The RESTORE Act would create a new National Freedom Settlements Preservation Program within the National Park Service (NPS). Its goal is to identify, document, preserve, commemorate, and interpret Freedmen’s Settlements—historically Black towns and communities started by formerly enslaved people after emancipation. The bill authorizes grants (up to $3 million annually for 2026–2031) to eligible entities (property owners, tribal/state/local governments, and community organizations) to identify eligible sites, preserve and restore properties, develop heritage tourism, fund research, build local capacity, and provide educational programs. It also requires a national registry of Freedom Settlements, a study to identify key sites, a advisory committee, and cooperation with various federal and nonfederal partners. A key provision is that private property owners must consent before a site can be considered for a grant, and the program cannot compel private land management without owner approval (though guidance can be provided as a grant condition). Overall, the bill aims to honor history, advance racial justice, and support resilient, well-documented communities.
Key Points
- 1Establishes the National Freedom Settlements Preservation Program within the National Park Service to identify, research, preserve, and interpret Freedmen’s Settlements (also called Freedmen’s Settlements, Freedom Colonies, or Black Towns).
- 2Authorizes grants (up to $3,000,000 per year from FY2026–2031) to eligible entities for site identification, preservation/restoration, research, capacity-building, and educational programming.
- 3Creates a comprehensive registry of Freedom Settlements and requires ongoing updating, with example sites listed (e.g., Nicodemus, Kansas; Eatonville, Florida; Freedmen’s Town in Houston; Greenwood District in Tulsa; Freedmen’s Town, Dallas; and others).
- 4Requires private property owner consent to be considered for grants and allows only land-management guidance as a grant condition, protecting private property rights.
- 5Establishes a Freedom Settlements Advisory Committee to assist with the study, including residents/descendants and experts in African-American history, Reconstruction, and preservation.
- 6Authorizes cooperative agreements with federal agencies, state and local governments, tribal governments, and nonfederal partners, including specific organizations focused on Black history and community development.