[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7550 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7550

To direct the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Defense, and 
      the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to inventory Confederate 
 commemorative works on certain Federal lands, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 9, 2020

 Mr. McEachin introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on 
Armed Services, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To direct the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Defense, and 
      the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to inventory Confederate 
 commemorative works on certain Federal lands, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Confederate Commemorative Works 
Inventory and Joint Resource Study Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The American Civil War was fought between 1861 and 
        1865.
            (2) As early as 1864, efforts were underway to preserve 
        places that had been the location of pivotal battles during the 
        Civil War, even before surrender occurred.
            (3) The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the 
        natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park 
        System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this 
        and future generations, including sites dedicated to the 
        interpretation of the American Civil War.
            (4) The National Park Service, the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs, and the Department of Defense administer public lands 
        that are responsible for Confederate commemorative works. 
        Public lands play a vital role in capturing the historical and 
        cultural stories that shape the Nation's history, and the lands 
        administered by the National Park Service, the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Defense help facilitate 
        the national narrative of the American Civil War.
            (5) There are 147 national cemeteries in the United States. 
        Fourteen are maintained by the Department of the Interior, 
        through the National Park Service. The Department of Veterans 
        Affairs, through the National Cemetery Administration, 
        administers 131 cemeteries. The Department of Defense, through 
        the Army, administers 2 cemeteries.
            (6) The Department of Defense has jurisdiction over--
                    (A) 10 major United States military installations 
                named in honor of Confederate military leaders; and
                    (B) Navy ships named after Confederate victories.
            (7) Given the significance these public lands and works 
        play in our Nation's education and reflection of the American 
        Civil War, a full inventory and special resource study are 
        necessary to locate Confederate commemorative works and help 
        evaluate their suitability as resources for the interpretation 
        of the American Civil War.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purposes of this Act:
            (1) Confederate commemorative work.--The term ``Confederate 
        commemorative work''--
                    (A) means any work that mentions individuals or 
                units who participated or served in the advancement of 
                Confederate efforts; and
                    (B) includes the Confederate flag and any other 
                symbols or signage that honors the Confederacy, 
                including any monument, statue, or plaque that honors a 
                Confederate leader, soldier, or supporter of the 
                Confederate States of America.
            (2) Confederate flag.--The term ``Confederate flag''--
                    (A) means the national flag of the Confederacy from 
                1861 through 1865; and
                    (B) includes the Stars and Bars, the Stainless 
                Banner, the Blood-Stained Banner, the Confederate 
                States Navy flag, the battle flag of the Army of 
                Northern Virginia, any State or regimental flag as such 
                flag was depicted from 1861 through 1865, and modern 
                representations of the Confederate battle flag.
            (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Park Service.
            (4) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' 
        means the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Defense, 
        and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, each in reference to 
        Federal land under the jurisdiction of that Secretary.

SEC. 4. INVENTORY AND RESOURCE STUDY.

    (a) In General.--Each Secretary concerned shall--
            (1) conduct a full inventory of Confederate commemorative 
        works under the administrative jurisdiction of that Secretary; 
        and
            (2) submit a copy of that inventory to the Director.
    (b) Contents of Study.--Using the inventories received pursuant to 
subsection (a), the Director shall conduct a special resource study 
that--
            (1) examines works, commemorating and interpreting the 
        Civil War, the commemoration thereof, the soldiers, people on 
        the home front and battle lines, and the related locations in 
        the United States from 1861 through 1865; and
            (2) identifies--
                    (A) a historical assessment, based on extensive 
                research, of each inventoried Confederate commemorative 
                work;
                    (B) an evaluation of the suitability and 
                feasibility of retaining the Confederate commemorative 
                work;
                    (C) the identification of properties that could 
                meet criteria for listing in the National Register of 
                Historic Places or criteria for designation as National 
                Historic Landmarks or if the Confederate commemorative 
                work is already on the or part of, another designation 
                or district;
                    (D) an evaluation of relevant historical research 
                on, education about, interpretation of, and public 
                awareness of the Confederate commemorative work; and
                    (E) any other matters that the Director determines 
                to be appropriate for this study.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after funds are made available 
for the study, the Secretary of the Interior 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 
containing the findings of the study required under subsection (b) and 
any related recommendations.
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