110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 998
To direct the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution to carry out a joint project at the Library of Congress and
the National Museum of African American History and Culture to collect video
and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of individuals
who participated in the Civil Rights movement, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 12, 2007
Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York (for herself and Mr. LEWIS of Georgia) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration
A BILL
To direct the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution to carry out a joint project at the Library of Congress and
the National Museum of African American History and Culture to collect video
and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of individuals
who participated in the Civil Rights movement, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Civil Rights History Project Act of 2007'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.
(a) Findings- Congress finds as follows:
(1) A fundamental principle of American democracy is that individuals
should stand up for their rights and beliefs and fight for justice.
(2) The actions of those who participated in the Civil Rights movement
from the 1950's through the 1960's are a shining example of this principle
in action, demonstrated in events as varied as the Montgomery Bus Boycott,
the sit-ins, the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, the drive for
voting rights in Mississippi, and the March to Selma.
(3) While the Civil Rights movement had many visible leaders, including
Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Rosa Parks, there
were many others whose impact and experience were just as important to
the cause but who are not as well known.
(4) The participants in the Civil Rights movement possess an invaluable
resource in their first-hand memories of the movement, and the recording
of the retelling of their stories and memories will provide a rich, detailed
history of our Nation during an important and tumultuous period.
(5) It is in the Nation's interest to undertake a project to collect oral
histories of individuals from the Civil Rights movement so future generations
will be able to learn of their struggle and sacrifice through primary-source,
eyewitness material. A coordinated Federal project would also focus attention
on the efforts undertaken by various public and private entities to collect
and interpret articles in all formats relating to the Civil Rights movement,
and serve as a model for future projects undertaken in museums, libraries,
and universities throughout the Nation.
(6) The Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution are appropriate
repositories to collect, preserve, and make available to the public a
collection of these oral histories. The Library and Smithsonian have expertise
in the management of documentation projects, and experience in the development
of cultural and educational programs for the public.
(b) Purpose- It is the purpose of this Act to create a new federally sponsored,
authorized, and funded project that will coordinate at a national level
the collection of video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials
of individuals who participated in the American Civil Rights movement that
will build upon and complement previous and ongoing documentary work on
this subject, and to assist and encourage local efforts to preserve the
memories of such individuals so that Americans of all current and future
generations may hear from them directly and better appreciate the sacrifices
they made.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT PROJECT AT LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND NATIONAL
MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE TO COLLECT VIDEO AND AUDIO
RECORDINGS OF HISTORIES OF PARTICIPANTS IN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
(a) Establishment of Project-
(1) IN GENERAL- Within the limits of available funds, the Librarian of
Congress (hereafter referred to as the `Librarian') and the Secretary
of the Smithsonian Institution (hereafter referred to as the `Secretary'),
acting jointly, shall establish an oral history project--
(A) to survey, during the initial phase of the project, collections
of audio and video recordings of the reminiscences of participants in
the Civil Rights movement that are housed in archives, libraries, museums,
and other educational institutions, as well as ongoing documentary work,
in order to augment and complement these endeavors and avoid duplication
of effort;
(B) to solicit, reproduce, and collect--
(i) video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials
of individuals who participated in the Civil Rights movement, and
(ii) visual and written materials (such as letters, diaries, photographs,
and ephemera) relevant to the personal histories of individuals;
(C) to create a collection of the recordings and other materials obtained,
and to catalog and index the collection in a manner the Librarian and
the Secretary consider appropriate; and
(D) to make the collection available for public use through the Library
of Congress and the National Museum of African American History and
Culture, as well as through such other methods as the Librarian and
the Secretary consider appropriate.
(2) ROLE OF DIRECTOR OF MUSEUM- The Secretary shall carry out the Secretary's
duties under this Act through the Director of the National Museum of African
American History and Culture.
(b) Use of and Consultation With Other Entities- The Librarian and the Secretary
may carry out the activities described in subsection (a)(1) through agreements
and partnerships entered into with other government and private entities,
and may otherwise consult with interested persons (within the limits of
available resources) and develop appropriate guidelines and arrangements
for soliciting, acquiring, and making available recordings under the project
under this Act.
(c) Services of Experts and Consultants; Acceptance of Volunteer Services;
Advance Payments- In carrying out activities described in subsection (a)(1),
the Librarian and the Secretary may--
(1) procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109 of
title 5, United States Code;
(2) accept and utilize the services of volunteers and other uncompensated
personnel and reimburse them for travel expenses, including per diem,
as authorized under section 5703 of title 5, United States Code; and
(3) make advances of money and payments in advance in accordance with
section 3324 of title 31, United States Code.
(d) Timing- As soon as practicable after the enactment of this Act, the
Librarian and the Secretary shall begin collecting video and audio recordings
and other materials under subsection (a)(1), and shall attempt to collect
the first such recordings from the oldest individuals involved.
(e) Definition- In this Act, the term `Civil Rights movement' means the
movement to secure racial equality in the United States for African Americans
that, focusing on the period 1954 through 1968, challenged the practice
of racial segregation in the Nation and achieved equal rights legislation
for all American citizens.
SEC. 4. PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY PROJECT.
(a) Encouraging Solicitation and Acceptance of Donations- The Librarian
of Congress and the Secretary are encouraged to solicit and accept donations
of funds and in-kind contributions to support activities under section 3.
(b) Dedication of Funds Provided to Library of Congress- Notwithstanding
any other provision of law--
(1) any funds donated to the Librarian of Congress to support the activities
of the Librarian under section 3 shall be deposited entirely into an account
established for such purpose;
(2) the funds contained in such account shall be used solely to support
such activities; and
(3) the Librarian of Congress may not deposit into such account any funds
donated to the Librarian which are not donated for the exclusive purpose
of supporting such activities.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
(1) $500,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
(2) such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2009 through
2012.
END
