[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1278 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1278

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources 
study regarding the suitability and feasibility of designating the John 
 Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park and other sites in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 
  relating to the 1921 Tulsa race riot as a unit of the National Park 
                    System, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 31, 2011

Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Ms. Norton, Mr. Butterfield, Ms. Jackson Lee 
of Texas, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Cole, Mr. Grijalva, 
     Mr. Lewis of Georgia, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Towns, Mr. Thompson of 
Mississippi, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Clay, Mr. Boren, Ms. 
Lee of California, Mr. Watt, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Price of North Carolina, 
   Ms. Fudge, Ms. Moore, Ms. Richardson, and Ms. Clarke of New York) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
                           Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources 
study regarding the suitability and feasibility of designating the John 
 Hope Franklin Reconciliation Park and other sites in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 
  relating to the 1921 Tulsa race riot as a unit of the National Park 
                    System, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Prior to May 31, 1921, the community of Greenwood, 
        located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was a thriving African-American 
        business community and home to nearly 11,000 citizens.
            (2) The southern end of Greenwood Avenue formed the 
        backbone of the Greenwood commercial district. This mile-long 
        stretch of several blocks was characterized by one-, two-, and 
        three-story red brick buildings housing dozens of African-
        American-owned and operated businesses, organizations, 
        institutions, newspapers, churches, and a hospital.
            (3) Greenwood was the location of the 1921 Tulsa race riot, 
        recognized as one of the most violent race riots following 
        World War I in terms of bloodshed and property loss. On May 31, 
        1921, to June 1, 1921, mobs invaded Greenwood, the city's 
        segregated African-American community, during an 18-hour 
        period.
            (4) During the riot, between 35 and 40 square blocks of 
        Greenwood's residential area and virtually all of the 
        commercial district were destroyed.
            (5) Approximately 700 persons were injured and many people 
        lost their lives. The American Red Cross reported that 1,256 
        houses were burned, leaving 9,000 homeless. The Tulsa Real 
        Estate Exchange estimated nearly $1,500,000 worth of damages, 
        one-third of that in the business district, and claimed 
        personal property losses at $750,000.
            (6) The 1921 Tulsa race riot illustrates the key 
        characteristics of race riots during the 1886 to early 1920s 
        era and ranks as one of the most devastating incidents of 
        racial violence in United States history.
            (7) As the last major race riot of the era, the Tulsa race 
        riot represented the closing chapter to the racial violence 
        that swept across the United States during the late 19th and 
        early 20th centuries.
            (8) Since 1921, the people of Tulsa of all races have 
        worked closely to bridge the racial divides and to learn from 
        the many lessons of the 1921 Tulsa race riot.

SEC. 2. STUDY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior shall conduct a 
special resource study of the sites in Tulsa, Oklahoma, relating to the 
1921 Tulsa race riot, including the John Hope Franklin Reconciliation 
Park, to determine the suitability and feasibility of including the 
sites as a unit of the National Park System.
    (b) Requirements.--The study conducted under subsection (a) shall 
include the analysis and recommendations of the Secretary on the 
alternatives for management, administration, and protection of the 
sites relating to the riot.
    (c) Consultation.--In conducting the study under subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall consult with--
            (1) appropriate Federal agencies and State and local 
        government entities; and
            (2) interested groups and organizations.
    (d) Applicable Law.--The study required under subsection (a) shall 
be conducted in accordance with Public Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-1 et 
seq.).

SEC. 3. REPORT.

    Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date on which funds are 
first made available for this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the 
findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study required under 
section 2.
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