL HISTORIC LAND-
MARK DISTRICT.—Subject to subparagraph (D), 
the Secretary is authorized to acquire land or 
interests in land within the Beaufort National 
Historic Landmark District that has historic 
connection to the Reconstruction Era. Upon fi-
nalizing an agreement to acquire land, the Sec-
retary shall expand the boundary of the histor-
ical park to encompass the property. 
(B) ST. HELENA ISLAND.—Subject to sub-
paragraph (D), the Secretary is authorized to 
acquire the following and shall expand the 
boundary of the historical park to include ac-
quisitions under this authority: 
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(i) Land and interests in land adja-
cent to the existing boundary on St. Hel-
ena Island, South Carolina, as reflected on 
the map. 
(ii) Land or interests in land on St. 
Helena Island, South Carolina, that has a 
historic connection to the Reconstruction 
Era. 
(C) CAMP SAXTON.—Subject to subpara-
graph (D), the Secretary is authorized to accept 
administrative jurisdiction of Federal land or 
interests in Federal land adjacent to the exist-
ing boundary at Camp Saxton, as reflected on 
the map. Upon finalizing an agreement to ac-
cept administrative jurisdiction of Federal land 
or interests in Federal land, the Secretary shall 
expand the boundary of the historical park to 
encompass that Federal land or interests in 
Federal land. 
(D) LAND ACQUISITION AUTHORITY.—The 
Secretary may only acquire land under this Act 
by donation, exchange or purchase with donated 
funds. 
(c) ADMINISTRATION.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall admin-
ister the historical park in accordance with this Act 
and with the laws generally applicable to units of the 
National Park System. 
(2) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—If the management 
plan for the Reconstruction Era National Monu-
ment— 
(A) has not been completed on or before 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall incorporate all provisions of this Act into 
the planning process and complete a manage-
ment plan for the historical park within 3 
years; and 
(B) has been completed on or before the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall update the plan incorporating the provi-
sions of this Act. 
SEC. 3. RECONSTRUCTION ERA NATIONAL HISTORIC NET-
WORK. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) establish, within the National Park Service, 
a program to be known as the ‘‘Reconstruction Era 
National Historic Network’’; 
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(2) not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, solicit proposals from sites in-
terested in being a part of the Network; and 
(3) administer the Network through the Recon-
struction Era National Historical Park. 
(b) DUTIES OF SECRETARY.—In carrying out the 
Network, the Secretary shall— 
(1) review studies and reports to complement 
and not duplicate studies of the historical impor-
tance of Reconstruction Era that may be underway 
or completed, such as the National Park Service Re-
construction Handbook and the National Park Serv-
ice Theme Study on Reconstruction; 
(2) produce and disseminate appropriate edu-
cational and promotional materials relating to the 
Reconstruction Era and the sites in the network, 
such as handbooks, maps, interpretive guides, or 
electronic information; 
(3) enter into appropriate cooperative agree-
ments and memoranda of understanding to provide 
technical assistance; 
(4)(A) create and adopt an official, uniform 
symbol or device for the Network; and 
(B) issue regulations for the use of the symbol 
or device adopted under subparagraph (A); and 
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(5) conduct research relating to Reconstruction 
and the Reconstruction Era. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—The Network shall encompass the 
following elements— 
(1) all units and programs of the National Park 
Service that are determined by the Secretary to re-
late to the Reconstruction Era; 
(2) other Federal, State, local, and privately 
owned properties that the Secretary determines— 
(A) relate to the Reconstruction Era; and 
(B) are included in, or determined by the 
Secretary to be eligible for inclusion in, the Na-
tional Register of Historic Places; and 
(3) other governmental and nongovernmental 
sites, facilities, and programs of an educational, re-
search, or interpretive nature that are directly re-
lated to the Reconstruction Era. 
(d) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND MEMORANDA 
OF UNDERSTANDING.—To achieve the purposes of this 
Act and to ensure effective coordination of the Federal 
and non-Federal elements of the Network and units and 
programs of the National Park Service, the Secretary may 
enter into cooperative agreements and memoranda of un-
derstanding with, and provide technical assistance to, the 
heads of other Federal agencies, States, units of local gov-
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ernment, regional governmental bodies, and private enti-
ties. 
(e) NETWORK
DEFINED.—The term ‘‘Network’’ 
means the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network 
established pursuant to this Act. 
Æ 
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