,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cffg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,february #af1 #bjbb ,mr4 ,brown 7for himself and ,mr4 ,romney7 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 ,united ,states ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,preservation ,program1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,preservation ,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 establishing a program to preserve 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 research1 preserve1 and record unmarked1 previously abandoned1 underserved1 and other ,african-,american burial grounds4 #d4 ,united ,states ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,preservation ,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 ,united ,states ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,preservation ,program ,sec4 #cjhfja4 ,definitions4 #cjhfjb4 ,united ,states ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,preservation ,program4 #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 ,program ,the term ,program means the ,united ,states ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,preservation ,program established under section #cjhfjb7;a74 #cjhfjb4 ,united ,states ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,preservation ,program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall establish within the ,service1 in accordance with this chapter1 a program to be known as the ,united ,states ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,preservation ,program4 7b7 ,duties of ,secretary ,in carrying out the ,program1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,national ,trust for ,historic ,preservation and members of the ,african-,american heritage community1 shall develop a program for the provision of grants in accordance with section #cjhfjc7;a74 7c7 ,donations ,the ,secretary may accept monetary donations to further the purposes of this chapter4 7d7 ,consent of private property owner required ,burial grounds shall only be considered for a grant under the ,program-- 7#a7 with the consent of the property owner2 and 7#b7 at the request of an individual1 landowner1 private or nonprofit organization1 ,state1 ,tribal1 or local government1 or other entity4 #cjhfjc4 ,authority to make grants 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary may make grants to other ,federal agencies1 ,state1 local1 and ,tribal governments1 other public entities1 educational institutions1 historic preservation groups1 and private nonprofit organizations in accordance with this chapter for-- 7#a7 the identification of historic ,african-,american burial grounds that may qualify for the ,program2 7#b7 the preservation and restoration of ,african-,american burial grounds2 7#c7 the interpretation of ,african-,american burial grounds2 and 7#d7 related research and documentation for historic ,african-,american burial grounds4 7b7 ,funding 7#a7 ,in general ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this section #c1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjbg4 7#b7 ,availability ,any amounts made available for a fiscal year under paragraph 7#a7 that are not used during that fiscal year shall be available for use under this section during any subsequent fiscal year4 #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 nonprofit 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 provided a grant or other assistance under the ,program 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 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 ,united ,states ,african-,american ,burial ,grounds ,preservation ,program#cjhfja 4