[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 105 (Wednesday, June 27, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8613-S8614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Mr. Specter, Mr. Alexander, Mr. 
        Carper, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. 
        Levin, and Mr. Obama):
  S. 1709. 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; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce, with my good 
friend and colleague from Pennsylvania, Senator Specter, the 
Underground Railroad Network Reauthorization Act of 2007. The original 
act, signed into law in 1998, has increased public awareness of the 
Underground Railroad, a cornerstone in African-American heritage and 
history, with sites and programs in 28 States and the

[[Page S8614]]

District of Columbia. This is the only national program dedicated to 
the preservation, interpretation and dissemination of underground 
railroad history. I am pleased that we are joined in this effort by 
Senators Alexander, Carper, Cardin, Cochran, Kennedy, Kerry, Levin and 
Obama.
  Throughout this Nation there are sites in the underground railroad 
network that, while still standing, have suffered structural damage. 
There are also many sites that no longer house a physical structure, 
but still are important to recognize. A good example is the Thomas 
Garrett House, located in Wilmington in my home State of Delaware. The 
Garrett House was the last station on the Underground Railroad before 
the slaves reached freedom in Pennsylvania. It has been estimated that 
Garrett, a well known Quaker, helped more than 2,000 runaway slaves 
escape from the Southern States. The legislation being introduced today 
will not only help pay to repair damaged structures, but also to 
educate the general public about those sites that are no longer in 
existence, like the Thomas Garrett House.
  The underground railroad network is a special part of American 
history that we cannot afford to let slip away. This legislation will 
preserve these invaluable memorials and educational resources by 
raising the authorization level from $500,000 to $2.5 million. We must 
move now to ensure that the brave acts of these individuals are 
preserved for future generations to observe and honor.
  A companion bill has already been introduced in the House by 
Representatives, H.R. 1239, by Representative Alcee L. Hastings and my 
friend and colleague from Delaware, Representative Mike Castle. I hope 
both Chambers move quickly to preserve this precious history.
  It is my honor to ask my colleagues here in the Senate to join me 
today in supporting this bill so that this part of our Nation's past 
will not be forgotten.
                                 ______