II 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1709 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 27, 2007 Mr. Biden (for himself, Mr. Specter, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Carper, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Levin, and Mr. Obama) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To amend the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 to provide additional staff and oversight of funds to carry out the Act, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2007.

2.

Hiring staff for the National Underground Railroad Network

Section 3 of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 469l–1) is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following: (d)

Staff

The Secretary shall appoint at least 8 full-time equivalent staff to assist the Secretary in carrying out duties under this Act, including providing oversight of the grant program established under section 4. .

3.

Authorization of appropriations

The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998 (16 U.S.C. 469l et seq.) is amended— (1)in section 4 (16 U.S.C. 469l–2), by striking subsection (d); and (2)by adding at the end the following:

5.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

There is authorized to be appropriated for each fiscal year to carry out this Act $2,500,000. (b)

Allocation

Of the amounts made available under subsection (a)— (1)$2,000,000 shall be allocated to carry out section 3; and (2)$500,000 shall be allocated to carry out section 4. (c)

Limitation

Any amounts made available under this section shall be made available only to the Secretary to carry out the responsibilities of the Secretary under this Act. (d)

Availability

Amounts made available under this section shall remain available until expended.

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4.

Effective Date

The amendments made by sections 2 and 3 shall take effect at the beginning of the next fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act.