Public Law 117–206: To establish the Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, and for other purposes.

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PUBLIC LAW 117–206—OCT. 17, 2022
136 STAT. 2236
Public Law
117–206
117th Congress
An Act
To establish the Blackwell School National Historic Site in Marfa, Texas, and for other purposes.

Oct. 17, 2022

[S. 2490]

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

Blackwell School National Historic Site Act.

54 USC 320101 note.
SECTION 1.

SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the “
Blackwell School National Historic Site Act
”.
SEC. 2.

FINDINGS.

  Congress finds that—
(1)
the Blackwell School, located at 501 South Abbott Street, in Marfa, Presidio County, Texas, is—
(A)
associated with the period of racial segregation in Marfa public schools; and
(B)
the only extant property directly associated with Hispanic education in Marfa since the other buildings were torn down after the Blackwell School closed in 1965;
(2)
the Blackwell School is a tangible reminder of the period during which the doctrine of “separate but equal” dominated education and social systems;
(3)
despite being categorized as “white” by Texas law, Mexican Americans were regularly excluded from commingling with Anglo individuals at barbershops, restaurants, funeral homes, theaters, churches, and schools;
(4)
the spectrum of experiences of students and teachers at the Blackwell School are an important record of life in a segregated school in the context of the history of Texas and the United States;
(5)
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;
(6)
Hispanic influences continue to be seen in social and religious organizations, business and government institutions, and shared experiences of language, food, and music in Marfa, Texas;
(7)
the historic Blackwell School building is a physical record of—
(A)
the longevity and beauty of the distinctive design and craftsmanship informed by traditional techniques and materials; and136 STAT. 2237
(B)
the transition from the purely vernacular to the period of materials, design, and workmanship made available after the arrival of the railroad;
(8)
the original historic school building and grounds on which the Blackwell School building stands provide an authentic setting to commemorate and interpret the history of the Blackwell School;
(9)
the Blackwell School is closely associated with the broad patterns of local, State, and national history in the area of school segregation; and
(10)
Mexicans and other members of the Latin American diaspora have placed a high value on education as a means of economic, social, and political advancement, but Hispanics and Latinos have not always had equitable opportunities and access to quality educational facilities in the United States.
SEC. 3.

DEFINITIONS.

  In this Act:
(1)

Map.—

The term “
map
” means the map entitled “Blackwell School National Historic Site Proposed Boundary”, numbered 593/178387, and dated February 2022.
(2)

National historic site.—

The term “
National Historic Site
” means the Blackwell School National Historic Site established by section 4(a)(1).
(3)

Secretary.—

The term “
Secretary
” means the Secretary of the Interior.
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, including—
(A)
the role of the Blackwell School as an academic and cultural cornerstone in Marfa, Texas; and
(B)
the function of the Blackwell School within a segregated system of education in Texas and the United States from the period of 1885 through 1965.
(2)

Determination by secretary.—

The National Historic Site shall not be established until the date on which the Secretary determines that—
(A)

Contracts.

a written agreement has been entered into by the Secretary with the Marfa Unified School District providing that the Blackwell School shall be donated to the United States or co-managed with the Secretary for inclusion in a national historic site to be managed consistently with the purposes of a national historic site; and
(B)
a sufficient quantity of land or an interest in land within the boundaries of the National Historic Site has been acquired to constitute a manageable unit.
(b)

Map.—

(1)

Boundaries.—

The boundaries of the National Historic Site shall be the boundaries generally depicted on the map.
(2)

Availability of map.—

The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service.136 STAT. 2238
(c)

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.
(d)

Administration.—

(1)

In general.—

The Secretary shall administer the 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)

Deadline.

In general.—

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made available to the Secretary to prepare a general management plan for the National Historic Site, 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)

Submission.—

On completion of the general management plan under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives the general management plan prepared under that subparagraph.
(e)

Contracts.

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 relating to the National Historic Site.
(f)

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 the property.
Approved October 17, 2022.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 2490 (H.R. 4706):

HOUSE REPORTS: ┐No. 117–198 (Comm. on Natural Resources) accompanying H.R. 4706.
SENATE REPORTS: ┐No. 117–92 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 168 (2022):

May 19, considered and passed Senate.

Sept. 19, 20, considered and passed House.

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