S. 644Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Medgar Evers House Study Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 1:51 PM UTC

The Medgar Evers House Study Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a special resource study of the former home of civil‑rights leader Medgar Evers in Jackson, Mississippi. The study will assess whether the site has national significance and whether it could be added to the National Park System, or otherwise preserved and interpreted. The findings will be reported to the relevant House and Senate committees within three years.

Key Provisions

The Secretary of the Interior must conduct a special resource study of the Medgar Evers House.
The study must evaluate the site's national significance and the suitability and feasibility of designating it as a National Park unit.
It must consider alternative ways to preserve, protect, and interpret the site by federal, state, local, private, or nonprofit entities.
The Secretary must consult with interested government agencies, organizations, and individuals during the study.
Cost estimates for any federal acquisition, development, operation, and maintenance of the site must be identified.
A report summarizing the study’s results, conclusions, and recommendations must be submitted to the House Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee no later than three years after funding begins.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions

SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 59.

May 9, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 15, 2017

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

March 15, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

March 30, 2017

SenateCommittee

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-46.

Energy and Natural Resources Committee

May 9, 2017

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 59.

May 9, 2017

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S. 644 on the floor

1 Republican

Sen. John BarrassoR-WY · Dec 6, 2017

Mr. President, I have 8 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of…

Mr. President, I have 8 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Committee on Environment and Public Works

The Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 10 a.m. in room SD-406 to conduct a hearing on the following nomination: R. D. James, of Missouri, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army, Department of Defense.

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Adapting to Defend the Homeland Against the Evolving International Terrorist Threat''.

Committee on Judiciary

The Committee on Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 10 a.m. in room SD-226 to conduct a hearing entitled ``Firearm Accessory Regulation and Enforcing Federal and State Reporting to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NCIS).''

Committee on Indian Affairs

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-628 to conduct a hearing on S. 1870, ``The Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment Act''.

Committee on Indian Affairs

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-628 to conduct a hearing on S. 644, ``Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement Act of 2017'' and S. 1770, ``Hualapai Tribe Waters Rights Settlement Act of 2017''.

Special Committee on Aging

The Special Committee on Aging is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. in room SD-562 to conduct a hearing entitled ``America's Aging Workforce: Opportunities and Challenges''.

Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight

The Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight of the Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. in room SD-406 to conduct a hearing entitled ``Challenges Facing Superfund and Waste Cleanup Efforts Following Natural Disasters''.

Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, and Counterterrorism

The Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, and Counterterrorism of the Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednesday, December 6, 2017, at 2:30 p.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Beyond ISIS: Countering Terrorism, Radicalization, and Promoting Stability in North Africa.''

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued May 9, 2017

Calendar No. 59

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 644

[Report No. 115–46]

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 15, 2017

Mr. Cochran (for himself and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

May 9, 2017

Reported by Ms. Murkowski, with an amendment

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the Medgar Evers House, located in Jackson, Mississippi, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Medgar Evers House Study Act.

Special resource study

(a)

Study

The Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the Secretary) shall conduct a special resource study of the home of the late civil rights activist Medgar Evers, located at 2332 Margaret Walker Alexander Drive in Jackson, Mississippi.

(b)

Contents

In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)

evaluate the national significance of the site;

(2)

determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the site as a unit of the National Park System;

(3)

consider other alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation of the site by Federal, State, or local governmental entities, or private and nonprofit organizations;

(4)

consult with interested Federal, State, or local governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations or any other interested individuals;

(5)

determine the effect of the designation of the site as a unit of the National Park System on existing commercial and recreational uses, and the effect on State and local governments to manage those activities;

(6)

identify any authorities, including condemnation, that will compel or permit the Secretary to influence or participate in local land use decisions (such as zoning) or place restrictions on non-Federal land if the site is designated a unit of the National Park System; and

(7)

identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives.

(c)

Applicable law

The study required under subsection (a) shall be conducted in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, United States Code.

(d)

Study results

Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are first made available for the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate the results of the study and any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Medgar Evers House Study Act.

Definitions

In this Act:

(1)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior.

(2)

Study area

The term study area means the home of the late civil rights activist Medgar Evers, located at 2332 Margaret Walker Alexander Drive in Jackson, Mississippi.

Special resource study

(a)

Study

The Secretary shall conduct a special resource study of the study area.

(b)

Contents

In conducting the study under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)

evaluate the national significance of the study area;

(2)

determine the suitability and feasibility of designating the study area as a unit of the National Park System;

(3)

consider other alternatives for preservation, protection, and interpretation of the study area by the Federal Government, State or local government entities, or private and nonprofit organizations;

(4)

consult with interested Federal agencies, State or local governmental entities, private and nonprofit organizations, or any other interested individuals; and

(5)

identify cost estimates for any Federal acquisition, development, interpretation, operation, and maintenance associated with the alternatives.

(c)

Applicable law

The study required under subsection (a) shall be conducted in accordance with section 100507 of title 54, United States Code.

(d)

Report

(1)

the results of the study; and

(2)

any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.

May 9, 2017

Reported with an amendment