[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 131, 115th Congress, 1st Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 115-104
115th Congress

An Act


 
To amend title 54, United States Code, to establish within the National
Park Service the African American Civil Rights Network, and for other
purposes. <>

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 ``African American Civil Rights Network
Act of 2017''.
SEC. 2. <>  PURPOSES.

The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to recognize--
(A) the importance of the African American civil
rights movement; and
(B) the sacrifices made by the people who fought
against discrimination and segregation; and
(2) to authorize the National Park Service to coordinate and
facilitate Federal and non-Federal activities to commemorate,
honor, and interpret--
(A) the history of the African American civil rights
movement;
(B) the significance of the civil rights movement as
a crucial element in the evolution of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000a et seq.); and
(C) the relevance of the African American civil
rights movement in fostering the spirit of social
justice and national reconciliation.
SEC. 3. U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS NETWORK PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--Subdivision 1 of division B of subtitle III of
title 54, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 3083
the following:

``CHAPTER <>  3084--U.S. CIVIL RIGHTS
NETWORK

``Sec.
``308401. Definition of network.
``308402. U.S. Civil Rights Network.
``308403. Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding.
``308404. Sunset.

``Sec. 308401. <>  Definition of network

``In this chapter, the term `Network' means the African American
Civil Rights Network established under section 308402(a).

[[Page 2261]]

``Sec. 308402. <>  U.S. Civil Rights Network

``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish, within the
Service, a program to be known as the `U.S. Civil Rights Network'.
``(b) Duties of Secretary.--In carrying out the Network, the
Secretary shall--
``(1) <>  review studies and reports to
complement and not duplicate studies of the historical
importance of the African American civil rights movement that
may be underway or completed, such as the Civil Rights Framework
Study;
``(2) produce and disseminate appropriate educational
materials relating to the African American civil rights
movement, such as handbooks, maps, interpretive guides, or
electronic information;
``(3) <>  enter into appropriate
cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding to provide
technical assistance under subsection (c); and
``(4)(A) create and adopt an official, uniform symbol or
device for the Network; and
``(B) <>  issue regulations for the use
of the symbol or device adopted under subparagraph (A).

``(c) Elements.--The Network shall encompass the following elements:
``(1) All units and programs of the Service that are
determined by the Secretary to relate to the African American
civil rights movement during the period from 1939 through 1968.
``(2) With the consent of the property owner, other Federal,
State, local, and privately owned properties that--
``(A) relate to the African American civil rights
movement;
``(B) have a verifiable connection to the African
American civil rights movement; and
``(C) <>  are included
in, or determined by the Secretary to be eligible for
inclusion in, the National Register of Historic Places.
``(3) Other governmental and nongovernmental facilities and
programs of an educational, research, or interpretive nature
that are directly related to the African American civil rights
movement.
``Sec. 308403. <>  Cooperative agreements
and memoranda of understanding

``To achieve the purposes of this chapter and to ensure effective
coordination of the Federal and non-Federal elements of the Network
described in section 308402(c) with System units and programs of the
Service, the Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements and
memoranda of understanding with, and provide technical assistance to the
heads of other Federal agencies, States, units of local government,
regional governmental bodies, and private entities.
``Sec. 308404. <>  Sunset

``This program shall expire on the date that is 7 years after the
date of enactment of this chapter.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of chapters for title 54, United
States Code, <>  is amended by inserting
after the item relating to chapter 3083 the following:

``3084 U.S. Civil Rights Network...............................308401''.

[[Page 2262]]

SEC. 4. NO ADDITIONAL FUNDS AUTHORIZED.

No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of
this Act and the amendments made by this Act. Such requirements shall be
carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.

Approved January 8, 2018.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1927:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115-241 (Comm. on Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 163 (2017):
July 26, considered and passed House.
Dec. 21, considered and passed Senate.