Oct. 26, 1992
[S. 2890]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.

As used in this title --

(1) the term "Secretary" means the Secretary of the Interior.

(2) The term "historic site" means the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site as established in section 103.

SEC. 102. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

(a) FINDINGS.--The Congress finds as follows:

(1) The Supreme Court, in 1954, ruled that the earlier 1896 Supreme Court decision in Plessy v. Ferguson that permitted segregation of races in elementary schools violated the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution, which guarantees all citizens equal protection under the law.

(2) In the 1954 proceedings, Oliver Brown and twelve other plaintiffs successfully challenged an 1879 Kansas law that had been patterned after the law in question in Plessy v. Ferguson after the Topeka, Kansas, Board of Education refused to enroll Mr. Brown's daughter, Linda.

(3) Sumner Elementary, the all-white school that refused to enroll Linda Brown, and Monroe Elementary, the segregated school she was forced to attend, have subsequently been designated National Historic Landmarks in recognition of their national significance.

(4) Sumner Elementary, an active school, is administered by the Topeka Board of Education; Monroe Elementary, closed in 1975 due to declining enrollment, is privately owned and stands vacant.

(b) PURPOSES.--The purposes of this title are --

(1) to preserve, protect, and interpret for the benefit and enjoyment of present and future generations, the places that contributed materially to the landmark United States Supreme Court decision that brought an end to segregation in public education; and

(2) to interpret the integral role of the Brown v. Board of Education case in the civil rights movement.

(3) to assist in the preservation and interpretation of related resources within the city of Topeka that further the understanding of the civil rights movement.

SEC. 103. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS IN EDUCATION: BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE.

(a) IN GENERAL.--There is hereby established as a unit of the National Park System the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in the State of Kansas.

(b) DESCRIPTION.--The historic site shall consist of the Monroe Elementary School site in the city of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas, as generally depicted on a map entitled "Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site," numbered Appendix A and dated June 1992. Such map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.

SEC. 104. PROPERTY ACQUISITION.

The Secretary is authorized to acquire by donation, exchange, or purchase with donated or appropriated funds the real property described in section 103(b). Any property owned by the States of Kansas or any political subdivision thereof may be acquired only by donation. The Secretary may also acquire by the same methods personal property associated with, and appropriate for, the interpretation of the historic site: Provided, however, That the Secretary may not acquire such personal property without the consent of the owner.

SEC. 105. ADMINISTRATION OF HISTORIC SITE.

(a) IN GENERAL.--The Secretary shall administer the historic site in accordance with this title and the laws generally applicable to units of the National Park System, including the Act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535), and the Act of August 21, 1935 (49 Stat. 666).

(b) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.--The Secretary is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with private as well as public agencies, organizations, and institutions in furtherance of the purposes of this title.

(c) GENERAL MANAGEMENT PLAN.--Within two complete fiscal years after funds are made available, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the United States House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate a general management plan for the historic site.

SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated $ 1,250,000 to carry out the purposes of this title including land acquisition and initial development.

[NOTE: The remainder of this public law has not been included. Title II deals with Dry Tortugas National Park (Florida); Title III deals with National Park System Advisory Committees; Title IV deals with New River Wild and Scenic Study; and Title V deals with Boston Harbor Islands Study.]

Approved October 26, 1992

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LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2890 (H.R. 5484):
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 102-1038 accompanying H.R. 5485 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 102-468 (Comm. on energy and Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 138 (1992):
Oct. 1, considered and passed Senate.
Oct. 4, 5, considered and passed House, amended.
Oct. 8, Senate concurred in House amendment.
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 28 (1992):
Oct. 26, Presidential statement.