What This Bill Does
This bill creates the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National Historic Site in Georgia. The site will preserve and protect the West Hunter Street Baptist Church, where Reverend Dr. Abernathy served as pastor during the civil rights movement, and will honor his role as a civil rights leader.
Who It Affects
The Secretary of the Interior will manage the site. Georgia state officials and landowners within the proposed boundaries may be affected by land acquisition efforts. The public will gain access to a new historic site.
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of the Interior cannot establish the Historic Site until enough land and property interests are acquired to create a manageable park unit. (Sec. 2(b)(2))
- The Secretary must announce the establishment of the Historic Site in the Federal Register within 30 days of determining sufficient land has been acquired. (Sec. 2(b)(3))
- The Secretary can acquire land by donation, purchase from willing sellers using donated or appropriated funds, or exchange. However, land owned by Georgia or its local governments can only be acquired through donation. (Sec. 2(e))
- The Secretary must complete a management plan for the Historic Site no later than 3 years after funds become available. (Sec. 2(g))
- The Secretary may make agreements with Georgia or other organizations to provide signs, exhibits, parking, educational tours, technology displays, and preservation services. (Sec. 2(h))
What Changes
A new National Park System unit will be established in Georgia dedicated to preserving the church where Dr. Abernathy served and his civil rights legacy.
Important Definitions
- "Historic Site" means the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National Historic Site established by this bill. (Sec. 2(a)(2))
- "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior. (Sec. 2(a)(3))
- "State" means Georgia. (Sec. 2(a)(4))
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 737
To establish the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National Historic Site, and
for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia (for herself, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mr. AUSTIN
SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. CARTER of Georgia, Mrs.
MCBATH, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, Mrs. BEATTY, Mr. POCAN, Mr.
COHEN, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. NADLER, Mr. CARSON, Mr.
SCHIFF, Mr. PAYNE, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. TAKANO, Mr. GREEN
of Texas, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. WILSON of Flor-
ida, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. DAVIS of
Illinois, Ms. NORTON, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. CARTER of Louisiana, Ms.
BUSH, and Ms. SEWELL) introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To establish the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National
Historic Site, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ralph David Aber-
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nathy, Sr. National Historic Site Act’’.
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•HR 737 IH
SEC. 2. RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY, SR. NATIONAL HIS-
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TORIC SITE.
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(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act:
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(1) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en-
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titled ‘‘Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National His-
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toric Site Proposed Boundary’’, numbered P99/
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184,019, and dated August 2022.
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(2) HISTORIC SITE.—The term ‘‘Historic Site’’
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means the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National
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Historic Site established by subsection (b).
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(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
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the Secretary of the Interior.
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(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State
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of Georgia.
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(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2),
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there is established the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr.
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National Historic Site in the State of Georgia as a
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unit of the National Park System to preserve, pro-
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tect, and interpret for the benefit of present and fu-
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ture generations—
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(A) the site where the Reverend Dr. Aber-
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nathy served as pastor during the height of the
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modern civil rights movement, the historic West
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Hunter Street Baptist Church; and
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•HR 737 IH
(B) the role of Dr. Abernathy as an inter-
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nationally recognized civil rights leader.
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(2) DETERMINATION
BY
THE
SECRETARY.—
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The Historic Site shall not be established until the
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date on which the Secretary determines that a suffi-
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cient quantity of land and interests in land have
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been acquired to constitute a manageable park unit.
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(3) NOTICE.—Not later than 30 days after the
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date on which the Secretary makes a determination
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under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall publish in
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the Federal Register notice of the establishment of
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the Historic Site.
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(c) BOUNDARY.—The boundary of the Historic Site
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shall be the boundary generally depicted as ‘‘Proposed
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Boundary’’ on the Map.
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(d) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The Map shall be on file
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and available for public inspection in the appropriate of-
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fices of the National Park Service.
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(e) ACQUISITION OF LAND.—
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2),
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the Secretary may acquire land and interests in land
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within the boundary of the Historic Site by—
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(A) donation;
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(B) purchase from a willing seller with do-
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nated or appropriated funds; or
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•HR 737 IH
(C) exchange.
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(2) LIMITATION.—Any land or interests in land
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owned by the State or a political subdivision of the
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State may be acquired for inclusion in the Historic
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Site only by donation.
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(f) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall admin-
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ister the Historic Site in accordance with—
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(1) this section; and
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(2) the laws generally applicable to units of the
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National Park System, including—
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(A)
sections
100101(a),
100751(a),
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100752, and 100753 of title 54, United States
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Code; and
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(B) chapters 1003 and 3201 of title 54,
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United States Code.
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(g) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Not later than 3 years
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after the date on which funds are first made available to
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carry out this Act, the Secretary shall complete a manage-
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ment plan for the Historic Site in accordance with section
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100502 of title 54, United States Code.
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(h) AGREEMENTS.—Within or outside the boundaries
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of the Historic Site, the Secretary may enter into coopera-
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tive agreements, leases, or other agreements, as appro-
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priate, with the State or other entities to provide and fa-
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cilitate interpretive and educational services, administra-
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•HR 737 IH
tive support, and technical assistance related to the His-
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toric Site, including—
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(1) the placement of directional and interpretive
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signage;
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(2) exhibits;
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(3) parking and other administrative needs;
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(4) technology-based interpretive devices;
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(5) public interpretation and tours; and
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(6) the preservation of historic and cultural re-
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sources.
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Æ
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