Bill Overview
Title: Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Expansion and Redesignation Act
Description: This bill redesignates the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site as the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park and expands the park. The park is expanded to include the land and interests in land as generally depicted on the map titled Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park Boundary Additions and Affiliated Areas , and dated February 2022, and more particularly described as the Summerton High School site in Summerton, South Carolina; the former Scott's Branch High School site in Summerton; and approximately one acre of land adjacent to Monroe Elementary School in Topeka, Kansas. The Department of the Interior may acquire this land by donation, exchange, or purchase. Any property owned by South Carolina, Kansas, or any political subdivision of those states may be acquired by donation. Interior shall submit to Congress an amendment to the management plan for the historical park to include the portions of the historical park in Summerton. The bill establishes as affiliated areas of the National Park System the Robert Russa Moton Museum in Farmville, Virginia; the Delaware Brown v. Board of Education civil rights sites, including Claymont High School in Claymont, Delaware; and the John Philip Sousa Middle School in the District of Columbia. Interior shall develop a management plan for each affiliated area.
Sponsors: Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Target Audience
Population: People interested in or residing in areas impacted by the history of Brown v. Board of Education
Estimated Size: 50000
- The bill concerns both the historical reinterpretation and geographical expansion of the Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park.
- Local communities around the newly included areas will have direct experiences of changes in tourism, local pride, and potentially local economies due to increased visitors.
- Educationally, the legislation could positively impact populations around these sites by providing more educational resources and awareness related to civil rights history.
- Tourists and individuals interested in civil rights history are likely to visit these expanded and redesigned historical sites, impacting businesses and education within these communities directly.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily affects communities where the new historical sites are being added and those connected to civil rights history. Therefore, the impact is likely strongest among the residents of these areas, educators, historians, and tourists.
- People who are local to the newly included sites such as the Summerton High School in South Carolina, Monroe Elementary in Topeka, Kansas, and associated affiliated areas might see direct changes in community investment and tourism, potentially boosting local businesses but also impacting traffic and the local cost of living.
- The expansion can also lead to increased historical and educational awareness, potentially improving educational outcomes in these regions. However, those who are not near the expanded sites might see no or minimal change.
- The budget limitations mean that the expansion and redesignation must be carefully planned to have the intended educational and cultural impact without exceeding financial resources. Some areas might see more significant initial investment due to existing infrastructure or expected tourist volume.
Simulated Interviews
High School Teacher (Topeka, Kansas)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm thrilled about the expansion as it will bring more resources and attention to our community.
- It'll provide my students with a tangible connection to the history we study in class.
- I hope this will lead to more educational programs available locally.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Small Business Owner (Summerton, South Carolina)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I expect to see more business with tourists coming in to visit the expanded sites around here.
- Increased traffic might be an issue, but it's a trade-off I'm willing to make for potential economic gain.
- I hope this boosts our small town's profile and economy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Graduate Student (Farmville, Virginia)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The expansion is fantastic as it links important historical sites together, enriching my studies.
- It can lead to more academic interest and possibly funding for research.
- Farmville could become a hub for civil rights educational resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Historian (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This expansion marks a significant step in preserving civil rights history for future generations.
- It draws more scholarly attention to these areas, which is crucial for public knowledge.
- Maintaining these sites correctly is important, so I hope there's adequate funding for it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Retired School Principal (Claymont, Delaware)
Age: 63 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen the importance of historical education, and this expansion aids it immensely.
- It would be nice to see more visitors in our community, but I'm cautious about how it could alter our quiet town feel.
- I hope the park will collaborate closely with local schools for educational programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Tourist (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think it's a great move to expand the park, giving more representation to civil rights history.
- I'll definitely plan a visit to all the new sites as soon as I can.
- As a tourist, having well-preserved and informative sites is a real pleasure.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
College Student (Summerton, South Carolina)
Age: 28 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- More attention to our town through this expansion is positive.
- I worry about whether the community will have input on how these changes are made.
- Hopefully, it will mean more opportunities for young people locally if tourism increases.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Educational Consultant (Kansas City, Missouri)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This act will offer more resources for developing a rich curriculum around civil rights history.
- The affiliated areas and expanded sites provide teachers unique field trip destinations.
- Ensuring information is accurate and engaging remains a top priority with expansions like this.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Retired Historian (Farmville, Virginia)
Age: 74 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Preservation and education about our civil rights history is crucial and timely.
- The linking of these sites provides a broader narrative for national discussion.
- Support for these areas can aid local economies if managed responsibly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Civil Rights Activist (Delaware)
Age: 42 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This expansion is essential not only for the history it preserves but for the justice it represents.
- It signals to local communities involved that their stories are valued on a national level.
- I hope it leads to more community activism in educating young people.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $12000000)
Year 2: $9500000 (Low: $7500000, High: $11500000)
Year 3: $9000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $11000000)
Year 5: $8500000 (Low: $6500000, High: $10000000)
Year 10: $8000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $9500000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Key Considerations
- Land acquisition costs will vary depending on the method of acquisition (donation, purchase, exchange).
- Ongoing costs related to park maintenance and operation will stabilize after initial years but will always require funding.
- The educational and historical value provides a significant non-economic benefit, enhancing civil rights education.
- Community engagement and local partnerships might reduce overall costs through shared resources or efforts.