An act to amend title 54, United States Code, to establish within the National Park Service the African American Civil Rights Network, and for other purposes
PL 115-104 (H.R.1927), enacted 01/08/2018

131 STAT. 2260 
PUBLIC LAW 115–104—JAN. 8, 2018 
Public Law 115–104 
115th Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 54, United States Code, to establish within the National Park 
Service the African American Civil Rights Network, 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 ‘‘African American Civil Rights 
Network Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are— 
(1) to recognize— 
(A) the importance of the African American civil rights 
movement; and 
(B) the sacrifices made by the people who fought 
against discrimination and segregation; and 
(2) to authorize the National Park Service to coordinate 
and facilitate Federal and non-Federal activities to commemo-
rate, 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 
‘‘Sec. 
‘‘308401. Definition of network. 
‘‘308402. U.S. Civil Rights Network. 
‘‘308403. Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding. 
‘‘308404. Sunset. 
‘‘§ 308401. Definition of network 
‘‘In this chapter, the term ‘Network’ means the African Amer-
ican Civil Rights Network established under section 308402(a). 
54 USC 308401. 
54 USC 
prec. 308401. 
54 USC 308401 
note. 
African American 
Civil Rights 
Network Act 
of 2017. 
54 USC 100101 
note. 
Jan. 8, 2018 
[H.R. 1927] 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
12:58 Jul 07, 2023
Jkt 069194
PO 00000
Frm 00978
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2017\PT2 COMBINE FILES\69194PT2.001
69194PT2
jmbennett on LAPBW6H6L3PROD with STATUTES
131 STAT. 2261 
PUBLIC LAW 115–104—JAN. 8, 2018 
‘‘§ 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 importance of the African 
American civil rights movement that may be underway or com-
pleted, such as the Civil Rights Framework Study; 
‘‘(2) produce and disseminate appropriate educational mate-
rials relating to the African American civil rights movement, 
such as handbooks, maps, interpretive guides, or electronic 
information; 
‘‘(3) enter into appropriate cooperative agreements 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 deter-
mined by the Secretary to relate to the African American civil 
rights movement during the period from 1939 through 1968. 
‘‘(2) With the consent of the property owner, other Federal, 
State, local, and privately owned properties that— 
‘‘(A) relate to the African American civil rights move-
ment; 
‘‘(B) have a verifiable connection to the African Amer-
ican civil rights movement; and 
‘‘(C) are included in, or determined by the Secretary 
to be eligible for inclusion in, the National 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 under-
standing 
‘‘To achieve the purposes of this chapter and to ensure effective 
coordination of the Federal and non-Federal elements of the Net-
work described in section 308402(c) with System units and programs 
of the Service, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements 
and memoranda of understanding with, and provide technical assist-
ance to the heads of other Federal agencies, States, units of local 
government, regional governmental bodies, and private entities. 
‘‘§ 308404. Sunset 
‘‘This program shall expire on the date that is 7 years after 
the date of enactment of this chapter.’’. 
(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 ..........................................................................
308401’’. 
54 USC 
prec. 100101. 
54 USC 308404. 
54 USC 308403. 
Historic 
preservation. 
Regulations. 
Contracts. 
Review. 
54 USC 308402. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
12:58 Jul 07, 2023
Jkt 069194
PO 00000
Frm 00979
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6581
G:\STATUTES\2017\PT2 COMBINE FILES\69194PT2.001
69194PT2
jmbennett on LAPBW6H6L3PROD with STATUTES
131 STAT. 2262 
PUBLIC LAW 115–104—JAN. 8, 2018 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1927: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–241 (Comm. on Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017): 
July 26, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 21, considered and passed Senate. 
SEC. 4. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED. 
No additional funds are authorized to carry out the require-
ments of this Act and the amendments made by this Act. Such 
requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise author-
ized. 
Approved January 8, 2018. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
12:58 Jul 07, 2023
Jkt 069194
PO 00000
Frm 00980
Fmt 6580
Sfmt 6580
G:\STATUTES\2017\PT2 COMBINE FILES\69194PT2.001
69194PT2
jmbennett on LAPBW6H6L3PROD with STATUTES