HR 1078 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, New York, and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

February 13, 2009CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mr. ARCURI (for himself, Ms. EDWARDS of Maryland, Mr. KRATOVIL, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. BACA, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. BISHOP of New York, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, Mr. CAPUANO, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. CLAY, Mr. COHEN, Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. DONNELLY of Indiana, Ms. FUDGE, Mr. GRAYSON, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. HINCHEY, Mr. HOYER, Mr. ISRAEL, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mrs. MALONEY, Mr. MARKEY of Massachusetts, Mr. MASSA, Mr. MATHESON, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. MELANCON, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut, Mr. NADLER of New York, Ms. NORTON, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. REYES, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. SHULER, Mr. SIRES, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Ms. SUTTON, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. WATT, and Mr. WAXMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural ResourcesCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To establish the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, New York, and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park Act’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSES.

(a) Findings- Congress finds that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) Harriet Tubman (born Araminta ‘Minty’ Ross)--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) was born into slavery in Maryland around 1822;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) married John Tubman at age 25;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) endured through her youth and young adulthood the hardships of enslaved African-Americans; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) boldly emancipated herself from bondage in 1849;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) not satisfied with attaining her own freedom, Harriet Tubman--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) returned repeatedly for more than 10 years to the places of her enslavement in Dorchester and Caroline Counties, Maryland; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) under the most adverse circumstances led away many family members and acquaintances to freedom in the northern region of the United States and Canada;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) Harriet Tubman was--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) called ‘Moses’ by African-Americans and white abolitionists; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) acknowledged as one of the most prominent ‘conductors’ of the resistance that came to be known as the ‘Underground Railroad’;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) in 1868, Frederick Douglass wrote that, with the exception of John Brown, Douglass knew of ‘no one who has willingly encountered more perils and hardships to serve our enslaved people’ than Harriet Tubman;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) during the Civil War, Harriet Tubman--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) was recruited to assist Union troops as a nurse, a scout, and a spy; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) served in Virginia, Florida, and South Carolina, where she is credited with facilitating the rescue of hundreds of enslaved people;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(6) Harriet Tubman established in Auburn, New York, one of the first incorporated homes for aged African-Americans in the United States, which, 10 years before her death, she bequeathed to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(7) there are nationally significant resources comprised of relatively unchanged landscapes associated with the early life of Harriet Tubman in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(8) there are nationally significant resources relating to Harriet Tubman in Auburn, New York, including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the residence of Harriet Tubman;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the Tubman Home for the Aged;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) the final resting place of Harriet Tubman in Fort Hill Cemetery;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(9) in developing interpretive programs, the National Park Service would benefit from increased scholarship of the African-American experience during the decades preceding the Civil War and throughout the remainder of the 19th century;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(10) it is fitting and proper that the nationally significant resources relating to Harriet Tubman be preserved for future generations as units of the National Park System so that people may understand and appreciate the contributions of Harriet Tubman to the history and culture of the United States; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(11) in addition to the properties and resources within the boundary of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, other associated preserved landscapes (including the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge) are essential to the visual, historical, and cultural experiences of the Historical Park.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Purposes- The purposes of this Act are--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to preserve and promote stewardship of the resources in Auburn, New York, and Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, relating to the life and contributions of Harriet Tubman;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) to provide for partnerships with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, the States of New York and Maryland, political subdivisions of the States, the Federal Government, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and private property owners for resource protection, research, interpretation, education, and public understanding and appreciation of the life and contributions of Harriet Tubman;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) to sustain agricultural and forestry land uses in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, that remain evocative of the landscape during the life of Harriet Tubman; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) to establish a competitive grants program for scholars of African-American history relating to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) CHURCH- The term ‘Church’ means the Thompson Memorial AME Zion Church located in Auburn, New York.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY- The term ‘historically Black college or university’ has the meaning given the term ‘part B institution’ in section 322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) PREDOMINANTLY BLACK INSTITUTION- The term ‘Predominantly Black Institution’ has the meaning given the term in section 499A(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099e(c)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4) SECRETARY- The term ‘Secretary’ means the Secretary of the Interior.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(5) VISITOR CENTER- The term ‘Visitor Center’ means the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Visitor Center to be constructed under section 5(d).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF HARRIET TUBMAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.

(a) Establishment- On the execution of easements with the Church, the Secretary shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) establish the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park (referred to in this section as the ‘Historical Park’) in the City of Auburn, New York, as a unit of the National Park System; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) publish notice of the establishment of the Historical Park in the Federal Register.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Boundary-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The Historical Park shall be comprised of structures and properties associated with the Harriet Tubman home, the Tubman Home for the Aged, the Church, and the Rectory, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘Harriet Tubman National Historical Park--Proposed Boundary’, numbered XXXX, and dated XXX.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) AVAILABILITY OF MAP- The map described in paragraph (1) shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Acquisition of Land- The Secretary may acquire from willing sellers, by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, land or interests in land within the boundary of the Historical Park.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Financial Assistance- The Secretary may provide grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the Church for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) historic preservation of, rehabilitation of, research on, and maintenance of properties within the boundary of the Historical Park; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) interpretation of the Historical Park;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the Fort Hill Cemetery Association for maintenance and interpretation of the gravesite of Harriet Tubman; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) the State of New York, any political subdivisions of the State, the City of Auburn, and nonprofit organizations for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) preservation and interpretation of resources relating to Harriet Tubman in the City of Auburn, New York;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) conducting research, including archaeological research; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) providing for stewardship programs, education, public access, signage, and other interpretive devices at the Historical Park for interpretive purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Interpretation- The Secretary may provide interpretive tours to sites located outside the boundaries of the Historical Park in Auburn, New York, that include resources relating to Harriet Tubman.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) General Management Plan-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary, in cooperation with the Church, shall complete a general management plan for the Historical Park in accordance with section 12(b) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-7(b)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COORDINATION- The Secretary shall coordinate the preparation and implementation of the general management plan for the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in Maryland; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the National Underground Railroad: Network to Freedom.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HARRIET TUBMAN UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK.

(a) Establishment- There is established as a unit of the National Park System the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park (referred to in this section as the ‘Historical Park’) in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Boundary-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- The boundary of the Historical Park shall consist of certain landscapes and associated resources relating to the early life and enslavement of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad, as generally depicted on the map entitled ‘Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park--Proposed Boundary’, numbered XXXX, and dated XXXXX.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) ADDITIONAL SITES- The Secretary, after consultation with landowners, the State of Maryland, and units of local government, may modify the boundary of the Historical Park to include additional resources relating to Harriet Tubman that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) are located within the vicinity of the Historical Park; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) are identified in the general management plan prepared under subsection (g) as appropriate for interpreting the life of Harriet Tubman.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) AVAILABILITY OF MAP- On modification of the boundary of the Historical Park under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall make available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service a revised map of the Historical Park.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Acquisition of Land- The Secretary may acquire from willing sellers, by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, land or an interest in land within the boundaries of the Historical Park.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Grants- In accordance with section 7(b)(2), the Secretary may provide grants--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) to the State of Maryland, political subdivisions of the State, and nonprofit organizations for the acquisition of less than fee title (including easements) or fee title to land in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, within the boundary of the Historical Park; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) on execution of a memorandum of understanding between the State of Maryland and the Director of the National Park Service, to the State of Maryland for the construction of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park Visitor Center on land owned by the State of Maryland in Dorchester County, Maryland, subject to the condition that the State of Maryland provide the Director of the National Park Service, at no additional cost, sufficient office space and exhibition areas in the Visitor Center to carry out the purposes of the Historical Park.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Financial Assistance- The Secretary may provide grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements with, the State of Maryland, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, and private property owners for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the restoration or rehabilitation, public use, and interpretation of sites and resources relating to Harriet Tubman;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the conduct of research, including archaeological research;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) providing stewardship programs, education, signage, and other interpretive devices at the sites and resources for interpretive purposes; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(4)(A) the design and construction of the Visitor Center; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the operation and maintenance of the Visitor Center.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Interpretation- The Secretary may provide interpretive tours to sites and resources located outside the boundary of the Historical Park in Caroline, Dorchester, and Talbot Counties, Maryland, relating to the life of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) General Management Plan-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made available to carry out this subsection, the Secretary, in coordination with the State of Maryland, political subdivisions of the State, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall complete a general management plan for the Historical Park in accordance with section 12(b) of Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-7(b)).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) COORDINATION- The Secretary shall coordinate the preparation and implementation of the general management plan for the Historical Park with--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, New York;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the National Underground Railroad: Network to Freedom;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(C) the Maryland Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(D) the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway in Dorchester and Caroline Counties, Maryland.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) PRIORITY TREATMENT- The general management plan for the Historical Park shall give priority to the adequate protection of, interpretation of, public appreciation for, archaeological investigation of, and research on Stewart’s Canal, the Jacob Jackson home site, the Brodess Farm, the Ben Ross and Anthony Thompson properties on Harrisville Road, and the James Cook site, all of which are privately owned and located in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) INTERAGENCY AGREEMENT- The Secretary shall ensure that, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Park Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service enter into an interagency agreement that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) promotes and mutually supports the compatible stewardship and interpretation of Harriet Tubman resources at the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) provides for the maximum level of cooperation between those Federal agencies to further the purposes of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) EFFECT OF ACT- Nothing in this Act modifies, alters, or amends the authorities of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in the administration and management of the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATION.

(a) In General- The Secretary shall administer the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park in accordance with this Act and the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System including--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) the National Park Service Organic Act (16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) the Act of August 21, 1935 (16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Park Regulations- Notwithstanding subsection (a), regulations and policies applicable to units of the National Park System shall apply only to Federal land administrated by the National Park Service that is located within the boundary of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) In General- There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act (other than subsection (b)), including the provision of National Park Service personnel and National Park Service management funds for the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Grants- There are authorized to be appropriated not more than--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) $11,000,000 to provide grants to the Church for--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(A) historic preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration of resources within the boundary of the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(B) the costs of design, construction, installation, and maintenance of exhibits and other interpretive devices authorized under section 4(d)(1)(B);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) $11,000,000 for grants to the State of Maryland for activities authorized under subsections (d)(1) and (e)(4)(A) of section 5; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) $200,000 for fiscal year 2010 and each fiscal year thereafter for competitive grants to historically Black colleges and universities, Predominately Black Institutions, and minority serving institutions for research into the life of Harriet Tubman and the African-American experience during the years that coincide with the life of Harriet Tubman.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Cost-Sharing Requirement-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) CHURCH AND VISITOR CENTER GRANTS- The Federal share of the cost of activities provided grants under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) and any maintenance, construction, or utility costs incurred pursuant to a cooperative agreement entered into under section 4(d)(1)(A) or section 5(e) shall not be more than 50 percent.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES- The Federal share of the cost of activities provided assistance under subsection (b)(3) shall be not more than 75 percent.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(3) FORM OF NON-FEDERAL SHARE- The non-Federal share required under this subsection may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly valued.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink