WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that his bipartisan African American Burial Grounds Preservation Act, was included in the FY2023 Omnibus Spending Package. This legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“As a nation, we have failed to preserve historic Black burial grounds around the country. That’s why we’ve worked with the community, and with civil rights, veterans, and historic preservation groups to introduce bipartisan legislation to preserve these hallowed grounds,” said Brown. “Cemeteries like Union Baptist are important historical sites, and they’re tools for education and understanding the American story. Now we will be able to preserve these sites before they are lost to the ravages of time or development.”

“Society for Historical Archaeology members have advocated for federal leadership to protect and preserve these sacred places. The African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program will support descendant communities and their allies in saving our history, while simultaneously informing development decisions and community planning,” said Julie Schablitsky, president of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

“Since Senator Brown’s visit to the African American Union Baptist Cemetery in Cincinnati, Heritage Ohio has been proud to be a supporter of Sherrod Brown's bill to establish the African American Burial Grounds Network Act” said Dave Williams, Heritage Ohio Board Chair. “It’s disheartening how little is known about the location of these historically important cemeteries. This bill will strengthen the discovery of these unknown places through the power of networking and technical assistance to Ohio’s local historians and descendant communities.”

“The citizens of Cincinnati are grateful to Senators Sherrod Brown and Mitt Romney for their understanding of the importance of cemeteries. These sacred burial grounds not only serve to honor our ancestors, but they pass our communities’ history from generation to generation. Senators Brown and Romney’s advocacy exemplifies respect for our heritage, and we cannot thank them enough.” said Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney.

“Passage of the African American Burial Grounds bill sets a new precedent for how our nation values the cultural legacy and generational memory of African Americans and their contributions to society." said Brent Leggs, executive director, African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and senior vice president, National Trust for Historic Preservation. "We thank Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Representative Alma Adams (D-NC), the late Representative Don McEachin (D-VA), and other advocates for their bold vision to acknowledge the role of descendant-led stewardship as part of this bill and for their leadership to ensure its passage.” 

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.

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.

In February, U.S. Representatives Alma Adams (NC-12) and the late A. Donald McEachin (VA-4) introduced companion legislation in the House. 

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