RESTORE Act

Bill Number

H.R. 1704

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Last Updated

2026-02-06T19:41:24Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The RESTORE Act (H.R. 1704) aims to recognize and preserve "Freedom Settlements"—communities founded by formerly enslaved African Americans after the Civil War, also known as Freedmen's Settlements, Freedom Colonies, or Black Towns. It establishes a federal program to identify, document, protect, and revitalize these sites, honoring their role in African American history, self-determination, and resilience against discrimination and violence. The goal is to promote equity, sustainable development, and a fuller understanding of U.S. history by addressing historical underinvestment and supporting community needs.

Key Provisions Outlined

• Establishment of the National Freedom Settlements Preservation Program: Creates a program within the National Park Service (NPS) under the Department of the Interior to coordinate federal and non-federal efforts for identifying, researching, preserving, commemorating, and interpreting Freedom Settlements.
• Grants Authority: Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to award grants to eligible entities (e.g., property owners, Tribal, state, or local governments, and community organizations) for:
• Identifying potential Freedom Settlements.
• Preserving cultural heritage, restoring sites, and developing tourism programs.
• Conducting research and documentation.
• Building capacity to maintain sites.
• Creating educational programs on their history.
• Funding: $3 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2031.
• Freedom Settlements Study: Requires the Secretary to conduct a study to identify significant sites that highlight the history of these communities, involving public input and consultations with an advisory committee, state/local officials, educational institutions, and other stakeholders.
• National Registry: Mandates maintenance of an updated, comprehensive registry of verified Freedom Settlements, including examples like Nicodemus, Kansas; Africatown, Alabama; and the Greenwood District (Black Wall Street) in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• Advisory Committee: Establishes the Freedom Settlements Advisory Committee, composed of residents/descendants of these communities, experts in African American or Reconstruction-era history, and community leaders, to assist with the study and program implementation.
• Cooperative Agreements and Donations: Allows the Secretary to enter partnerships with federal agencies, states, Tribes, nonprofits, educational institutions, and private entities for technical assistance and coordination; also permits acceptance of donations.
• Private Property Protections: Ensures no federal actions affect private property without owner consent; grants require requests from owners or other entities.

Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced

This bill amends title 54 of the United States Code (which governs national parks, historic preservation, and related programs) by adding a new Chapter 3092. It introduces an entirely new federal program dedicated to Freedom Settlements, which did not previously exist. Unlike broader historic preservation laws (e.g., the National Historic Preservation Act), this targets a specific subset of African American post-emancipation communities, emphasizing research, grants, and community-driven revitalization. It builds on existing NPS authorities but adds targeted funding, a dedicated registry, and an advisory committee focused on racial equity and historical documentation gaps.

Potential Impacts

• On Government Agencies: The NPS will gain new responsibilities for program administration, grant management, and study coordination, requiring additional staff and resources. It may foster interagency cooperation (e.g., with the National Museum of African American History and Culture) and encourage state/local/Tribal involvement in preservation efforts.
• On Citizens: Residents and descendants of Freedom Settlements could benefit from economic development, infrastructure improvements, tourism, and educational opportunities, helping to address ongoing underdevelopment and environmental injustices in rural, historically disadvantaged areas. Broader public access to preserved sites could enhance national education on racial history.
• On International Relations: No direct impacts; the bill focuses on domestic historical preservation without foreign policy elements.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Primary Beneficiaries: Residents, descendants, and community organizations in Freedom Settlements (e.g., in Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama), who gain resources for preservation and development.
• Government Entities: National Park Service (implementation lead), state/local governments, and Tribal nations (eligible for grants and partnerships).
• Nonprofits and Experts: Organizations like the Texas Freedom Colonies Project, Chisholm Legacy Project, and scholars in African American history (consultation and funding recipients).
• Broader Public: African American communities nationwide, educators, and tourists interested in U.S. history, through increased documentation and public awareness.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces property rights by requiring owner consent for any involvement, aligning with Fifth Amendment protections against uncompensated takings. It expands federal historic preservation tools without mandating new regulations, focusing on voluntary grants and studies.
• Constitutional: Supports equal protection principles by addressing historical racial discrimination through targeted equity measures, potentially aiding efforts to remedy past injustices like redlining and Jim Crow laws without infringing on free speech or property rights.
• Political: Highlights congressional recognition of systemic racism's legacy (e.g., unfulfilled post-emancipation promises), promoting racial justice and community resilience. It could influence future legislation on historical reparations or environmental equity but may spark debates on federal spending priorities for specific cultural programs. The bill's emphasis on community-led efforts avoids top-down imposition, enhancing its bipartisan appeal in preservation contexts.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

Cosponsors (13)

Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

Recent Actions

• 2025-02-27: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
• 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
• 2025-02-27: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Revitalizing and Empowering Freedom Settlements Through Opportunity, Resilience, and Education Act — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (15 pages)