What This Bill Does
This bill creates a national historic site in Georgia dedicated to Reverend Dr. Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. The site will preserve and protect the West Hunter Street Baptist Church where Dr. Abernathy served as pastor during the Civil Rights Movement and will tell the story of his role as a civil rights leader.
##
Who It Affects
The National Park Service and the Secretary of the Interior will manage this new site. The state of Georgia and local communities where the historic site is located will be involved in its operation and interpretation. Members of the public will be able to visit and learn from this historic site.
##
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of the Interior cannot establish the historic site until enough land and property interests have been acquired to make it a workable unit. (Sec. 3(a)(2))
- The Secretary must announce the site's official establishment in the Federal Register within 30 days of determining that sufficient land has been acquired. (Sec. 3(a)(3))
- The Secretary can acquire land through donation, purchase from willing sellers using donated or appropriated funds, or exchange, but state-owned land can only be acquired through donation. (Sec. 3(d))
- The Secretary must complete a management plan for the historic site within 3 years after funds become available. (Sec. 3(f))
- The Secretary may make agreements with Georgia or other organizations to provide educational programs, signs, exhibits, parking, tours, and preservation of historic resources inside or outside the site boundaries. (Sec. 3(g))
##
What Changes
A new national historic site will be established in Georgia as part of the National Park System. The site will be managed according to federal laws that apply to all National Park System units. The Secretary of the Interior will work with Georgia and other groups to develop and operate educational and interpretive programs at the site.
##
Important Definitions
- "Historic Site" means the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National Historic Site being created by this bill (Sec. 2(1))
- "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior (Sec. 2(3))
- "State" means Georgia (Sec. 2(4))
- "Map" refers to a specific boundary map numbered P99/184,019 dated August 2022 (Sec. 2(2))
##
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text. The historic site becomes official only after the Secretary determines sufficient land has been acquired and publishes notice in the Federal Register.
II
Calendar No. 302
118TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
S. 507
[Report No. 118–150]
To establish the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National Historic Site, and
for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 16, 2023
Mr. OSSOFF (for himself and Mr. WARNOCK) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Nat-
ural Resources
JANUARY 9, 2024
Reported by Mr. MANCHIN, without amendment
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-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ralph David Aber-
4
nathy, Sr., National Historic Site Act’’.
5
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:42 Jan 09, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S507.RS
S507
2
•S 507 RS
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
1
In this Act:
2
(1) HISTORIC SITE.—The term ‘‘Historic Site’’
3
means the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr., National
4
Historic Site established by section 3(a).
5
(2) MAP.—The term ‘‘Map’’ means the map en-
6
titled ‘‘Ralph David Abernathy, Sr. National His-
7
toric Site Proposed Boundary’’, numbered P99/
8
184,019, and dated August 2022.
9
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
10
the Secretary of the Interior.
11
(4) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State
12
of Georgia.
13
SEC. 3. RALPH DAVID ABERNATHY, SR., NATIONAL HIS-
14
TORIC SITE.
15
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—
16
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2),
17
there is established the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr.,
18
National Historic Site in the State as a unit of the
19
National Park System to preserve, protect, and in-
20
terpret for the benefit of present and future genera-
21
tions—
22
(A) the site where the Reverend Dr. Aber-
23
nathy served as pastor during the height of the
24
modern civil rights movement, the historic West
25
Hunter Street Baptist Church; and
26
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:42 Jan 09, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S507.RS
S507
3
•S 507 RS
(B) the role of Dr. Abernathy as an inter-
1
nationally recognized civil rights leader.
2
(2) DETERMINATION
BY
THE
SECRETARY.—
3
The Historic Site shall not be established until the
4
date on which the Secretary determines that a suffi-
5
cient quantity of land and interests in land have
6
been acquired to constitute a manageable unit.
7
(3) NOTICE.—Not later than 30 days after the
8
date on which the Secretary makes a determination
9
under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall publish in
10
the Federal Register notice of the establishment of
11
the Historic Site.
12
(b) BOUNDARY.—The boundary of the Historic Site
13
shall be the boundary generally depicted as ‘‘Proposed
14
Boundary’’ on the Map.
15
(c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The Map shall be on file
16
and available for public inspection in the appropriate of-
17
fices of the National Park Service.
18
(d) ACQUISITION OF LAND.—
19
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2),
20
the Secretary may acquire land and interests in land
21
within the boundary of the Historic Site by—
22
(A) donation;
23
(B) purchase from a willing seller with do-
24
nated or appropriated funds; or
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:42 Jan 09, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S507.RS
S507
4
•S 507 RS
(C) exchange.
1
(2) LIMITATION.—Any land or interests in land
2
owned by the State or a political subdivision of the
3
State may be acquired for inclusion in the Historic
4
Site only by donation.
5
(e) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall admin-
6
ister the Historic Site in accordance with—
7
(1) this section; and
8
(2) the laws generally applicable to units of the
9
National Park System, including—
10
(A)
sections
100101(a),
100751(a),
11
100752, and 100753 of title 54, United States
12
Code; and
13
(B) chapters 1003 and 3201 of title 54,
14
United States Code.
15
(f) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—Not later than 3 years
16
after the date on which funds are first made available to
17
carry out this Act, the Secretary shall complete a manage-
18
ment plan for the Historic Site in accordance with section
19
100502 of title 54, United States Code.
20
(g) AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary may enter into co-
21
operative agreements, leases, or other agreements, as ap-
22
propriate, with the State or other entities to provide and
23
facilitate interpretive and educational services, administra-
24
tive support, and technical assistance related to the His-
25
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:42 Jan 09, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S507.RS
S507
5
•S 507 RS
toric Site within or outside the boundaries of the Historic
1
Site, including—
2
(1) the placement of directional and interpretive
3
signage;
4
(2) exhibits;
5
(3) parking and other administrative needs;
6
(4) technology-based interpretive devices;
7
(5) public interpretation and tours; and
8
(6) the preservation of historic and cultural re-
9
sources.
10
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:42 Jan 09, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\S507.RS
S507
Calendar No. 302
118TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
S. 507
[Report No. 118–150]
A BILL
To establish the Ralph David Abernathy, Sr.,
National Historic Site, and for other purposes.
JANUARY 9, 2024
Reported without amendment
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:42 Jan 09, 2024
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6651
Sfmt 6651
E:\BILLS\S507.RS
S507