[House Report 116-431]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


116th Congress   }                                       {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session      }                                       {     116-431

======================================================================



 
         JULIUS ROSENWALD AND THE ROSENWALD SCHOOLS ACT OF 2020

                                _______
                                

 June 11, 2020.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Grijalva, from the Committee on Natural Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 3250]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 3250) to require the Secretary of the Interior 
to conduct a special resource study of the sites associated 
with the life and legacy of the noted American philanthropist 
and business executive Julius Rosenwald, with a special focus 
on the Rosenwald Schools, and for other purposes, having 
considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an 
amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Julius Rosenwald and the Rosenwald 
Schools Act of 2020''.

SEC. 2. RESOURCE STUDY OF JULIUS ROSENWALD AND ROSENWALD SCHOOLS.

  (a) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Rosenwald school.--The term ``Rosenwald School'' means 
        any of the 5,357 schools and related buildings constructed in 
        15 southern States during the period of 1912 through 1932 by 
        the philanthropy of Julius Rosenwald.
          (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        the Interior.
          (3) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means the sites 
        associated with the life and legacy of Julius Rosenwald.
  (b) Special Resource Study.--
          (1) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a special resource 
        study of the study area, with a special emphasis on the 
        following Rosenwald Schools and other sites associated with the 
        life and legacy of Julius Rosenwald:
                  (A) Sears Administration Building at Homan Square in 
                Chicago, Illinois.
                  (B) Rosenwald Court Apartments in Chicago, Illinois.
                  (C) Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago, 
                Illinois.
                  (D) Rosenwald House (formerly the Lyon Home) at the 
                Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield, 
                Illinois.
                  (E) Cairo Rosenwald School, a one-teacher school in 
                Sumner County, Tennessee.
                  (F) Shady Grove School, a one-teacher school in 
                Louisa County, Virginia.
                  (G) Noble Hill School, a two-teacher school in Bartow 
                County, Georgia.
                  (H) Ridgeley School, a two-teacher school in Prince 
                Georges County, Maryland.
                  (I) Bay Springs School, a two-teacher school in 
                Forest County, Mississippi.
                  (J) Russell School, a two-teacher school in Durham 
                County, North Carolina.
                  (K) Shiloh Rosenwald School, a three-teacher school 
                in Macon County, Alabama.
                  (L) San Domingo School, a four-teacher school in 
                Wicomico County, Maryland.
                  (M) Elmore County Training School, a seven-teacher 
                school in Elmore County, Alabama.
                  (N) Dunbar Junior High, Senior High and Junior 
                College in Little Rock, Arkansas.
          (2) Contents.--In conducting the study under paragraph (1), 
        the Secretary shall--
                  (A) evaluate the national significance of the study 
                area;
                  (B) determine the suitability and feasibility of 
                designating the study area as a unit of the National 
                Park System, including an interpretive center in or 
                near Chicago, Illinois;
                  (C) consider other alternatives for preservation, 
                protection, and interpretation of the study area by the 
                Federal Government, State or local government entities, 
                or private and nonprofit organizations;
                  (D) consult with interested Federal agencies, State 
                or local governmental entities, private and nonprofit 
                organizations, or any other interested individuals; and
                  (E) identify cost estimates for any Federal 
                acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, 
                and maintenance associated with the alternatives.
  (c) Applicable Law.--The study under paragraph (1) shall be conducted 
in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, United States Code.
  (d) Results.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds 
are first made available for the study under paragraph (1), 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 describing--
          (1) the results of the study; and
          (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary 
        relating to the study.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of H.R. 3250 is to require the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a special resource study of the sites 
associated with the life and legacy of the noted American 
philanthropist and business executive Julius Rosenwald, with a 
special focus on the Rosenwald Schools, and for other purposes.

                  BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

    Born in 1862, Julius Rosenwald was the son of Jewish 
immigrants from Germany. After dropping out of high school, 
Rosenwald learned the clothing trade from relatives in New York 
City and became a successful clothier. He moved to Chicago, 
where he became part owner and eventually president and chair 
of the board of directors of Sears, Roebuck & Company, which he 
helped transform into a powerhouse. Rosenwald became an active 
philanthropist, focusing on enhancing the lives of African 
Americans, and he was instrumental in the construction of YMCAs 
open to African Americans in twenty-four cities throughout the 
country. Rosenwald served on the board of the Tuskegee 
Institute, where he provided financial support to create a 
pilot program that helped build six schools in African American 
communities in rural Alabama. This program led to his creation 
of the Julius Rosenwald Fund, which constructed more than 5,300 
Rosenwald Schools and related buildings in fifteen southern 
states. During the 1920s through 1940s, approximately one-third 
of all African American children in the South were educated in 
Rosenwald Schools. Rosenwald also supported several 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), was 
closely involved in the creation of the Jewish United Fund of 
Metropolitan Chicago, and established the Museum of Science and 
Industry in Chicago.
    H.R. 3250 directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct 
a special resource study of the sites associated with the life 
and legacy of Julius Rosenwald to determine the feasibility of 
designating the sites as one or more new units of the National 
Park System. The bill was amended at markup to limit the scope 
of the study.

                            COMMITTEE ACTION

    H.R. 3250 was introduced on June 13, 2019, by 
Representative Danny K. Davis (D-IL). The bill was referred 
solely to the Committee on Natural Resources, and within the 
Committee to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and 
Public Lands. On October 29, 2019, the Subcommittee held a 
hearing on the bill. On March 11, 2020, the Natural Resources 
Committee met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee was 
discharged by unanimous consent. Chair Raul M. Grijalva (D-AZ) 
offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The 
amendment was agreed to by unanimous consent. The bill, as 
amended, was adopted and ordered favorably reported to the 
House of Representatives by unanimous consent.

                                HEARINGS

    For the purposes of section 103(i) of H. Res. 6 of the 
116th Congress--the following hearing was used to develop or 
consider H.R. 3250: legislative hearing by the Subcommittee on 
National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands held on October 29, 
2019.

            COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

      COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET ACT

    1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act. 
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) and (3) of 
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
sections 308(a) and 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974, the Committee has received the following estimate for the 
bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office:
                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                      Washington, DC, June 8, 2020.
Hon. Raul M. Grijalva,
Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3250, the Julius 
Rosenwald and the Rosenwald Schools Act of 2019.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Madeleine 
Fox.
            Sincerely,
                                         Phillip L. Swagel,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure

              [GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    

    H.R. 3250 would require the National Park Service (NPS), to 
conduct a study on 14 specific schools and facilities that are 
associated with the life and legacy of Julius Rosenwald. As 
part of that study, the NPS would evaluate the sites' national 
significance, determine the feasibility of designating them as 
an NPS unit, and consider alternatives to such a designation. 
H.R. 3250 would require the NPS to report the study results, 
conclusions, and recommendations to the Congress.
    Using information from the NPS, CBO estimates that the 
report on the 14 locations specified in the bill would cost $1 
million over the 2020-2025 period; any spending would be 
subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Madeleine Fox. 
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy 
Director of Budget Analysis.
    2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by 
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goals and 
objectives of this bill are to require the Secretary of the 
Interior to conduct a special resource study of the sites 
associated with the life and legacy of the noted American 
philanthropist and business executive Julius Rosenwald, with a 
special focus on the Rosenwald Schools.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives.

                 UNFUNDED MANDATES REFORM ACT STATEMENT

    This bill contains no unfunded mandates.

                           EXISTING PROGRAMS

    This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the federal government known to be duplicative of another 
program.

                  APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

               PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

    Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or 
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's 
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the 
U.S. Constitution.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    If enacted, this bill would make no changes to existing 
law.

        SUPPLEMENTAL, MINORITY, ADDITIONAL, OR DISSENTING VIEWS

    None.

                                  [all]