[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 60 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    SUPPORT FOR UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 1998

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to lend my support 
to an effort in the Senate to amend the Higher Education Bill and give 
the Secretary of Education in consultation with the Secretary of the 
Interior, authority to provide grant money to create an educational 
center to research and celebrate the history of the Underground 
Railroad.
  Under the agreement, as I understand it, the Department of Education 
would be authorized to evaluate competitive proposals put forward by 
non-profit educational groups and select a proposal that meets certain 
criteria, including the utilization of an existing public-private 
partnership and an on-going endowment to sustain the facility in the 
future.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1990 this Congress directed the National Park Service 
to conduct a study of alternatives for commemorating and interpreting 
the Underground Railroad. The Park Service found that there were 
numerous sites in several States involved in the operation of this 
secret enterprise. Consequently, the Park Service could not recommended 
just a single site for an Underground Railroad memorial.
  The effort in the Senate solves this dilemma by providing funds for 
the development of a major ``hub'' site and creation of satellite 
centers all over the country--true to the actual operation of the 
Underground Railroad.
  Mr. Speaker, the efforts to include this amendment on the Education 
Bill is also true to the Underground Railroad, because the lessons of 
the organization are still appropriate today. This commemoration is 
more than just an historical monument, but instead is a teaching and 
research tool, that will be used to teach us about our heritage.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope the Senate will include this amendment and I hope 
the House conferees will accept the language in conference.




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