[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1704 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1704
To amend title 54, United States Code, to establish within the National
Park Service the National Freedom Settlements Preservation Program, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 27, 2025
Ms. Kamlager-Dove (for herself, Mr. Soto, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mrs.
McIver, Mrs. Beatty, Mrs. Watson Coleman, and Ms. Brown) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 54, United States Code, to establish within the National
Park Service the National Freedom Settlements Preservation 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 ``Revitalizing and Empowering Freedom
Settlements Through Opportunity, Resilience, and Education Act'' or the
``RESTORE Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) After the Civil War, over 1,200 Freedmen's Settlements
and Black Towns were established throughout the United States
before and after emancipation, with at least 200 towns
established by formerly enslaved individuals between 1866 and
1930, creating safe, self-sustaining, and thriving communities
away from racial violence and economic discrimination.
(2) Following the end of slavery, many African-American
families who strived for land and housing security established
their homes in Black Towns. These towns, founded and governed
by recently-emancipated African-American people across the
country, were known as Freedmen's Settlements, Freedom
Colonies, or Black Towns.
(3) African Americans were often denied access to necessary
public systems, such as education, housing, and neighborhood
infrastructure. Across many areas of the United States,
African-American people were barred from utilizing these
services because of local segregating laws.
(4) Freedmen's Settlements were established around the
provision of community services, often structured around
schools and churches, as Black residents came together to
fulfill necessary resources they had been previously denied.
(5) Despite these communities being an example of African-
American communities' self-sufficiency amidst a discriminatory
society, they were still terrorized by violent, White
supremacist groups which initially excluded them from White
systems.
(6) Due to harsh circumstances which included violent
attacks, exclusion from water and sanitation systems, as well
as urban planning to remove Black Towns from railroads, many
Freedmen's Settlements, which are predominantly in rural areas,
are underdeveloped and lack accessibility due to many systemic
challenges.
(7) Freedmen's Settlements have been disproportionately
impacted by economic and community underdevelopment, but have
the potential to become thriving communities with proper
support and investment that honors their rich history, meets
the current needs of their residents, and uplifts community
resilience and sustainable development.
(8) Many of these Freedmen's Settlements and Black Towns
were destroyed by southern domestic terrorists, or otherwise
became impoverished by centuries of public and private
divestment. This includes uncompensated enslaved labor, failed
Reconstruction, and the unmet Freedmen's Bureau's
postemancipation promises to transition people who were
formerly enslaved into the American economy, Jim Crow laws,
economic and housing discrimination through redlining, public
housing, and transportation policies, and environmental racism.
Some towns withstood systemic racism and racial violence, and
serve as examples of community resilience.
(9) It is difficult to fully quantify and understand the
history and current status of all the Freedmen's Settlements in
the United States due to lack of research and investment in
analyzing, preserving, and supporting these historic
settlements, towns, and communities, with a large part of this
history held by the descendants of the founders and residents.
(10) A lack of accurate information is typical of African-
American history following the Civil War, due to
disenfranchisement of African Americans from predominantly
White, institution-based documentation.
(11) Freedmen's Settlements were often--
(A) poorly recorded;
(B) excluded from historical maps and databases;
(C) recognized only through oral traditions and
community memory; and
(D) suffered from the negative consequences of
systemic racism, such as the calculated exclusion from
crucial infrastructure like water systems or railroads.
(12) Recognizing and providing resources for Freedman's
Settlements through Federal identification, designation of
historic status, comprehensive documentation, funding, and
physical commemoration would lead to greater equity and
investment in historically disadvantaged communities that have
faced centuries of racism, discrimination, environmental and
climate injustices, and violence.
(13) A handful of former Freedmen's Settlements have
received State or local designation for their historic status,
offering them an opportunity for preservation and public
acknowledgment, such as the Freedmen's Town Historic District
in Houston, Texas.
(14) There is an ongoing call, gaining much traction today,
to preserve and document the history of Freedmen's Settlements,
leading to projects such as the Texas Freedom Colonies Project,
the Mapping Blackness Project, as well as the Freedmen's Bureau
Search Portal created by the National Museum of African-
American History and Culture, among others.
(15) The presence and location of historic Freedmen's
Settlements should be recorded. There should be coordinated
national, State, local, and Tribal efforts to preserve and
restore Freedmen's Settlements.
(16) Freedmen's Settlements are an integral component of
the heritage of the United States, and their preservation and
revitalization crucial for the communities themselves as well
as a more complete understanding of American history and the
ongoing struggle for racial equity. Establishing a program to
recognize previously underserved Freedmen's Settlements would
help communities identify and record these settlements,
preserve local history, and better inform development decisions
and community planning.
(17) By investing in the preservation of Freedom
Settlements, which include Freedmen's Settlements, Freedom
Colonies, and Black Towns, the United States has an opportunity
to honor the legacy of self-determination and community-
building that these settlements represent, while also creating
models for sustainable, equitable community development that
can inform broader efforts to address historical inequities and
build stronger, more inclusive communities across the Nation.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL FREEDOM SETTLEMENTS PRESERVATION PROGRAM.
Division B of subtitle III of title 54, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``CHAPTER 3092--NATIONAL FREEDOM SETTLEMENTS PRESERVATION PROGRAM
``309201. Definitions.
``309202. Purpose.
``309203. National Freedom Settlements Preservation Program.
``309204. Authority to award grants.
``309205. Freedom Settlements Study.
``309206. Registry.
``309207. Private Property Protection.
``309208. Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding.
``309209. Freedom Settlements Advisory Committee.
``Sec. 309201. Definitions
``In this chapter:
``(1) Advisory committee.--The term `Advisory Committee'
means the Freedom Settlements Advisory Committee established
under section 309209.
``(2) Freedom settlement.--The term `Freedom Settlement'
means a community established by formerly enslaved African
Americans following emancipation (also commonly referred to as
`Freedmen's Settlements', `Freedom Colonies', or `Black
Towns').
``(3) Program.--The term `Program' means the National
Freedom Settlements Preservation Program established under
section 309204.
``(4) Study.--The term `Study' means the study required
under section 309205.
``Sec. 309202. Purpose
``The purpose of this chapter is to--
``(1) recognize the importance of Freedom Settlements,
including communities established by formerly enslaved people,
free African Americans, and their descendants, the sacrifices
made by those who used the Underground Railroad in search of
freedom, equality, and material security, and the vision of
Settlements founders; and
``(2) authorize the Secretary of the Interior to coordinate
and facilitate Federal and non-Federal activities to identify,
research, record, preserve, commemorate, honor, and interpret
the history of Freedom Settlements, their significance as a
crucial element in the evolution of African-American history,
and their relevance in fostering the spirit of racial justice
and wealth equality.
``Sec. 309203. National Freedom Settlements Preservation Program
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish within the Service
a program to be known as the `National Freedom Settlements Preservation
Program'.
``(b) Duties of Secretary.--In carrying out the Program, the
Secretary shall develop a program for the provision of grants in
accordance with section 309204(a), in consultation with--
``(1) organizations, experts, and community leaders who
serve African-American communities;
``(2) organizations involved with Freedom Settlements; and
``(3) residents and descendants of residents of Freedom
Settlements.
``(c) Donations.--The Secretary may accept donations of funds,
services, or property for the purposes of carrying out this chapter.
``(d) Consent of Private Property Owner Required.--Freedom
Settlements may only be considered for a grant under the Program--
``(1) with the consent of the owner of the applicable
property; and
``(2) at the request of an individual, landowner, private
or nonprofit organization, State, Tribal, or local government,
or other entity.
``(e) Scope.--The Secretary may consider the following for
inclusion in the Program:
``(1) All units and programs of the National Park Service
determined by the Secretary to pertain to Freedom Settlements.
``(2) Historic properties pertaining to Freedom
Settlements.
``(3) Other governmental and nongovernmental facilities and
programs of an educational, research, or interpretive nature
that are directly related to Freedom Settlements.
``Sec. 309204. Authority to award grants
``(a) In General.--In carrying out the Program, the Secretary may
award grants to eligible entities described in subsection (b)(1) for--
``(1) the identification of Freedom Settlements that may
qualify for the Program;
``(2) cultural and heritage preservation, restoration, and
tourism program development of Freedom Settlements;
``(3) related research and documentation of Freedom
Settlements;
``(4) capacity-building to operate and maintain recognized
Freedom Settlement sites; and
``(5) educational programming about Freedom Settlement
history.
``(b) Applications.--
``(1) Eligible entities.--Each of the following entities
are eligible for a grant under the Program:
``(A) A property owner of a property associated
with Freedom Settlements.
``(B) Tribal, State, or local governments.
``(C) Community organizations that have
demonstrated local leadership and a commitment to
community development.
``(2) Submission.--To be eligible for a grant under this
section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary an
application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $3,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031.
``Sec. 309205. Freedom Settlements Study
``(a) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study to identify key
sites that--
``(1) illustrate the period in American history when
formerly enslaved African Americans established Freedom
Settlements to provide their communities with education,
security, and belonging which were previously denied under
slavery and discriminatory laws; and
``(2) may be suitable for inclusion in the Program.
``(b) Consultation.--The Study shall be conducted with public
involvement and in consultation with--
``(1) the Advisory Committee;
``(2) State and local officials;
``(3) educational institutions; and
``(4) other interested organizations and individuals.
``Sec. 309206. Registry
``The Secretary shall maintain and regularly update a comprehensive
registry of Freedom Settlements, as they are identified and verified
through the research and documentation process outlined in this
chapter, including but not limited to historically documented
settlements engaged in preservation efforts, such as--
``(1) Nicodemus, Kansas;
``(2) Africatown, Alabama;
``(3) Mound Bayou, Mississippi;
``(4) Eatonville, Florida;
``(5) Boley, Oklahoma;
``(6) Hobson City, Alabama;
``(7) Allensworth, California;
``(8) Freedmen's Town Historic District, Houston, Texas;
``(9) Independence Heights, Texas;
``(10) Mossville, Louisiana;
``(11) Oberlin Village, North Carolina;
``(12) Kinloch, Missouri;
``(13) New Philadelphia, Illinois;
``(14) Rosewood, Florida;
``(15) Weeksville, New York;
``(16) Freedman's Village, Arlington, Virginia;
``(17) Sandy Ground, New York;
``(18) Princeville, North Carolina;
``(19) Greenwood District (Black Wall Street), Tulsa,
Oklahoma; and
``(20) Freedmen's Town, Dallas, Texas.
``Sec. 309207. Private Property Protection
``Nothing in this chapter--
``(1) authorizes the Secretary to require or affect the
management or use of private property without the written
consent of the owner of the private property; or
``(2) 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 chapter.
``Sec. 309208. Cooperative agreements and memoranda of understanding
``The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements and memoranda
of understanding with, and provide technical assistance to, the heads
of other Federal agencies, States, units of local government, Tribal
governments, regional governmental bodies, African American-serving
groups, residents and descendants of residents of Freedom Settlements,
scholars of this specific history, and nonprofit organizations such as
the Chisholm Legacy Project, Ubuntu Climate, and the Texas Freedom
Colonies Project, educational institutions, and private entities--
``(1) to achieve the purposes of this chapter;
``(2) to facilitate cooperation with the Advisory
Committee; and
``(3) 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 Service.
``Sec. 309209. Freedom Settlements Advisory Committee
``(a) In General.--In carrying out the Study under section 309205,
the Secretary shall establish a committee to be known as the `Freedom
Settlements Advisory Committee' to assist with the Study.
``(b) Composition.--The Advisory Committee shall be composed of
members, appointed by the Secretary, who--
``(1) are residents or descendants of residents of Freedom
Settlements;
``(2) have demonstrated expertise in--
``(A) African-American history; or
``(B) Reconstruction or Jim Crow era history; or
``(3) are community leaders and advocates for African-
American community heritage, preservation, and development.''.
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