[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4706 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4706
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 9, 2021
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To establish the Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa,
Texas, 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 ``Blackwell School National Historic
Site Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) National historic site.--The term ``national historic
site'' means the Blackwell School, in Marfa, Texas.
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress finds as follows:
(1) The Blackwell School, located at 501 South Abbott
Street, in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas, is associated with
the period of racial segregation in Marfa public schools and is
the sole extant property directly associated with Hispanic
education in the community, the remaining buildings having been
torn down after the school closed in 1965.
(2) The Blackwell School is a tangible reminder of a time
when the practice of ``separate but equal'' dominated education
and social systems. Despite being categorized as ``white'' by
Texas law, Mexican Americans were regularly excluded from
commingling with Anglos at barbershops, restaurants, funeral
homes, theaters, churches, and schools.
(3) The spectrum of experiences of students and teachers at
the Blackwell School constitute an important record of life in
a segregated school in the context of the history of Texas and
America.
(4) Mexican and Mexican American culture and history in
Marfa is tied to the Blackwell School, which for more than 50
years served as a leading feature of the Hispanic community,
illustrating the challenge of maintaining cultural identity in
a dominant Anglo society. Yet today, Hispanic influences are
seen in Marfa's social and religious organizations, business
and government institutions, and shared experiences of
language, food, and music.
(5) The historic Blackwell School building is a physical
record of the longevity and beauty of the distinctive design
and craftsmanship informed by both traditional techniques and
materials, and the transition from purely the vernacular to the
period of materials, design, and workmanship made available
after the arrival of the railroad. The original historic school
building and grounds on which it stands provide an authentic
setting to commemorate and interpret the history of the
Blackwell School.
(6) The Blackwell School is closely associated with the
broad patterns of local, State, and national history in the
area of school segregation. Mexicans and other members of the
Latin American diaspora have placed a high value upon education
as a means of economic, social, and political advancement.
(7) Mexican Americans and other members of the Latin
American diaspora have placed a high value upon education as a
means of economic, social, and political advancement. However,
Hispanics and Latinos have not always had equitable
opportunities and access to quality educational facilities in
the United States.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE BLACKWELL SCHOOL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.
(a) Establishment.--
(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), there is
established the Blackwell School National Historic Site in the
State of Texas as a unit of the National Park System to
preserve, protect and interpret for the benefit of present and
future generations the Blackwell School, its role as both an
academic and cultural cornerstone in the community in Marfa,
Texas, and its function within a segregated system of education
in Texas and the United States from 1885 through 1965.
(2) Conditions.--The national historic site shall not be
established until the date on which the Secretary has--
(A) entered into a written agreement with the Marfa
Unified School District providing that the Blackwell
School shall be donated to or placed by agreement into
co-management with the United States for inclusion in a
national historic site to be managed consistently with
the purposes of a national historic site; and
(B) acquired sufficient land or interests in land
within the boundaries of the national historic site to
constitute a manageable unit.
(b) Boundaries.--The boundaries of the national historic site shall
be the boundaries generally depicted on the map.
(c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and available
for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park
Service.
(d) Acquisition of Authority.--The Secretary may only acquire any
land or interest in land located within the boundary of the national
historic site by--
(1) donation;
(2) purchase with donated funds; or
(3) exchange.
(e) Administration.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall administer this
national historic site in accordance with--
(A) this Act; and
(B) the laws generally applicable to units of the
National Park System.
(2) Management plan.--
(A) Not later than 3 years after the date on which
funds are first made available to the Secretary for
this purpose, the Secretary shall prepare a general
management plan for the national historic site in
accordance with section 100502 of title 54, United
States Code.
(B) Upon completion, the Secretary shall submit the
general management plan prepared pursuant to
subparagraph (A) to the Committee on Natural Resources
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
(f) Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary shall enter into
cooperative agreements with the Blackwell School Alliance (and other
local, regional, State, academic and nonprofit partners) for
interpretive and educational programming, technical assistance, and
rehabilitation related to the national historic site.
(g) Written Consent of Owner.--No private property or non-Federal
public property shall be included within the boundaries of the national
historic site or managed as part of the national historic site without
the written consent of the owner of such property.
Passed the House of Representatives December 8, 2021.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.