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 ‘‘African American Civil 
Rights Network Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that— 
(1) the African American civil rights movement 
includes historic events, court decisions, and legisla-
tion, the goals of which were— 
(A) to end segregation based upon race; 
(B) to end discrimination against African 
Americans; and 
(C) to ensure that African American citi-
zens could exercise their basic constitutional 
rights, including the right to vote; 
(2) the civil rights movement— 
(A) helped bridge the divides of race, reli-
gion, sectional differences, and nationality; 
(B) spanned State lines; and 
(C) joined the ideals of liberty and freedom 
expressed in the Declaration of Independence, 
the Constitution, and the Civil Rights Act of 
1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.) to the extraor-
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dinary actions of ordinary men and women 
working in common purpose for equal rights; 
(3) the National Park Service and Organization 
of American Historians conducted a theme study 
that identified and interpreted sites related to the 
Civil Rights movement (Public Law 106–113, Ap-
pendix C, ‘‘The National Park System New Area of 
Study Act of 2000’’ [s. 1349]); 
(4) in conducting the theme study referred to in 
paragraph (3), the National Park Service and the 
Organization of American Historians found that— 
(A) although many sites relating to the Af-
rican American civil rights movement have been 
identified and recognized in existing National 
Park System units— 
(i) a number of sites relating to the 
African American civil rights movement 
have not been recognized; 
(ii) many sites relating to the African 
American civil rights movement are in im-
minent danger of being lost or destroyed; 
and 
(iii) many important resource types 
relating to the African American civil 
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rights movement are not adequately rep-
resented and protected; 
(B) there are many important sites relat-
ing to the African American civil rights move-
ment that have high potential for preservation 
and visitor use in a number of States, the Dis-
trict of Columbia, and territories of the United 
States; 
(C) no single site completely reflects and 
characterizes the African American civil rights 
movement, since the story of, and resources as-
sociated with, the African American civil rights 
movement involve networks, regions, and terri-
tories of the United States rather than indi-
vidual sites; and 
(D) the establishment of a variety of part-
nerships among the Federal Government, State, 
and units of local government, and the private 
sector would be most appropriate for the pro-
tection, restoration, and interpretation of the 
African American Civil Rights Network; 
(5) the National Park Service can play a vital 
role in facilitating the creation and sustained success 
of the African American Civil Rights Network; and 
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(6) the story and significance of the African 
American civil rights movement can best engage the 
people of the United States through a national pro-
gram of the National Park Service that links, in a 
unified and flexible manner— 
(A) historic buildings, structures, and sites 
relating to the African American civil rights 
movement; 
(B) geographic areas relating to the Afri-
can American civil rights movement; 
(C) interpretive centers, museums, and in-
stitutions relating to the African American civil 
rights movement; and 
(D) 
programs, 
activities, 
community 
projects, exhibits, and multimedia materials re-
lating to the African American civil rights 
movement. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to recognize— 
(A) the importance of the African Amer-
ican civil rights movement; and 
(B) the sacrifices made by the people who 
fought against discrimination and segregation; 
and 
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(2) to authorize the National Park Service to 
coordinate and facilitate Federal and non-Federal 
activities to commemorate, honor, and interpret— 
(A) the history of the African American 
civil rights movement; 
(B) the significance of the civil rights 
movement as a crucial element in the evolution 
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
2000a et seq.); and 
(C) the relevance of the African American 
civil rights movement in fostering the spirit of 
social justice and national reconciliation. 
SEC. 3. U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS NETWORK PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subdivision 1 of Division B of 
subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, is amended 
by inserting after chapter 3083 the following: 
‘‘CHAPTER 3084—U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS 
NETWORK 
‘‘§ 308401. Definition of network 
‘‘In this chapter, the term ‘Network’ means the Afri-
can American Civil Rights Network established under sec-
tion 308402(a). 
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‘‘§ 308402. U.S. Civil Rights Network 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish, 
within the Service, a program to be known as the ‘U.S. 
Civil Rights Network’. 
‘‘(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 the African American civil rights movement 
that may be underway or completed, such as the 
Civil Rights Framework Study; 
‘‘(2) produce and disseminate appropriate edu-
cational materials relating to the African American 
civil rights movement, such as handbooks, maps, in-
terpretive guides, or electronic information; 
‘‘(3) enter into appropriate cooperative agree-
ments and memoranda of understanding to provide 
technical assistance under subsection (c); and 
‘‘(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). 
‘‘(c) ELEMENTS.—The Network shall encompass the 
following elements: 
‘‘(1) All units and programs of the Service that 
are determined by the Secretary to relate to the Af-
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rican American civil rights movement during the pe-
riod from 1939 through 1968. 
‘‘(2) Other Federal, State, local, and privately 
owned properties that— 
‘‘(A) relate to the African American civil 
rights movement; 
‘‘(B) have a verifiable connection to the 
African American civil rights movement; and 
‘‘(C) are included in, or determined by the 
Secretary to be eligible for inclusion in, the Na-
tional Register of Historic Places. 
‘‘(3) Other governmental and nongovernmental 
facilities and programs of an educational, research, 
or interpretive nature that are directly related to the 
African American civil rights movement. 
‘‘§ 308403. Cooperative agreements and memoranda 
of understanding 
‘‘To achieve the purposes of this chapter and to en-
sure effective coordination of the Federal and non-Federal 
elements of the Network described in section 308402(c) 
with System units and programs of the Service, the Sec-
retary may enter into cooperative agreements and memo-
randa of understanding with, and provide technical assist-
ance to the heads of other Federal agencies, States, units 
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of local government, regional governmental bodies, and 
private entities.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of chapters 
for title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to chapter 3083 the following: 
‘‘3084. U.S. Civil Rights Network.’’. 
Æ 
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