National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998
PL 105-203 (H.R.1635), enacted 07/21/1998

112 STAT. 678 
PUBLIC LAW 105-203-JULY 21, 1998 
Public Law 105-203 
105th Congress 
An Act 
July 21, 1998 
To establish within the United States National Park Service the National Under-
[H.R. 1635] 
ground Railroad Network to Freedom program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
National 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Underground 
Raih-oad 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
FreXmActof 
^his Act may be cited as the "National Underground Railroad 
1998. 
Network to Freedom Act of 1998". 
16 use 461 note. 
16 use 469/. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Underground Railroad, which flourished from the 
end of the 18th century to the end of the Civil War, was 
one of the most significant expressions of the American civil 
rights movement during its evolution over more than three 
centuries. 
(2) The Underground Railroad bridged the divides of race, 
religion, sectional differences, and nationality; spanned State 
lines and international borders; and joined the American ideals 
of liberty and freedom expressed in the Declaration of Independ-
ence and the Constitution to the extraordinary actions of ordi-
nary men and women working in common purpose to free 
a people. 
(3) Pursuant to title VI of Public Law 101-628 (16 U.S.C. 
la-5 note; 104 Stat. 4495), the Underground Railroad Advisory 
Committee conducted a study of the appropriate means of 
establishing an enduring national commemorative Underground 
Railroad program 
of education, example, reflection, 
and 
reconciliation. 
(4) The Underground Railroad Advisory Committee found 
that— 
(A) although a few elements of the Undergroimd Rail-
road story are represented in existing National Park Serv-
ice units and other sites, many sites are in imminent 
danger of being lost or destroyed, and many important 
resource types are not adequately represented and pro-
tected; 
(B) there are many importeuit sites which have high 
potential for preservation and visitor use in 29 States, 
the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Isleuids; 
(C) no single site or route completely reflects and 
characterizes the Underground Railroad, since its story 
and associated resources involve networks and regions of 
the country rather than individual sites and trails; and 
PUBLIC LAW 105-203-^ULY 21, 1998 
112 STAT. 679 
(D) establishment of a variety of partnerships between 
the Federal Government and other levels of government 
and the private sector would be most appropriate for the 
protection and interpretation of the Underground Railroad. 
(5) The National Park Service can play a vital role in 
facilitating the national commemoration of the Underground 
Railroad. 
(6) The story and significgmce of the Underground Railroad 
can iDest engage the American people through a national pro-
gram of the National Park Service that links historic buildings, 
structures, and sites; routes, geographic areas, and corridors; 
interpretive centers, museums, and institutions; and programs, 
activities, community projects, exhibits, and multimedia mate-
rials, in a manner that is both unified and flexible. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are the following: 
(1) To recognize the importance of the Underground Rail-
road, the sacrifices made by those who used the Underground 
Railroad in search of freedom from tyranny and oppression, 
and the sacrifices made by the people who helped them. 
(2) To authorize the National Park Service to coordinate 
and facilitate Federal and non-Federal activities to commemo-
rate, honor, and interpret the history of the Underground Rail-
road, its significance as a crucial element in the evolution 
of the national civil rights movement, and its relevance in 
fostering the spirit of racial harmony and national reconcili-
ation. 
SEC. 
3
. 
NATIONAL 
UNDERGROUND 
RAILROAD 
NETWORK 
TO 
FREEDOM 1
6 
USC 
4
6
9
i
-
l
. 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior (in this Act 
referred to as the "Secretary") shall establish in the National Park 
Service a program to be known as the "National Underground 
Railroad Network to Freedom" (in this Act referred to as the 
"national network"). Under the program, the Secretary shall— 
(1) produce and disseminate 
appropriate 
educational 
materials, such as handbooks, maps, interpretive guides, or 
electronic information; 
(2) enter into appropriate cooperative agreements and 
1 memoranda of understanding to provide technical assistance 
under subsection (c); and 
(3) create and adopt an official, uniform symbol or device 
for the national network and issue regulations for its use. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The national network shall encompass the 
following elements: 
(1) All units and programs of the National Park Service 
determined by the Secretary to pertain to the Underground 
Railroad. 
(2) Other Federal, State, local, and privately owned prop-
erties pertaining to the Underground Railroad that have a 
verifiable connection to the Underground Railroad and that 
are included on, or determined by the Secretary to be eligible 
for inclusion on, 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 Underground Railroad. 
(c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND MEMORANDA OF UNDER-
STANDING.—To achieve the purposes of this Act and to ensure 
59-194 O - 98 - 23: QL 3 Part 1 
112 STAT. 680 
PUBLIC LAW 1 0 5 - 2 0 3 - J U L Y 21, 1998 
effective coordination of the Federal and non-Federal elements of 
the national network referred to in subsection (b) with National 
Park Service units and programs, the Secretary may enter into 
cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding with, 
and provide technical assistance to— 
(1) the heads of other Federal agencies, States, localities, 
regional governmental bodies, and private entities; and 
(2) in cooperation with the Secretary of State, the govern-
ments of Canada, Mexico, and any appropriate country in the 
Caribbean. 
(d) APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this Act not more than $500,000 for each fiscal year. 
No amoiuits may be appropriated for the purposes of this Act 
except to the Secretary for carr3dng out the responsibilities of the 
Secretary as set forth in section 3(a). 
Approved July 21, 1998, 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1635 (S. 887): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 105-559 (Comm. on Resources). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-217 accompanying S. 887 (Comm. on Energy and Nat-
131*3.1 j\.^SOUl*CPSl 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998): 
June 9, considered and passed House. 
June 25, considered and passed Senate.