II 
Calendar No. 285 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 520 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
JUNE 18, 2013 
Received 
DECEMBER 20, 2013 
Read twice and placed on the calendar 
AN ACT 
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’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
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HR 520 PCS
(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-
crease understanding and public awareness of the critical 
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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. 
Passed the House of Representatives June 17, 2013. 
Attest: 
KAREN L. HAAS, 
Clerk. 
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Calendar No. 285 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 520 
AN ACT 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to con-
duct 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. 
DECEMBER 20, 2013 
Read twice and placed on the calendar 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
23:55 Dec 20, 2013
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PO 00000
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