[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1531 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1531

 To authorize the rehabilitation and expansion of The African American 
  Panoramic Experience Center within the Martin Luther King, Junior, 
                Historic Site and Preservation District.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 30, 1993

Mr. Lewis of Georgia introduced the following bill; which was referred 
                 to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To authorize the rehabilitation and expansion of The African American 
  Panoramic Experience Center within the Martin Luther King, Junior, 
                Historic Site and Preservation District.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) the Martin Luther King, Junior, Historic Site and 
        Preservation District is one of the most significant places in 
        the country dedicated to African-American history;
            (2) the Martin Luther King, Junior, Historic Site and 
        Preservation District receives the largest number of visitors 
        compared to any other historic site in the State of Georgia and 
        is the 3rd most visited historic site in the National Park 
        Service in the country;
            (3) the lack of a comprehensive, international context 
        within which to interpret African-American history and culture 
        impedes the ability of all Americans, particularly African-
        Americans, to understand themselves and their relationship to 
        America's past and its future;
            (4) African-American history is complex and requires the 
        integration of diverse experiences of African-Americans ranging 
        from slavery and freedom--to cultural, scientific and athletic 
        endeavors, through the continued struggles for full 
        participation in our society--to reinforce the positive self-
        image of African-Americans and to develop pride in their past 
        and hope for their future;
            (5) the expansion of a national museum on African-American 
        history and culture, which will include a wide array of 
        collections from an eclectic group of African-Americans, will 
        help all Americans, and those who visit our country from 
        abroad, better understand and appreciate the significant 
        contributions made by African-Americans to American as well as 
        world history;
            (6) the African-American Panoramic Experience Museum is 
        located in Atlanta, Georgia, at the gateway to and part of the 
        Martin Luther King, Junior, Historic Site and Preservation 
        District. The APEX houses its own African-American Collection 
        and is the site of exhibitions on African-American art and 
        culture;
            (7) the Atlanta Fulton County African American Research 
        Library, under construction adjacent to The APEX, is designated 
        by Fulton County to serve as the primary location in the 
        Atlanta region for conducting research related to African-
        American studies and for fostering academic research 
        initiatives on African-American history and culture.

SEC. 2. REHABILITATION AND EXPANSION OF THE APEX (AFRICAN AMERICAN 
              PANORAMIC EXPERIENCE) CENTER.

    (a) Rehabilitation.--The Secretary is authorized to make a grant to 
the Collections of Life and Heritage, Inc., a nonprofit corporation of 
The APEX, to rehabilitate their present facility, The APEX, in order to 
``complement and enhance the District (the Martin Luther King, Junior, 
Historic Site and Preservation District) and the purposes for which the 
District is established (Public Law 96-428; 94 Stat. 1842; Sec. 
4(c)(3)). The APEX is located in Atlanta, Georgia, at 135 Auburn 
Avenue, N.E., the gateway to the Martin Luther King, Junior, Historic 
Site and Preservation District.
    (b) Expansion.--To enhance the presentation and preservation of the 
significant contributions of African-Americans to the history and 
culture of America, the Secretary shall make a grant to the Collections 
of Life and Heritage, Inc., a nonprofit corporation of The Apex, to 
expand their present facility.
    (c) Requirements for Grant.--A grant may not be made under 
subsection (a) unless an application is made to the Secretary at such 
time and in such manner as the Secretary may require. The application 
shall include provisions designed to ensure that--
            (1) the first floor of the expanded facility (The APEX II) 
        can serve as a visitors center for the Martin Luther King, 
        Junior, Historic Site and Preservation District and the 
        surrounding National Park Service parks, to provide an 
        orientation to the sites, activities, and services created to 
        enhance their educational experience; and
            (2) the facility will serve as an international center to 
        showcase the historical, intellectual, cultural, artistic, 
        scientific, and athletic achievements of African-Americans 
        through galleries, exhibitions, multivideo presentations and an 
        archive collection filled with artifacts and memorabilia that 
        reflect African and African-American life.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act--
            (1) the term ``APEX'' means the African American Panoramic 
        Experience Museum located in Atlanta, Georgia;
            (2) the term ``Center'' means The African American 
        Panoramic Experience (APEX) Center; and
            (3) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
        Interior.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Amount.--There are authorized to be appropriated $12,500,000 to 
the Secretary for fiscal year 1994 to rehabilitate and expand The APEX.
    (b) Availability of Funds.--Funds appropriated pursuant to the 
authority of subsection (a) shall remain available until expended.

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