[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 103 (Thursday, July 18, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S5803]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. KIRK (for himself and Mr. Durbin):
  S. 1328. 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, 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 directs the 
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of New 
Philadelphia to determine the feasibility of designating the area as a 
unit of the National Park System.
  In 1836, Frank McWorter platted and officially registered the town of 
New Philadelphia, the first known town founded by a freed African-
American before the Civil War. After saving money from neighboring 
labor jobs to purchase his own freedom and the freedom of fifteen 
additional family members, Mr. McWorter purchased a plot of land 
between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers in Pike County to establish 
New Philadelphia. The town became a station along the Underground 
Railroad and was a community where European-American, freeborn African-
Americans and formerly enslaved individuals were able to live together 
during a time of intense racial strife.
  In 2005, the town of New Philadelphia was designated as a National 
Historic Place and in 2009 the town was designated a National Historic 
Landmark. Further designating New Philadelphia as a unit of the 
National Park System will ensure that its historical legacy is 
preserved as an inspiring example of freedom and opportunity for future 
generations.
  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. 1328

       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 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
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