Overview
Title
To establish the Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument in the State of Oklahoma, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The bill wants to create a special monument in Oklahoma to remember a place called Black Wall Street and a sad event that happened there. It will help share the history of that place, make sure nearby homes aren't bothered, and have a group of people to help take care of it.
Summary AI
S. 3543 is a bill to establish the Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument in Oklahoma. This National Monument aims to preserve and share the history of the Greenwood District, Black Wall Street, and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The bill outlines the roles of the Secretary of the Interior and creates an advisory commission to help with managing the monument. It ensures the rights of nearby private property owners are not affected and sets guidelines for acquiring land for the monument.
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AnalysisAI
The proposed legislation, S. 3543, seeks to establish the Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument in Oklahoma. This monument aims to preserve and highlight the history of the Greenwood District, also known as Black Wall Street, and commemorate the victims and historical significance of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. The bill is designed to protect historical resources and educate future generations about this pivotal event in American history.
General Summary
This bill, titled the "Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Establishment Act," outlines the establishment of a new national monument within the National Park System. It empowers the Secretary of the Interior to manage the monument and acquire land through various means, such as donation, purchase, or exchange. Additionally, it creates an advisory commission to guide the development and management of the monument. The bill includes provisions to protect private property rights and ensure the continuity of existing land uses.
Summary of Significant Issues
A few notable issues arise from the bill's current language and structure:
Land Acquisition: The bill permits the Secretary of the Interior to acquire land using broad language, which could result in excessive spending without specific guidelines or limitations. This raises concerns about the potential overreach in land purchases.
Advisory Commission Composition: The bill's provision for an advisory commission includes a majority of descendants, which might lead to imbalances in representation. This could potentially skew the commission's advice or create perceptions of bias.
Exemption from Oversight: The bill exempts the advisory commission from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), which might reduce transparency and public accountability in the commission's operations.
Financial Considerations: There is a lack of specific budget projections or financial accountability measures, especially concerning the management plan's costs. This opacity could lead to inefficiencies or wasteful spending.
Potential Impact on the Public
For the general public, the establishment of this monument may serve as a vital educational tool, promoting greater awareness and understanding of the history of racial violence and resilience in America. By highlighting the legacy of Black Wall Street, the bill could foster cultural preservation and community healing.
However, the bill's ambiguity around land acquisition and financial impacts could lead to concerns about the use of public funds and the potential disruption of existing community plans or land use.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Descendants and Residents: The monument and its advisory commission are likely to have a significant positive impact on descendants of the Greenwood District. It provides a platform for their voices in shaping the monument and ensures historical events crucial to their heritage are recognized and understood.
Property Owners and Local Entities: Local entities and property owners in and around the proposed boundary might face uncertainties regarding land acquisition practices. While the bill includes clauses to protect private property rights, its broad language might create apprehension about future land use or potential encroachment by federal authorities.
Educational Institutions and Historians: Institutions focused on historical research and education could benefit from the monument's establishment through opportunities for collaboration and increased access to federal resources. However, they might also encounter challenges due to the commission's exemption from standard transparency and operational guidelines (FACA).
Overall, while the bill aims to preserve a significant piece of American history and provide educational and cultural value, it needs clearer guidelines to ensure balanced representation, transparency, and efficient use of resources, safeguarding the interests of all stakeholders involved.
Issues
The broad language in Section 3 about 'Acquisition authority' could potentially lead to excessive or unnecessary spending since there are no clear criteria or limits for land acquisition, allowing purchases with donated or appropriated funds.
Section 5 on the Advisory Commission raises concerns about partiality, as the composition allows for a significant majority of members (7 out of 11) to be descendants, which might result in imbalanced representation of diverse perspectives.
The use of vague language such as 'as appropriate' in Section 3 'Agreements' could lead to differing interpretations and inconsistent application in cooperative agreements.
The exemption from the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) in Section 5 might reduce transparency and public oversight of the Commission's activities, raising ethical concerns.
Section 4 lacks specific budget or cost estimates for the preparation and implementation of the management plan, potentially leading to concerns about uncontrolled or wasteful spending.
The bill does not specify deadlines for consultation with stakeholders as noted in Section 4, potentially causing delays in preparing and implementing the management plan.
In Section 5, the provision that allows Commission members to serve after their term expires until successors are appointed could lead to indefinite tenures if replacements are not promptly appointed.
Section 5 lacks clarity on the criteria for selecting Commission members with 'experience in the field of historic preservation', which might result in ambiguity and possible favoritism in appointments.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Establishment Act is introduced as the official title of this law.
2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
This section provides definitions for key terms used in the Act, including the “Commission,” which refers to an advisory commission established under section 5(a); “Descendant,” which identifies individuals with verified family connections to Black residents of the Greenwood District in 1921; “Map,” describing a specific map related to the district; “National Monument,” referring to a monument established by section 3(a); and “Secretary,” meaning the Secretary of the Interior.
3. Establishment of Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument is established in Oklahoma to honor and preserve the history of the Greenwood District, Black Wall Street, and the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. The Secretary can acquire land for the monument through donation, purchase, or exchange, and work with other entities for educational and administrative purposes. This act doesn't change the rights of private property owners near the monument or alter zoning laws.
4. Administration Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary is responsible for managing the National Monument while ensuring that Standpipe Hill remains under the control of Oklahoma State University and the Board of Regents. Additionally, the Secretary must work with Oklahoma State University to create a management plan for the Monument, consult with various stakeholders, and submit the plan to Congress within three years of receiving funds.
5. Establishment of historic greenwood district—black wall street national monument advisory commission Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The section establishes the "Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Advisory Commission," which is tasked with advising on the monument's development and management. The Commission will consist of 11 members appointed by the Secretary, will have a Chairman, and will not receive compensation, although travel expenses will be covered. It will last for 10 years from the establishment of the monument.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the Act specifies that the official short title is the “Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Establishment Act.”
2. Definitions Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
In this section of the Act, several key terms are defined: the Commission refers to a specific advisory commission for the Greenwood District, the Map is a particular map of the district's proposed boundary from 2024, the National Monument is the monument established in the Greenwood District, and the Secretary is the Secretary of the Interior.
3. Establishment of Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill establishes the Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument in Oklahoma to preserve and interpret the significance of Black Wall Street and the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The Secretary of the Interior is authorized to acquire land for the monument, enter into agreements for educational services, and the rights of private property owners remain unaffected.
4. Administration Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary is responsible for managing the National Monument following this Act and general laws for National Park System units. Within three years of funding, the Secretary must create a management plan in consultation with the Commission.
5. Establishment of Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Advisory Commission Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Historic Greenwood District—Black Wall Street National Monument Advisory Commission is created to advise on the monument's development. It consists of 11 members, primarily descendants of 1921 Greenwood District residents, with some experts and a member recommended by the Tulsa Mayor. Members serve 5-year terms, may not receive pay but can be reimbursed for travel, and the Commission will end 10 years after the monument is established.