Clay Introduces African American Civil Rights Network Act of 2015

Statement

Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (D) Missouri has introduced H.R. 3683, the African American Civil Rights Trails Act of 2015, bipartisan legislation that would authorize the National Park Service to establish a program to preserve and protect the memory of the people and places that were significant in the struggle to secure equal rights for African Americans during the modern civil rights era between 1939-1968. The act, which was coauthored by Congressman Jason Smith (R) Missouri, has already gathered 60 cosponsors.

"The purpose of my legislation is to recognize, preserve, protect and share the remarkable American story of the modern struggle for civil rights, a unique national experience that touches every American, regardless of their age or heritage," said Mr. Clay."The historic network would create tremendous educational opportunities by recognizing those brave souls from all walks of life who fought to make the promises enshrined in our constitution finally ring true." The Congressman added, "In many places across this country, precious historic waypoints along the routes of that still largely untold story are at risk of being lost forever. My hope is that the historic civil rights trails and the programs that will grow from this act will honestly tell the full and sometimes painful story of the struggle for civil rights, not just for African Americans, but to foster healing, tolerance and understanding among all Americans. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor this important new legislation."

Stephanie Meeks, President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which strongly supports Congressman Clay's new legislation added, "We applaud Rep. Clay's introduction of the African American Civil Rights Network Act.. By linking the historic sites, routes, corridors, and regions that defined the struggle for African-American equality, this bill will deepen our understanding of the relationships between the people and places of the modern Civil Rights movement, and help us to better appreciate its context and complexity. Creating programming that ties together sites, activities, and research on civil rights will produce a richer and more complete picture of a critical time in our nation's history."

Congressman Clay's new bill is similar to legislation that created The National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998, currently administered by the National Park Service. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to identify and create a national network of historic sites, stories, research facilities and educational programs connected to the modern African American Civil Rights Movement.

The bill is also supported by the National Urban League.

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