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H.R. 1635 105th Congress House

National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998

Official title: To establish within the United States National Park Service the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 15, 1997 See on congress.gov
Public Lands and Natural Resources American technical assistanceBlack historyCanadaCaribbean area
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Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority IssuesCommemorationsGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment publicityHistoric sitesHistoryInternational AffairsLatin AmericaMexicoMinoritiesNational parksSigns and symbolsSlaveryUnderground movements
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 Everywhere this bill has been 27 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 21, 1998
Became Public Law No: 105-203.
Jul 21, 1998
Signed by President.
Jul 14, 1998
Presented to President.
Jun 26, 1998
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Jun 25, 1998
Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7078)
Jun 25, 1998
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S7078)
Jun 25, 1998
Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources discharged by Unanimous Consent.
Jun 10, 1998
Received in the Senate and read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Jun 10, 1998
Referred to Subcommittee on Parks, Preservation and Recreation.
Jun 9, 1998
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Jun 9, 1998
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 2 (Roll No. 214).
Jun 9, 1998
Considered as unfinished business.
Jun 9, 1998
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Jun 9, 1998
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.
Jun 9, 1998
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4260-4266, H4295)
Jun 9, 1998
Mr. Hansen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jun 3, 1998
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 315.
Jun 3, 1998
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Resources. H. Rept. 105-559.
May 20, 1998
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
May 20, 1998
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Oct 7, 1997
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Oct 7, 1997
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jul 22, 1997
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
May 21, 1997
Executive Comment Requested from Interior.
May 21, 1997
Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands.
May 15, 1997
Referred to the House Committee on Resources.
May 15, 1997
Introduced in House
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Jun 9, 1998 House · vote #214 Suspend the rules and pass, as amended Passed 415–2 See who voted →
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 Latest action July 21, 1998

Became Public Law No: 105-203.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1997 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior to establish in the National Park Service (NPS) a program to be known as the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom under which the Secretary shall: (1) produce and disseminate educational materials about the Railroad; (2) provide technical assistance to other government agencies, private entities, or the Governments of Canada, Mexico, or any appropriate Caribbean country to ensure coordination of Federal and non-Federal elements of the Network; and (3) regulate use of an official symbol for the Network.

Includes within the Network: (1) NPS units or programs pertaining to the Railroad; (2) Federal, State, local, or privately-owned properties pertaining to the Railroad that have a verifiable connection to it and that are included or eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places; and (3) governmental or nongovernmental facilities or programs of educational, research, or interpretive natures that are directly related to such Railroad. Prohibits amounts from being appropriated for the purposes of this Act except to the Secretary for carrying out his or her responsibilities.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 887 National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1997
 Bill text 6 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 4
 Cosponsors 23
All 23 Democratic 15 Independent 1
D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Apr 1, 1998
GEPHARDT, RICHARD
· Feb 3, 1998
 D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Feb 3, 1998
MCCARTHY, KAREN
· Feb 3, 1998
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Oct 7, 1997
SMITH, NICK
· Oct 7, 1997
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Aug 1, 1997
 D
Hoyer, Steny H.
Maryland · Jul 29, 1997
HOUGHTON, AMO
· Jul 16, 1997
QUINN, JACK
· Jul 16, 1997
 D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · May 15, 1997
CHRISTENSEN, DONNA
· May 15, 1997
 D
Clyburn, James E.
South Carolina · May 15, 1997
 D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · May 15, 1997
 D
DeLauro, Rosa L.
Connecticut · May 15, 1997
FROST, MARTIN
· May 15, 1997
 D
McGovern, James P.
Massachusetts · May 15, 1997
 D
Neal, Richard E.
Massachusetts · May 15, 1997
 D
Norton, Eleanor Holmes
District of Columbia · May 15, 1997
 D
Pelosi, Nancy
California · May 15, 1997
 D
Scott, Robert C. "Bobby"
Virginia · May 15, 1997
 D
Thompson, Bennie G.
Mississippi · May 15, 1997
 D
Waters, Maxine
California · May 15, 1997
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1635: National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1635/
MLA
"H.R. 1635: National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1635/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1635, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1635/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1635: National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act of 1998](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-1635/)
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