Urgent: PLEASE - Ask your U.S. Senator to support funding for FY2024 to Preserve African American Burial Grounds. Deadline is March 31, 2023.

"Coalition for American Heritage" 

~~~~~Call To Action ~~~~~~

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Sharing from the Coalition for American Heritage PLLC 

Contact information:

Kelly Lizarraga

Advocacy Director

Coalition for American Heritage

Cultural Heritage Partners, PLLC

Direct/Text: 703-913-4818

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"Sen. Sherrod Brown is asking the Senate Appropriations Committee to provide this funding. We need as many senators as possible to sign onto his letter (copy of letter below) in support of the funding request. This is an important way to show Congress that this program is important to us and needs to be funded.

The deadline for signatures is March 31st, so we need to act quickly. 

Please email your senators today and ask them to sign onto Sen. Brown's letter in support of the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program.  

Click on the link below.":

Send an email using the links on this page! Feel free to copy and paste the italicized language below into your message:

I'm writing to ask you to sign on to Sen. Brown's letter to the Appropriations Committee requesting $3 million in FY 24 funds for the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program at the National Park Service.

Use the links below to contact the senators who represent your state. Feel free to add any information you'd like to share about why this issue is important to you. If there's a burial ground in your state that is especially significant to you, please include that information to make an especially compelling case. 

Thank you for your help in preserving this important piece of history. Please, share this email with family and friends. The more people who contact their senators, the greater chance we have of securing funds for this vital work!

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"Text of Sen. Brown's letter to the Appropriations Committee"

Dear Chairman Merkley, and Ranking Member Murkowski:

As you prepare the Committees’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, we write to request a $3 million appropriation in FY 2024 for the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program. Congress authorized this program last year in Sec. 643 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328), and the President’s FY24 Budget includes $3 million for the program. The program will be administered by the National Park Service in consultation with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and African American heritage groups.

As you know, too many African American burial grounds from both before and after the Civil War are in a state of disarray or inaccessibility. Beginning with slavery and continuing through the Jim Crow era, African American burial grounds were often confined to remote areas or marginal property, and they frequently were not provided the same sort of state or local support or assistance as predominantly white cemeteries. The African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program will provide grant opportunities and technical assistance to local partners to research, identify, survey, and preserve these important and historic African American burial grounds.

Congressional authorization of the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program was a critical first step toward helping communities preserve these sacred spaces. Fully funding the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program at $3 million in FY 2024 will provide grant opportunities and technical assistance to local partners to research, identify, survey, and preserve these important and historic African American burial grounds.

We thank you for your consideration of this request, and we look forward to working with you.

 Sincerely,

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Alabama

Sen. Tommy Tuberville
Sen. Katie Boyd Britt

Alaska
Sen. Lisa Murkowski
Sen. Dan Sullivan

Arizona
Sen. Krysten Sinema
Sen. Mark Kelly

Arkansas
Sen. John Boozman
Sen. Tom Cotton

California
Sen. Dianne Feinstein
Sen. Alex Padilla

Colorado
Sen. Michael Bennet
Sen. John Hickenlooper

Connecticut
Sen. Richard Blumenthal
Sen. Christopher Murphy

Delaware
Sen. Thomas Carper
Sen. Christopher Coons

Florida
Sen. Marco Rubio
Sen. Rick Scott

Georgia
Sen. Jon Ossoff
Sen. Raphael Warnock

Hawaii
Sen. Brian Schatz
Sen. Mazie Hirono

Idaho
Sen. Mike Crapo
Sen. James Risch

Illinois
Sen. Richard Durbin
Sen. Tammy Duckworth

Indiana
Sen. Todd Young
Sen. Mike Braun

Iowa
Sen. Chuck Grassley
Sen. Joni Ernst

Kansas
Sen. Jerry Moran
Sen. Roger Marshall

Kentucky
Sen. Mitch McConnell
Sen. Rand Paul

Louisiana
Sen. Bill Cassidy
Sen. John Kennedy

Maine
Sen. Susan Collins
Sen. Angus King

Maryland
Sen. Benjamin Cardin
Sen. Chris Van Hollen

Massachusetts
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Sen. Edward Markey

Michigan
Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Sen. Gary Peters

Minnesota
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Sen. Tina Smith

Mississippi
Sen. Roger Wicker
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith

Missouri
Sen. Josh Hawley
Sen. Eric Schmitt

Montana
Sen. Jon Tester
Sen. Steve Daines

Nebraska
Sen. Deb Fischer
Sen. Pete Ricketts

Nevada
Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto
Sen. Jacky Rosen

New Hampshire
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Sen. Margaret Wood Hassan

New Jersey
Sen. Bob Menendez
Sen. Cory Booker

New Mexico
Sen. Martin Heinrich
Sen. Ben Ray Lujan

New York
Sen. Charles Schumer
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand

North Carolina
Sen. Thom Tillis
Sen. Ted Budd

North Dakota
Sen. John Hoeven
Sen. Kevin Cramer

Ohio
Sen. Sherrod Brown (no need to email- he's leading the effort!)
Sen. J.D. Vance

Oklahoma
Sen. James Lankford
Sen. Markwayne Mullin

Oregon
Sen. Ron Wyden
Sen. Jeff Merkley

Pennsylvania
Sen. Robert Casey (He signed the letter already, please send your thanks!)
Sen. John Fetterman

Rhode Island
Sen. Jack Reed
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

South Carolina
Sen. Lindsey Graham
Sen. Tim Scott

South Dakota
Sen. John Thune
Sen. Mike Rounds

Tennessee
Sen. Marsha Blackburn
Sen. Bill Hagerty

Texas
Sen. John Cornyn
Sen. Ted Cruz

Utah
Sen. Mike Lee
Sen. Mitt Romney

Virginia
Sen. Mark Warner
Sen. Tim Kaine

Washington
Sen. Patty Murray
Sen. Maria Cantwell

West Virginia
Sen. Joe Manchin, III
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito

Wisconsin
Sen. Ron Johnson
Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Wyoming
Sen. John Barrasso
Sen. Cynthia Lummis

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - May you and your cemeteries all do well in the coming year!

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas

 and a Happy New Year!

May 2023 be your best year ever!

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I feel that 2023 will usher in a year where Ohio's cemeteries will have more help and hope to gain the much-deserved, yet long overdue, respect and recognition for their importance to their surrounding communities, and truly beyond; regardless of their size or status.  

Thankfully, more resources are being made available than ever that will continue to work for their benefit.  There are more dedicated people coming onboard, some working individually, while others working in groups -- including countless volunteers -- who will ensure longer term protection and preservation of all of Ohio's cemeteries.  

This move forward includes the most recent passage of the Federal Omnibus Bill that includes the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program. 

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The "Cincinnati Enquirer" has posted a spotlight story (December 24, 2022) about this legislation on their Cincinnati.com  website.  

This is a must-read article to fully understand how it was that an historic African American cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio, the United American Cemetery, brought the public's focus to the particular plight that so negatively affects African American cemeteries all across America that can no longer go ignored.  Now stronger federal measures will be in place that will address their ongoing problematic issues.

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Also, be sure to check out previous posts on this blog about the Ohio Cemetery Grant Program that has been helping Ohio's Active/Registered Cemeteries, and those cemeteries that should be registered but are not through no fault of their own; with additional details regarding this program.

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Thank you for your help and your advocacy on behalf of Ohio's cemeteries! 

We must remain mindful that our deceased ancestors, relatives, friends, and neighbors were vital to the communities that surrounded them.  They were pioneers, veterans, doctors, teachers, pastors, civic leaders, fathers, mothers and babies who died young.  Each had a unique life story that should not be forgotten. They left their legacies to us who will in turn, pass them on to future generations. This cannot be done without cemetery preservation and the needed protections put in place through stronger Ohio laws.  

Sadly, too much history has already been lost so the need is great!  

Thank you!    

Sharing the latest update regarding the "African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act" - from the website of Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown.

On February 22, 2022, Senators Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Mitt Romney of Utah introduced the "African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act". 

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On July 21, 2022, Senator Sherrod Brown's webpage announced that this important legislation will now go to the U.S. Senate for a vote. 

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Excerpt:

"The African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act, would establish a program at the National Park Service to provide grant opportunities and technical assistance to local partners to research, identify, survey and preserve these cemeteries. Providing federal resources will ensure sites like Union Baptist are preserved and maintained for future generations."

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"The African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act" - Proposed Legislation for passage in the U. S. Senate by Senator Sherrod Brown and Senator Mitt Romney to better protect and preserve African American Burial Grounds in the United States

A link has been set up on the right sidebar of the blog for anyone interested in including their signature of support for passage of "The African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act" in the U. S. Senate. 

Below is information is from "Heritage Ohio":

"The bill authorizes a $3 million grant program to aid efforts across the country to identify, document, preserve, research, and interpret historic African American burial grounds. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) just introduced S. 3667 in the Senate. Next week, Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC) and Rep. Don McEachin (D-VA) will introduce the same bill in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"We can all help this bill succeed by demonstrating widespread support for the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act. 

Please, join us in signing this letter of support. 

Share it with any other groups who share these goals. 

Together with staff from the Congressional staff sponsoring the legislation, we'll maintain a running list of supporters."

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Thank you!

Sharing this link for Senator Sherrod Brown's "African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act"

 Sharing some links for Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown's "African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act".

Senator Mitt Romney of Utah is a Co-Sponsor for this Bi-Partisan supported legislation. 

Senator Sherrod Brown, as many know, has been championing this legislation aimed at protecting and preserving African American Burial Grounds for a number of years.  

Spotlight stories have been shared here of his previous legislative efforts that unfortunately have fallen short of passage.  

September 16, 2020 - from Cincinnati.com.:

"Black Cemetery: Dozens have stepped forward to help restore it." 

"Find A Grave" link for the Union Baptist Cemetery in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio. 

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Contact: Trudy Perkins/Dani Carlson

(202) 224-3978

 

BROWN INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN AFRICAN AMERICAN BURIAL GROUNDS PRESERVATION ACT   Bipartisan Legislation Would Establish Preservation Program Through the National Park Service   WASHINGTON, DC –  Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) hosted a news conference call to discuss the introduction of his African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act.  The newly-introduced bipartisan bill is also sponsored by U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT).   Brown first introduced similar legislation in 2019 after he visited Union Baptist Cemetery in Cincinnati following news reports of vandalism at the cemetery and the cemetery’s call for much-needed repairs. Union Baptist Cemetery was founded in 1864 and includes the remains of former slaves, African American Union soldiers and civil rights activists.   “As a nation, we have not invested the necessary resources to preserve these hallowed grounds. That’s why we’ve worked with the community, and with civil rights, veterans, and historic preservation groups to introduce bipartisan legislation to preserve historic Black burial grounds around the country,” said Brown. “Cemeteries like Union Baptist are important historical sites, and they’re tools for education and understanding the American story. We need to act now before these sites are lost to the ravages of time or development.”   “Burial grounds are a place of solemn remembrance, allowing us to connect the present with the past and honor the history of our loved ones and communities,” said Romney. “It is important to preserve and protect African-American cemeteries around the country for generations to come.”   The African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act, would establish a program at the National Park Service to provide grant opportunities and technical assistance to local partners to research, identify, survey and preserve these cemeteries. Providing federal resources will ensure sites like Union Baptist are preserved and maintained for future generations.   Brown was be joined on the call by Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, the Vice Mayor of Cincinnati.   “Cemeteries not only honor our ancestors, but the history of our communities. I am very grateful for Sen. Sherrod Brown for recognizing the need for care that our cemeteries require in order to show respect for and uplift our heritage,” said Kearney.   Companion legislation is expected to be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives next week by Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12) and Rep. Donald McEachin (VA-4).   “Graveyards, burial grounds, and cemeteries not only honor our ancestors; they’re also an important resource for historians and genealogists who want to tell our history. However, the burial sites of African Americans are often forgotten or ignored,” said Adams. “This dishonors the memories of those who came before us and obscures our nation’s history. That’s why I’m proud to introduce the ‘African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act.’ with Senator Brown and Representative McEachin. This legislation will provide federal support for historic African American burial grounds to ensure their preservation. I can’t think of a better time than Black History Month to take an affirmative step to preserve our history for generations to come.”   “Since the inception of our country, the graves of African Americans have suffered unjust abuse and neglect,” said McEachin. “These burial sites hold the untold stories of millions of African Americans and the integral role they played in our nation’s trajectory. I am proud to stand alongside Congresswoman Adams and Senator Brown to introduce the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act to preserve predominantly Black cemeteries and other resting places. The protection of these burial grounds is long overdue and critical to ensuring a more complete, comprehensive understanding of America’s history.”   The legislation is also supported by historic preservation groups in Ohio and across the country. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~    "Heritage Ohio supports Senator Brown's legislation for African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act.  The gaps in our historical records represent the incomplete cultural connections for all Americans today,” said Joyce Barrett, Executive Director of Heritage Ohio.

Passing this legislation would provide legal protection and preservation for African American burial grounds. 

The law would address the urgent need to bring a greater awareness of the sad plight these cemeteries have faced for centuries and strive to resolve them.  

It is past time for Congress to enact this crucial legislation!  

Applauding Senator Brown and Senator Romney for their stepping up to be sponsors of this bill to save these historic cemeteries that are so deserving of our respect.  It will be the sorely needed start by acknowledging their needs and finding ways to properly address and resolve them.