Brown, Alexander Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Create National Network of African American Burial Grounds B

Statement

U.S. Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) have introduced bipartisan legislation to create a voluntary, nationwide network of African American burial grounds and to provide federal assistance to ensure the burial sites are preserved and maintained for future generations.

"Earlier this year, I joined a group of leaders to visit Union Baptist Cemetery in Cincinnati, and see all the work that was needed to restore the burial ground to the place of honor that it should be. We worked with the community and with civil rights and veterans groups, and yesterday I joined leaders in Cincinnati to announce our legislation to preserve historic Black burial grounds around the country. The bipartisan African American Burial Grounds Network Act would create a voluntary, nationwide network of African American burial grounds, and it would provide federal resources to ensure sites like Union Baptist are preserved and maintained for future generations," said Brown.

"This bill will help identify and preserve African-American cemeteries that have been lost or almost forgotten from our country's history. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, most high school seniors in America score the worst in U.S. history. By encouraging the study of U.S. history and protecting and preserving sites like these, we will better remember these important chapters in our nation's story," said Alexander.

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