National Parks Conservation Association Praises House Passage of Underground Railroad Legislation

Statement by National Parks Conservation Association Legislative Representative Alan Spears

The U.S. House of Representatives today stood up for America’s history and heritage, passing H.R. 1239, the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2007. The bill authorizes much-needed funding for this critical National Park Service program, ensuring the preservation of historic sites, artifacts, and personal stories of those who resisted enslavement.

Representatives Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Michael Castle (R-DE) have demonstrated significant bipartisan leadership on behalf of America’s history. Thanks to their hard work, and the support of the bill’s 67 co-sponsors, we are now one step closer to preserving more of the inspiring stories of the Underground Railroad.

We now encourage the U.S. Senate to expeditiously take up this legislation; Senators Joe Biden (D-DE) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced a companion bill last month.

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