[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 176 (Thursday, November 17, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7711-S7712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KIRK (for himself and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 1902. A bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a special resource study of the archeological site and surrounding land 
of the New Philadelphia town site in the State of Illinois, and for 
other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. President, today I am pleased to join with Senator 
Durbin to introduce a bill in support of New Philadelphia, the first 
town founded by a freed African-American. This bipartisan legislation 
would initiate a feasibility study in order to determine whether or not 
this area should be designated as a unit of the National Park System.
  The town of New Philadelphia, Illinois, established in 1836, became 
the first known town platted and officially registered by an African-
American prior to the Civil War. New Philadelphia became a place where 
European Americans, free-born African-Americans, and formerly enslaved 
individuals could live together in community during a time of intense 
racial strife that transpired before, during, and after the Civil War.
  Frank McWorter, the founder of New Philadelphia and a former slave 
himself, saved money from neighboring labor jobs to purchase his own 
freedom and the freedom of fifteen other family members. Subsequently, 
Mr. McWorter purchased a sparse plot of land between the Illinois and 
Mississippi Rivers in Pike County, Illinois to establish the town of 
New Philadelphia, which also became a station along the Underground 
Railroad.
  In 2005, the town of New Philadelphia is designated a National 
Historic Place and more recently, it was designated a National Historic 
Landmark in 2009. Being designated a unit of the National Park System 
will preserve the historical significance of New Philadelphia and allow 
its legacy to continue to inspire current and future generations to 
understand the struggle for freedom and opportunity.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1902

       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 ``New Philadelphia, Illinois, 
     Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) Frank McWorter, an enslaved man, bought his freedom and 
     the freedom of 15 family members by mining for crude niter in 
     Kentucky caves and processing the mined material into 
     saltpeter;
       (2) New Philadelphia, founded in 1836 by Frank McWorter, 
     was the first town planned and legally registered by a free 
     African-American before the Civil War;
       (3) the first railroad constructed in the area of New 
     Philadelphia bypassed New Philadelphia, which led to the 
     decline of New Philadelphia; and
       (4) the New Philadelphia site--
       (A) is a registered National Historic Landmark;
       (B) is covered by farmland; and
       (C) does not contain any original buildings of the town or 
     the McWorter farm and home that are visible above ground.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (2) Study area.--The term ``Study Area'' means the New 
     Philadelphia archeological site and the surrounding land in 
     the State of Illinois.

     SEC. 4. SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a special resource 
     study of the Study Area.
       (b) Contents.--In conducting the study under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall--
       (1) evaluate the national significance of the Study Area;
       (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 
     designating the Study Area as a unit of the National Park 
     System;
       (3) consider other alternatives for preservation, 
     protection, and interpretation of the Study Area by--
       (A) Federal, State, or local governmental entities; or
       (B) private and nonprofit organizations;
       (4) consult with--
       (A) interested Federal, State, or local governmental 
     entities;
       (B) private and nonprofit organizations; or
       (C) any other interested individuals; and
       (5) identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, 
     development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance 
     associated with the alternatives considered under paragraph 
     (3).
       (c) Applicable Law.--The study required under subsection 
     (a) shall be conducted in accordance with section 8 of Public 
     Law 91-383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
       (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
     funds are first made available for the study under subsection 
     (a), the

[[Page S7712]]

     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 containing--
       (1) the results of the study; and
       (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.
       (e) Funding.--The study authorized under this section shall 
     be carried out using existing funds of the National Park 
     Service.

                          ____________________