Evaluating Lynching Locations (ELL) for National Park Sites Act

Bill: 117-hr-7912
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
Introduced: 2022-05-31
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Crime victims

Government studies and investigations

Hate crimes

Historic sites and heritage areas

Parks, recreation areas, trails

Racial and ethnic relations

Tennessee

U.S. history

Violent crime
Latest action: action_date: 2022-07-14
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2022-05-31
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Evaluating Lynching Locations (ELL) for National Park Sites Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites within approximately 100 miles of Memphis, Tennessee, at which lynchings took place.</p> <p>In conducting the special resource study, Interior shall (1) evaluate the national significance of such study area, and (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as a unit of the National Park System. </p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7912 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 31, 2022 Mr. Cohen (for himself, Ms. Brown of Ohio , Mr. Carson , Mr. Carter of Louisiana , Mr. Cleaver , Mr. Costa , Mr. Espaillat , Mr. Johnson of Georgia , Ms. Lee of California , Mr. Mfume , Ms. Moore of Wisconsin , Ms. Norton , Mr. Rush , Mr. Thompson of Mississippi , Mrs. Watson Coleman , and Ms. Williams of Georgia ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing a network of locations associated with lynchings in the vicinity of Memphis, Tennessee, as a unit of the National Park System.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Evaluating Lynching Locations (ELL) for National Park Sites Act . 2. Special resource study of lynching locations (a) In general The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of the study area. (b) Contents In conducting the special resource study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall— (1) evaluate the national significance of the study area; (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as a unit of the National Park System; (3) consider other alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation of the study area by the Federal Government, State or local government entities, or private and nonprofit organizations; (4) consult with interested Federal agencies, State or local governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations, or any other interested persons; and (5) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives. (c) Applicable law The study required under subsection (a) shall be conducted in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, United States Code. (d) Report Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that describes— (1) the results of the study; and (2) any recommendations of the Secretary. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (2) Study Area The term study area means sites within approximately 100 miles of Memphis, Tennessee, at which lynchings took place, including, but not limited to, the lynching sites of— (A) Wash Henley in 1869; (B) Christopher Bender and Bud Whitfield in 1868; (C) Thomas Moss, Will Stewart, and Calvin McDowell in 1892 during the event referred to as The People’s Grocery Lynchings ; (D) Lee Walker in 1893; (E) Warner Williams, Daniel Hawkins, Robert Haynes, Edward Hall, John Hayes, and Graham White in 1894; (F) Ell Persons in 1917; (G) Jesse Lee Bond in 1939; and (H) Elbert Williams in 1940.