U.S. Civil Rights Trail Special Resource Study Act of 2009
Title
U.S. Civil Rights Trail Special Resource Study Act of 2009 (H.R. 685/S. 1802)
Sponsors
H.R. 685 - Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-MO); S. 1802 - Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
Status
H.R. 685 was introduced on January 26, 2009. The House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forest, and Public Lands held a hearing on the bill on July 8, 2009. H.R. 685 was reported out of the House Committee on Natural Resources (H. Rept. 111-267) in the nature of a substitute, which adopted the Senate bill's legislative language, and subsequently passed the House on September 29. The bill currently has 33 co-sponsors in the House. S. 1802 was introduced by Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL) on October 20, 2009, and was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. It has no co-sponsors to date.
Summary
H.R. 685 proposes an authorization for a special resource study to be conducted by the National Park Service to study and analyze the opportunities for preservation and interpretation of specific sites related to the civil rights movement in the United States.
There are a large number of sites scattered across many states associated with historic events of the civil rights movement in the United States. At least 49 of these sites have been nominated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Many are managed by state or local agencies and organizations committed to their preservation and interpretation.
H.R. 685, as introduced, proposes a study of the feasibility of establishing a National Civil Rights Trail System to link sites like these with common signage, maps, and educational materials to improve public awareness and facilitate the study of their importance in United States history. The legislation originally envisioned the study being conducted by the Archivist of the United States in consultation with the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture in the same manner as those done under the National Trails System Act (16 U.S.C. 1241 et seq.) for National Historic Trails.
The bill also mandates the Secretary of the Interior to establish and maintain at least one trail in each state where a significant civil rights event occurred, and to establish at least six trails as soon as practical after enactment.
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Comments
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Submitted by Lola at: November 29, 2010
In SE Tn we need much more environmental preservation help, in all areas. We need more regulations about what can be placed in any area. Businesses and other developments are moving in and changing quiet rural often historic areas, into different places in unbecoming ways to preservation. We need more regulations regarding what and what not can be placed where. Also, we in TN need redistricting, and reapportioning help for our SE TN, SW Bradley Co.,SE Hamilton Co.,Apison, Collegedale, McDonald areas to be able to vote in more committed environmental Democratic leaders on all levels of Gov. (and at least one Dem Senator) to help not hurt our preservation needs, and help increase our natural tourism potential in all ways possible, involving our Native American history and our civil war/rights history also. Thank you.
Submitted by Jubal at: June 22, 2010
listen to the people
Submitted by Gerry at: June 13, 2010
Please support this important legislation.