Title: Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Act
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Act
This bill redesignates the Reconstruction Era National Monument in Beaufort County, South Carolina, as the "Reconstruction Era National Historical Park," and authorizes the Department of the Interior to acquire specified lands to expand the park.
Interior shall establish within the National Park Service the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 972 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 Representatives 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:
            (1) Historical park.--The term ``historical park'' means 
        the Reconstruction Era National Historical 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 National 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.
                    (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 Reconstruction Era National 
                Monument shall be considered to be a reference to the 
                historical park.
            (2) Boundary expansion.--
                    (A) Beaufort national historic landmark 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 
                finalizing an agreement to acquire land, the Secretary 
                shall expand the boundary of the historical park to 
                encompass the property.
                    (B) St. helena island.--Subject to subparagraph 
                (D), the Secretary is authorized to acquire the 
                following and shall expand the boundary of the 
                historical park to include acquisitions under this 
                authority:
                            (i) Land and interests in land adjacent to 
                        the existing boundary on St. Helena 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 subparagraph (D), the 
                Secretary is authorized to accept administrative 
                jurisdiction of Federal land or interests in Federal 
                land adjacent to the existing boundary at Camp Saxton, 
                as reflected on the map. Upon finalizing an agreement 
                to accept 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.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer 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 Monument--
                    (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 management 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 provisions of this Act.

SEC. 3. RECONSTRUCTION ERA NATIONAL HISTORIC NETWORK.

    (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'';
            (2) not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act, solicit proposals from sites interested in being a 
        part of the Network; and
            (3) administer the Network through the Reconstruction 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 importance of 
        Reconstruction Era that may be underway or completed, such as 
        the National Park Service Reconstruction Handbook and the 
        National Park Service Theme Study on Reconstruction;
            (2) produce and disseminate appropriate educational 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 agreements 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
            (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 relate 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 National Register 
                of Historic Places; and
            (3) other governmental and nongovernmental sites, 
        facilities, and programs of an educational, research, or 
        interpretive nature that are directly related 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 understanding with, and provide 
technical assistance to, the heads of other Federal agencies, States, 
units of local government, regional governmental bodies, and private 
entities.
    (e) Network Defined.--The term ``Network'' means the Reconstruction 
Era National Historic Network established pursuant to this Act.
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