To establish the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes.

February 27, 2003

Ms. NORTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

To establish the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site in the District of Columbia, 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 `Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site Establishment Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) FINDINGS- The Congress finds that:

(1) Dr. Carter G. Woodson, considered the father of African-American history, founded in 1915 The Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, renamed as The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History.

(2) Through the Association, Dr. Woodson, the son of slaves who earned a Ph.D. degree from Harvard University, dedicated his life to educating the American public about the extensive and positive contributions of African Americans to the Nation's history and culture.

(3) Under Dr. Woodson's leadership, Negro History Week was designated in 1926. That designation has since evolved into Black History Month in February of each year.

(4) The headquarters and operations of the Association was Dr. Woodson's home at 1538 Ninth Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., where he lived from 1915 to 1950.

(5) The Carter G. Woodson Home was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its national significance in African-American cultural heritage.

(6) A National Park Service study of the Carter G. Woodson Home dated June 2002, found that the Carter G. Woodson Home is suitable for designation as a unit of the National Park System, and is feasible for designation so long as property adjacent to the home is available for National Park Service administrative, curatorial, access, and visitor interpretative needs.

(7) Establishment of the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site would foster opportunities for developing and promoting interpretation of African-American cultural heritage throughout the Shaw area of Washington, D.C.

(b) PURPOSE- The purpose of this Act is to preserve, protect, and interpret for the benefit, education, and inspiration of present and future generations, the home of the preeminent historian and educator Dr. Carter G. Woodson, founder of the organization known today as The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior.

(2) The term `historic site' means the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site.

(3) The term `map' means the map entitled `Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site', numbered 876/82338 and dated February 10, 2003.

SEC. 4. CARTER G. WOODSON HOME NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

(a) ESTABLISHMENT- After the Secretary has acquired, or agreed to a long-term lease for, the majority of the property described in subsection (b), the Secretary shall establish as a unit of the National Park System the Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site.

(b) BOUNDARY- The historic site shall consist of the property located at 1538 Ninth Street, Northwest, in the District of Columbia and three adjoining houses north of that address, as depicted on the map, if acquired or leased by the Secretary.

(c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP- The map shall be available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

(d) ACQUISITION- The Secretary may acquire lands or interests in lands, and improvements thereon, within the boundary of the historic site from willing owners by donation, purchase with donated or appropriated funds, or exchange.

(e) Administration-

(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary shall administer the historic site in accordance with this Act and with laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (commonly known as the National Park Service Organic Act; 16 U.S.C. 1 et seq.), and the Act of August 21, 1935 (commonly known as the Historic Sites, Buildings, and Antiquities Act; 16 U.S.C. 461 et seq.).

(2) REHABILITATION AGREEMENT- In order to achieve cost efficiencies in the restoration of property, the Secretary may enter into an agreement with the Shiloh Community Development Corporation for the purpose of rehabilitating the Carter G. Woodson Home and other property within the boundary of the historic site. The agreement may contain such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems appropriate.

(3) OPERATION AGREEMENT- In order to reestablish the historical connection between the home of Dr. Woodson and the association he founded and to facilitate interpretation of Dr. Woodson's achievements, the Secretary may enter into an agreement with The Association for the Study of African-American Life and History that allows the association to use a portion of the historic site for its own administrative purposes. The agreement may contain such terms and conditions as the Secretary deems appropriate.

(4) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS- The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with public and private entities for the purpose of fostering interpretation of African-American heritage in the Shaw area of Washington, D.C.

(5) GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN- The Secretary shall prepare a general management plan for the historic site within three years after funds are made available for that purpose.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act.

END