,i #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #geej ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #i1 #bjbj,mr4 ,mc,eachin introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,armed ,services1 and ,veterans' ,affairs1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to direct the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 and the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs to inventory ,confederate commemorative works on certain ,federal lands1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,confederate ,commemorative ,works ,inventory and ,joint ,resource ,study ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the ,american ,civil ,war was fought between #ahfa and #ahfe4 7#b7 ,as early as #ahfd1 efforts were underway to preserve places that had been the location of pivotal battles during the ,civil ,war1 even before surrender occurred4 7#c7 ,the ,national ,park ,service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the ,national ,park ,system for the enjoyment1 education1 and inspiration of this and future generations1 including sites dedicated to the interpretation of the ,american ,civil ,war4 7#d7 ,the ,national ,park ,service1 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and the ,department of ,defense administer public lands that are responsible for ,confederate commemorative works4 ,public lands play a vital role in capturing the historical and cultural stories that shape the ,nation's history1 and the lands administered by the ,national ,park ,service1 the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and the ,department of ,defense help facilitate the national narrative of the ,american ,civil ,war4 7#e7 ,there are #adg national cemeteries in the ,united ,states4 ,fourteen are maintained by the ,department of the ,interior1 through the ,national ,park ,service4 ,the ,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 through the ,national ,cemetery ,administration1 administers #aca cemeteries4 ,the ,department of ,defense1 through the ,army1 administers #b cemeteries4 7#f7 ,the ,department of ,defense has jurisdiction over-- 7,a7 #aj major ,united ,states military installations named in honor of ,confederate military leaders2 and 7,b7 ,navy ships named after ,confederate victories4 7#g7 ,given the significance these public lands and works play in our ,nation's education and reflection of the ,american ,civil ,war1 a full inventory and special resource study are necessary to locate ,confederate commemorative works and help evaluate their suitability as resources for the interpretation of the ,american ,civil ,war4 #c4 ,definitions ,for the purposes of this ,act3 7#a7 ,confederate commemorative work ,the term ,confederate commemorative work-- 7,a7 means any work that mentions individuals or units who participated or served in the advancement of ,confederate efforts2 and 7,b7 includes the ,confederate flag and any other symbols or signage that honors the ,confederacy1 including any monument1 statue1 or plaque that honors a ,confederate leader1 soldier1 or supporter of the ,confederate ,states of ,america4 7#b7 ,confederate ,flag ,the term ,confederate flag-- 7,a7 means the national flag of the ,confederacy from #ahfa through #ahfe2 and 7,b7 includes the ,stars and ,bars1 the ,stainless ,banner1 the ,blood-,stained ,banner1 the ,confederate ,states ,navy flag1 the battle flag of the ,army of ,northern ,virginia1 any ,state or regimental flag as such flag was depicted from #ahfa through #ahfe1 and modern representations of the ,confederate battle flag4 7#c7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,national ,park ,service4 7#d7 ,secretary concerned ,the term ,secretary concerned means the ,secretary of the ,interior1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 and the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs1 each in reference to ,federal land under the jurisdiction of that ,secretary4 #d4 ,inventory and resource study 7a7 ,in general ,each ,secretary concerned shall-- 7#a7 conduct a full inventory of ,confederate commemorative works under the administrative jurisdiction of that ,secretary2 and 7#b7 submit a copy of that inventory to the ,director4 7b7 ,contents of study ,using the inventories received pursuant to subsection 7a71 the ,director shall conduct a special resource study that-- 7#a7 examines works1 commemorating and interpreting the ,civil ,war1 the commemoration thereof1 the soldiers1 people on the home front and battle lines1 and the related locations in the ,united ,states from #ahfa through #ahfe2 and 7#b7 identifies-- 7,a7 a historical assessment1 based on extensive research1 of each inventoried ,confederate commemorative work2 7,b7 an evaluation of the suitability and feasibility of retaining the ,confederate commemorative work2 7,c7 the identification of properties that could meet criteria for listing in the ,national ,register of ,historic ,places or criteria for designation as ,national ,historic ,landmarks or if the ,confederate commemorative work is already on the or part of1 another designation or district2 7,d7 an evaluation of relevant historical research on1 education about1 interpretation of1 and public awareness of the ,confederate commemorative work2 and 7,e7 any other matters that the ,director determines to be appropriate for this study4 7c7 ,report ,not later than #b years after funds are made available for the study1 the ,secretary of the ,interior 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 the findings of the study required under subsection 7b7 and any related recommendations4