Rosewood Study Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8502 To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the site formerly known as ‘‘Rosewood’’, located in Levy County, Florida, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 1, 2020 Mr. YOHO (for himself, Mr. SOTO, Mr. RUTHERFORD, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. SPANO, Mr. LAWSON of Florida, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. HASTINGS, Ms. SHALALA, and Ms. FRANKEL) introduced the following bill; which was re- ferred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the site formerly known as ‘‘Rosewood’’, located in Levy County, Florida, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rosewood Study Act’’. 4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 5 Congress finds as follows: 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:38 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8502.IH H8502 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8502 IH (1) The town of Rosewood was originally sur- 1 veyed in 1847 in Levy County, Florida, and quickly 2 became a majority minority community. 3 (2) On January 1, 1923, a young married 4 White woman from a neighboring town falsely ac- 5 cused an African-American man of assault. 6 (3) This accusation started a riot and the ma- 7 jority of Rosewood was burned to the ground. 8 (4) This riot led to an unjust massacre and 9 death toll that is still unknown. 10 (5) Survivors were forced to flee to the woods 11 and ultimately resettle around the State of Florida. 12 (6) The town of Rosewood never recovered from 13 this event. 14 (7) The Governor of Florida was notified of the 15 events, but did not intervene. 16 (8) A small attempt was eventually made to in- 17 dict locals by a grand jury, but this was unsuccess- 18 ful. 19 (9) This tragedy went unnoticed by those who 20 were not immediately affected for almost 60 years, 21 until 1982 when a reporter for the Saint Petersburg 22 Times began to investigate the massacre. 23 (10) In 1993, the State of Florida formally in- 24 vestigated the event and eventually passed a law 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:38 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8502.IH H8502 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8502 IH issuing compensation for the losses to the victims 1 and creating a scholarship fund. 2 (11) Violence and prejudice have no place in 3 our society. 4 (12) Our society cannot be complacent in sense- 5 less acts of violence. 6 (13) In order to learn from history, our society 7 must make sure to remember it. 8 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 9 In this Act: 10 (1) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 11 the Secretary of the Interior. 12 (2) STUDY AREA.—The term ‘‘study area’’ 13 means the site formerly known as ‘‘Rosewood’’, 14 ‘‘grounds of the Rosewood massacre’’, and ‘‘State 15 Road 24, Rosewood’’ located in Levy County, Flor- 16 ida. 17 SEC. 4. ROSEWOOD SPECIAL RESOURCE STUDY. 18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 19 date on which funds are first made available for this pur- 20 pose, the Secretary shall complete a special resource study 21 of the study area. 22 (b) CONTENTS.—In conducting the study pursuant to 23 subsection (a), the Secretary shall— 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:38 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8502.IH H8502 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8502 IH (1) evaluate the national significance of the 1 study area; 2 (2) determine the suitability and feasibility of 3 designating the study area as a unit of the National 4 Park System; 5 (3) consider other alternatives for preservation, 6 protection, and interpretation of the study area by 7 the Federal Government, State or local government 8 entities, or private and nonprofit organizations; 9 (4) consult with interested Federal agencies, 10 State or local governmental entities, private and 11 nonprofit organizations, or any other interested indi- 12 viduals; and 13 (5) identify cost estimates for any Federal ac- 14 quisition, development, interpretation, operation, and 15 maintenance associated with the alternatives de- 16 scribed in paragraphs (2) and (3). 17 (c) APPLICABLE LAW.—Except as provided by sub- 18 section (a), the study required by subsection (a) shall be 19 conducted in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, 20 United States Code. 21 (d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 22 on which funds are first made available to carry out the 23 study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to 24 the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:38 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8502.IH H8502 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 8502 IH resentatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 1 Resources of the Senate a report that describes— 2 (1) the results of the study; and 3 (2) any conclusions and recommendations of the 4 Secretary. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:38 Oct 31, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8502.IH H8502 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS