Post by kaya on Jul 30, 2007 9:33:25 GMT -5
BLACK PR WIRE) (July 30, 2007) WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of
Representatives passed H.R. 1239 this week, the National Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2007-a little-noticed but significant
step toward preserving the Underground Railroad, and with it, some of our
nation's most inspiring stories of courage.
"The House stood up for America's history and heritage, helping to ensure the
preservation of historic sites, artifacts, and personal stories of those who
resisted enslavement," said National Parks Conservation Association Legislative
Representative Alan Spears.
The legislation, led by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Michael Castle (R-DE),
authorizes an increase in federal funding for the National Park Service program
from $500,000 to $2.5 million annually, without which the program might have
been derailed.
The Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program is the only national program
dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and dissemination of the sites,
stories, and artifacts of people resisting enslavement, partnering Park Service
knowledge and modest grants with local expertise to empower nearly 300 state and
local historic sites, community groups, and park sites in 27 states and the
District of Columbia to more capably tell their part of the Underground Railroad
story.
Without adequate funding, program researchers can't identify artifacts or
document important oral histories, and important structures are lost to
development or decay. The program was named to the National Parks Conservation
Association's 2004 list of America's Ten Most Endangered National Parks because
of insufficient federal funding.
"Representatives Hastings and Castle have demonstrated significant bipartisan
leadership on behalf of America's history. Thanks to their hard work, and the
support of the bill's 67 co-sponsors, we are now one step closer to preserving
more of the inspiring stories of the Underground Railroad," Spears said. "We
encourage the U.S. Senate to expeditiously take up this legislation."
Senators Joe Biden (D-DE) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced a companion bill
in the U.S. Senate last month.
Representatives passed H.R. 1239 this week, the National Underground Railroad
Network to Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2007-a little-noticed but significant
step toward preserving the Underground Railroad, and with it, some of our
nation's most inspiring stories of courage.
"The House stood up for America's history and heritage, helping to ensure the
preservation of historic sites, artifacts, and personal stories of those who
resisted enslavement," said National Parks Conservation Association Legislative
Representative Alan Spears.
The legislation, led by Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Michael Castle (R-DE),
authorizes an increase in federal funding for the National Park Service program
from $500,000 to $2.5 million annually, without which the program might have
been derailed.
The Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program is the only national program
dedicated to the preservation, interpretation, and dissemination of the sites,
stories, and artifacts of people resisting enslavement, partnering Park Service
knowledge and modest grants with local expertise to empower nearly 300 state and
local historic sites, community groups, and park sites in 27 states and the
District of Columbia to more capably tell their part of the Underground Railroad
story.
Without adequate funding, program researchers can't identify artifacts or
document important oral histories, and important structures are lost to
development or decay. The program was named to the National Parks Conservation
Association's 2004 list of America's Ten Most Endangered National Parks because
of insufficient federal funding.
"Representatives Hastings and Castle have demonstrated significant bipartisan
leadership on behalf of America's history. Thanks to their hard work, and the
support of the bill's 67 co-sponsors, we are now one step closer to preserving
more of the inspiring stories of the Underground Railroad," Spears said. "We
encourage the U.S. Senate to expeditiously take up this legislation."
Senators Joe Biden (D-DE) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced a companion bill
in the U.S. Senate last month.