National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998

PUBLIC LAW 105–203—JULY 21, 1998

NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
NETWORK TO FREEDOM ACT OF 1998

112 STAT. 678

PUBLIC LAW 105–203—JULY 21, 1998

Public Law 105–203
105th Congress
An Act
July 21, 1998
[H.R. 1635]
National
Underground
Railroad
Network to
Freedom Act of
1998.
16 USC 461 note.
16 USC 469l.

To establish within the United States National Park Service the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, 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 ‘‘National Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom Act of 1998’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) The Underground Railroad, which flourished from the
end of the 18th century to the end of the Civil War, was
one of the most significant expressions of the American civil
rights movement during its evolution over more than three
centuries.
(2) The Underground Railroad bridged the divides of race,
religion, sectional differences, and nationality; spanned State
lines and international borders; and joined the American ideals
of liberty and freedom expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to the extraordinary actions of ordinary men and women working in common purpose to free
a people.
(3) Pursuant to title VI of Public Law 101–628 (16 U.S.C.
1a–5 note; 104 Stat. 4495), the Underground Railroad Advisory
Committee conducted a study of the appropriate means of
establishing an enduring national commemorative Underground
Railroad program of education, example, reflection, and
reconciliation.
(4) The Underground Railroad Advisory Committee found
that—
(A) although a few elements of the Underground Railroad story are represented in existing National Park Service units and other sites, many sites are in imminent
danger of being lost or destroyed, and many important
resource types are not adequately represented and protected;
(B) there are many important sites which have high
potential for preservation and visitor use in 29 States,
the District of Columbia, and the Virgin Islands;
(C) no single site or route completely reflects and
characterizes the Underground Railroad, since its story
and associated resources involve networks and regions of
the country rather than individual sites and trails; and

PUBLIC LAW 105–203—JULY 21, 1998

112 STAT. 679

(D) establishment of a variety of partnerships between
the Federal Government and other levels of government
and the private sector would be most appropriate for the
protection and interpretation of the Underground Railroad.
(5) The National Park Service can play a vital role in
facilitating the national commemoration of the Underground
Railroad.
(6) The story and significance of the Underground Railroad
can best engage the American people through a national program of the National Park Service that links historic buildings,
structures, and sites; routes, geographic areas, and corridors;
interpretive centers, museums, and institutions; and programs,
activities, community projects, exhibits, and multimedia materials, in a manner that is both unified and flexible.
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this Act are the following:
(1) To recognize the importance of the Underground Railroad, the sacrifices made by those who used the Underground
Railroad in search of freedom from tyranny and oppression,
and the sacrifices made by the people who helped them.
(2) To authorize the National Park Service to coordinate
and facilitate Federal and non-Federal activities to commemorate, honor, and interpret the history of the Underground Railroad, its significance as a crucial element in the evolution
of the national civil rights movement, and its relevance in
fostering the spirit of racial harmony and national reconciliation.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL UNDERGROUND RAILROAD NETWORK TO FREEDOM
PROGRAM.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior (in this Act
referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’) shall establish in the National Park
Service a program to be known as the ‘‘National Underground
Railroad Network to Freedom’’ (in this Act referred to as the
‘‘national network’’). Under the program, the Secretary shall—
(1) produce and disseminate appropriate educational
materials, such as handbooks, maps, interpretive guides, or
electronic information;
(2) enter into appropriate cooperative agreements and
memoranda of understanding to provide technical assistance
under subsection (c); and
(3) create and adopt an official, uniform symbol or device
for the national network and issue regulations for its use.
(b) ELEMENTS.—The national network shall encompass the
following elements:
(1) All units and programs of the National Park Service
determined by the Secretary to pertain to the Underground
Railroad.
(2) Other Federal, State, local, and privately owned properties pertaining to the Underground Railroad that have a
verifiable connection to the Underground Railroad and that
are included on, or determined by the Secretary to be eligible
for inclusion on, 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 Underground Railroad.
(c) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS AND MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDING.—To achieve the purposes of this Act and to ensure

16 USC 469l–1.

112 STAT. 680

PUBLIC LAW 105–203—JULY 21, 1998

effective coordination of the Federal and non-Federal elements of
the national network referred to in subsection (b) with National
Park Service units and programs, the Secretary may enter into
cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding with,
and provide technical assistance to—
(1) the heads of other Federal agencies, States, localities,
regional governmental bodies, and private entities; and
(2) in cooperation with the Secretary of State, the governments of Canada, Mexico, and any appropriate country in the
Caribbean.
(d) APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this Act not more than $500,000 for each fiscal year.
No amounts may be appropriated for the purposes of this Act
except to the Secretary for carrying out the responsibilities of the
Secretary as set forth in section 3(a).
Approved July 21, 1998.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1635 (S. 887):
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 105–559 (Comm. on Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 105–217 accompanying S. 887 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 144 (1998):
June 9, considered and passed House.
June 25, considered and passed Senate.

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