,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #bhbg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #g1 #bjai,mr4 ,brown 7for himself and ,mr4 ,alexander7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to amend title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 to establish within the ,national ,park ,service the ,u4,s4 ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,network1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,u4,s4 ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,network ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 during the period beginning in #afai and ending in #ahfe1 millions of ,african ,americans throughout the ,united ,states were enslaved2 7#b7 slaveholders often-- 7,a7 controlled where and how deceased slaves were buried2 and 7,b7 prohibited the burial of slaves on valuable land2 7#c7 as a result of the practices described in paragraph 7#b71 slave burial grounds were often confined to remote areas or marginal property2 7#d7 slave burial grounds-- 7,a7 were rarely documented2 and 7,b7 infrequently appear on historical maps2 7#e7 a lack of accurate information is typical of ,african-,american cemeteries originating before the ,civil ,war2 7#f7 following the end of slavery1 many ,african-,american families continued to face restrictions on where the deceased could be buried2 7#g7 across many areas of the ,united ,states1 local laws segregated burial sites by race2 7#h7 ,african-,american burial grounds often failed to receive the type of maintenance and recordkeeping that predominantly ,white burial grounds enjoyed2 7#i7 many ,african-,american burial grounds from before and after the ,civil ,war are in a state of disrepair or inaccessibility due to overgrowth of vegetation1 crumbling physical structures1 and other challenges2 7#aj7 there is no official national record or database for ,african-,american burial ground locations2 7#aa7 the location of many ,african-,american burial sites is unknown2 7#ab7 as a result of the issues described in paragraphs 7#aj7 and 7#aa71 the family members and descendants of the individuals interred are unable to visit the burial sites to honor and remember their ancestors2 7#ac7 abandoned ,african-,american burial grounds are often discovered when construction projects inadvertently disturb human remains1 which slows or halts completion of the projects2 7#ad7 the presence and location of historic ,african-,american burial grounds should be recorded2 7#ae7 there should be coordinated national1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal efforts to preserve and restore ,african-,american burial grounds2 7#af7 ,african-,american burial grounds are an integral component of the heritage of the ,united ,states2 and 7#ag7 creating and maintaining a network of previously abandoned1 underserved1 and other ,african-,american burial grounds would help communities identify and record burial grounds and preserve local history1 while better informing development decisions and community planning4 #c4 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to authorize the ,national ,park ,service to coordinate and facilitate ,federal activities and non-,federal activities to identify1 interpret1 preserve1 and record unmarked1 previously abandoned1 underserved1 and other ,african-,american burial grounds4 #d4 ,u4,s4 ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,network ,program 7a7 ,in general ,subdivision #a of division ,b of subtitle ,,iii of title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after chapter #cjhe the following3 #cjhf ,u4,s4 ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,network ,sec4 #cjhfja4 ,definitions4 #cjhfjb4 ,u4,s4 ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,network4 #cjhfjc4 ,authority to make grants4 #cjhfjd4 ,cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding4 #cjhfje4 ,private property protection4 #cjhfja4 ,definitions ,in this chapter3 7#a7 ,burial ground ,the term burial ground means any natural or prepared physical location1 whether originally below1 on1 or above the surface of the earth1 into which human remains are deposited as a part of the death rite or ceremony of a culture4 7#b7 ,historic ,the term historic1 with respect to a property1 means a property that can reasonably be considered to date back at least #ej years4 7#c7 ,network ,the term ,network means the ,u4,s4 ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,network established under section #cjhfjb7;a74 #cjhfjb4 ,u4,s4 ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,network 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish within the ,service1 in accordance with this chapter1 a program to be known as the ,u4,s4 ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,network4 7b7 ,inclusions ,the ,network shall include burial grounds determined by the ,secretary to relate to the historic ,african-,american experience from applications for inclusion submitted by an individual1 private or nonprofit organization1 ,state1 local1 or ,tribal government1 or other entity4 7c7 ,duties of ,secretary ,in carrying out the ,network1 the ,secretary shall have the following duties3 7#a7 ,review existing and new studies and reports in considering sites for inclusion in the ,network4 7#b7 ,provide technical assistance to1 and work in partnership with1 the public1 ,federal1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments1 other public entities1 educational institutions1 and private and nonprofit organizations in identifying1 documenting1 preserving1 researching1 evaluating1 and interpreting ,african-,american burial grounds4 7#c7 ,engage in consultation and public engagement with descendant1 local1 and other communities historically associated with identified burial grounds by geography1 genetics1 or culture4 7#d7 ,in accordance with section #cjgajc1 provide technical assistance and support to ensure that the locations of unmarked and otherwise unrecorded ,african-,american burial grounds are documented4 7#e7 ,make the information documented under paragraph 7#d7 available in a public database1 except in circumstances in which the ,secretary determines that the privacy and safety of the burial ground warrants the information being protected4 7#f7 ,develop a program to train ,states1 units of local government1 regional governmental bodies1 organizations1 educational institutions1 and private entities to carry out the purposes of this chapter4 7#g7 ,produce and disseminate appropriate educational and training materials 7such as handbooks1 maps1 interpretive guides1 or electronic information7 relating to-- 7,a7 ,african-,american burial ground identification methods2 7,b7 best practices for caring for artifacts2 7,c7 developing interpretive tours and exhibits2 7,d7 preserving burial ground landscapes2 and 7,e7 heritage tourism initiatives and sources for grants4 7#h7 ,produce and disseminate appropriate educational materials relating to ,african-,american burial grounds through curriculum-based experiences1 lesson plans1 and primary materials4 7#i7 7,a7 ,create and adopt an official1 uniform symbol or device for the ,network2 and 7,b7 issue regulations for the use of the symbol or device adopted under subparagraph 7,a74 7d7 ,donations ,the ,secretary may accept monetary donations to further the purposes of this chapter4 7e7 ,consent of private property owner required ,burial grounds shall only be considered for addition to the ,network-- 7#a7 with the consent of the property owner2 and 7#b7 at the request of an individual1 landowner1 private or nonprofit organization1 ,state or local government1 or other entity4 #cjhfjc4 ,authority to make grants ,the ,secretary may make grants to other ,federal agencies1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments1 other public entities1 educational institutions1 and private nonprofit organizations in accordance with this chapter for-- 7#a7 the identification of ,african-,american burial grounds that may qualify for the ,network2 7#b7 the preservation and restoration of ,african-,american burial grounds that have been included in the ,network2 7#c7 the interpretation of ,african-,american burial grounds2 and 7#d7 the conduct of related research and documentation for ,african-,american burial grounds that have been included in the ,network4 #cjhfjd4 ,cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding ,the ,secretary may enter into cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding with1 and provide technical assistance to1 the heads of other ,federal agencies1 ,states1 units of local government1 ,tribal governments1 regional governmental bodies1 organizations1 educational institutions1 and private entities-- 7#a7 to achieve the purposes of this chapter2 and 7#b7 to ensure effective coordination of the ,federal elements and non-,federal elements of the ,network described in section #cjhfjb with ,system units and programs of the ,service4 #cjhfje4 ,private property protection ,nothing in this chapter-- 7#a7 authorizes the ,secretary to require or affect the management or use of private property without the written consent of the owner of the private property2 or 7#b7 prohibits the ,secretary from providing land management guidance or requirements relating to private property as a condition of a grant or other assistance provided to the owner of the private property under this chapter4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of chapters for title #ed1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter #cjhe the following3 #cjhf4 ,u4,s4 ,african-,american ,burial ,ground ,network#cjhfja 4