A bipartisan group of lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Tim Scott and Rep. James Clyburn introduced legislation to extend the African American Civil Rights Network for 10 years.
Based on a release from U.S. Sen. Tim Scott.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., along with Reps. James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., and Mike Carey, R-Ohio, introduced the Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act, according to the Office of Sen. Tim Scott. The bill would reauthorize the African American Civil Rights Network, or AACRN, for 10 years.
The AACRN is managed by the National Park Service and was established to consolidate nationally significant civil rights sites under a single organization, according to Scott’s office. The program has 213 members across the United States, and 25 of them are in South Carolina, the largest share of any state.
“The African American Civil Rights Network not only helps preserve our nation’s history but also strengthens our local economies through cultural tourism,” Scott said. “As home to the largest share of AACRN sites in the country, South Carolina proves the immense value of reauthorizing this program.”
Clyburn said the legislation involves a network of 29 states that designate sites for visitation. “This legislation is pivotal because it involves a network of 29 states that designate sites for visitation that will grow the economy most especially in rural communities,” he said.
Blunt Rochester said the bill continues work begun by the African American Civil Rights Network Act of 2017. “I’m proud to lead the bipartisan African American Civil Rights Network Reauthorization Act alongside Senator Scott, Congressman Clyburn, and Congressman Carey to continue preserving our nation’s history and honor the Americans who led an era of change,” she said.
Carey said preserving civil rights sites in Ohio and elsewhere would benefit future generations and local economies. “I would like to thank Congressman Clyburn for his leadership on this important legislation and am proud to join him in this effort,” he said.
The bill drew support from outside groups. Dr. Jocelyn Imani, director of Black History and Culture at Trust for Public Land, urged Congress to advance the legislation, and Brent Leggs, executive director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, said the AACRN is “a vital network of preservation partners committed to telling the full story of America’s civil rights journey,” according to Scott’s office.
Source: U.S. Sen. Tim Scott original release.
