[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 877 Introduced in House (IH)]
103d CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 877
To authorize the establishment of the National African-American Museum
within the Smithsonian Institution.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 4, 1993
Mr. Lewis of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Abercrombie, Mr. Barrett of
Wisconsin, Mr. Bishop, Mr. Blackwell, Mr. Bonior, Ms. Brown of Florida,
Mr. Clay, Mrs. Clayton, Mr. Clyburn, Miss Collins of Michigan, Mrs.
Collins of Illinois, Mr. Conyers, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Dellums, Mr. de Lugo,
Mr. Dixon, Mr. Filner, Mr. Fingerhut, Mr. Flake, Mr. Ford of Tennessee,
Mr. Frost, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Hilliard, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Jefferson, Ms.
E.B. Johnson of Texas, Mrs. Kennelly, Mr. Kildee, Mr. Lancaster, Mr.
Mazzoli, Ms. McKinney, Mrs. Meek, Mr. Mfume, Mr. Miller of California,
Mr. Mineta, Mr. Moran, Ms. Norton, Mr. Owens, Mr. Parker, Mr. Payne,
Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Romero-Barcelo, Mr. Rush, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Scott, Mr.
Shays, Mr. Sisisky, Ms. Slaughter, Mr. Stokes, Mr. Towns, Mr. Tucker,
Ms. Velazquez, Mr. Vento, Mr. Washington, Ms. Waters, Mr. Watt, Mr.
Wheat, Mr. Woolsey, Mr. Wynn, Mr. Fields of Louisiana, and Mr. Rangel)
introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the
Committees on House Administration and Public Works and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the establishment of the National African-American Museum
within the Smithsonian Institution.
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 ``National African American Museum
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
(1) the presentation and preservation of African American
life, art, history, and culture within the National Park System
and other Federal entities is inadequate;
(2) the inadequate presentation and preservation of African
American life, art, history, and culture seriously restricts
the ability of the people of the United States, particularly
African Americans, to understand themselves and their past;
(3) African American life, art, history, and culture
includes the varied experiences of Africans in slavery and
freedom and the continued struggles for full recognition of
citizenship and treatment with human dignity;
(4) in enacting Public Law 99-511, the Congress encouraged
support for the establishment of a commemorative structure
within the National Park System, or on other Federal lands,
dedicated to the promotion of understanding, knowledge,
opportunity, and equality for all people;
(5) the establishment of a national museum and the
conducting of interpretive and educational programs, dedicated
to the heritage and culture of African Americans, will help to
inspire and educate the people of the United States regarding
the cultural legacy of African Americans and the contributions
made by African Americans to the society of the United States;
and
(6) the Smithsonian Institution operates 15 museums and
galleries, a zoological park, and 5 major research facilities,
none of which is a national institution devoted solely to
African American life, art, history, or culture.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM.
(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Smithsonian
Institution a Museum, which shall be known as the ``National African
American Museum''.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Museum is to provide--
(1) a center for scholarship relating to African American
life, art, history, and culture;
(2) a location for permanent and temporary exhibits
documenting African American life, art, history, and culture;
(3) a location for the collection and study of artifacts
and documents relating to African American life, art, history,
and culture;
(4) a location for public education programs relating to
African American life, art, history, and culture; and
(5) a location for training of museum professionals and
others in the arts, humanities, and sciences regarding museum
practices related to African American life, art, history, and
culture.
SEC. 4. LOCATION AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE NATIONAL AFRICAN AMERICAN
MUSEUM.
The Board of Regents is authorized to plan, design, reconstruct,
and renovate the Arts and Industries Building of the Smithsonian
Institution to house the Museum.
SEC. 5. BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MUSEUM.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the Smithsonian
Institution the Board of Trustees of the National African American
Museum.
(b) Composition and Appointment.--The Board of Trustees shall be
composed of 23 members as follows:
(1) The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
(2) An Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution,
designated by the Board of Regents.
(3) Twenty-one individuals of diverse disciplines and
geographical residence who are committed to the advancement of
knowledge of African American art, history, and culture
appointed by the Board of Regents, of which 9 members shall be
from among individuals nominated by African American museums,
historically black colleges and universities, and cultural or
other organizations.
(c) Terms.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
members of the Board of Trustees shall be appointed for terms
of 3 years. Members of the Board of Trustees may be
reappointed.
(2) Staggered terms.--As designated by the Board of Regents
at the time of initial appointments under paragraph (3) of
subsection (a), the terms of 7 members shall expire at the end
of 1 year, the terms of 7 members shall expire at the end of 2
years, and the terms of 7 members shall expire at the end of 3
years.
(d) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Board of Trustees shall not affect
its powers and shall be filled in the manner in which the original
appointment was made. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring
before the expiration of the term for which the predecessor of the
member was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of the term.
(e) Noncompensation.--Except as provided in subsection (f), members
of the Board of Trustees shall serve without pay.
(f) Expenses.--Members of the Board of Trustees shall receive per
diem, travel, and transportation expenses for each day, including
traveltime, during which they are engaged in the performance of the
duties of the Board of Trustees in accordance with section 5703 of
title 5, United States Code, with respect to employees serving
intermittently in the Government service.
(g) Chairperson.--The Board of Trustees shall elect a chairperson
by a majority vote of the members of the Board of Trustees.
(h) Meetings.--The Board of Trustees shall meet at the call of the
chairperson or upon the written request of a majority of its members,
but shall meet not less than 2 times each year.
(i) Quorum.--A majority of the Board of Trustees shall constitute a
quorum for purposes of conducting business, but a lesser number may
receive information on behalf of the Board of Trustees.
(j) Voluntary Services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31,
United States Code, the chairperson of the Board of Trustees may accept
for the Board of Trustees voluntary services provided by a member of
the Board of Trustees.
SEC. 6. DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE MUSEUM.
(a) In General.--The Board of Trustees shall--
(1) recommend annual budgets for the Museum;
(2) consistent with the general policy established by the
Board of Regents, have the sole authority to--
(A) loan, exchange, sell, or otherwise dispose of
any part of the collections of the Museum, but only if
the funds generated by such disposition are used for
additions to the collections of the Museum or for
additions to the endowment of the Museum;
(B) subject to the availability of funds and the
provisions of annual budgets of the Museum, purchase,
accept, borrow, or otherwise acquire artifacts and
other property for addition to the collections of the
Museum;
(C) establish policy with respect to the
utilization of the collections of the Museum; and
(D) establish policy regarding programming,
education, exhibitions, and research, with respect to
the life and culture of African Americans, the role of
African Americans in the history of the United States,
and the contributions of African Americans to society;
(3) consistent with the general policy established by the
Board of Regents, have authority to--
(A) provide for restoration, preservation, and
maintenance of the collections of the Museum;
(B) solicit funds for the Museum and determine the
purposes to which those funds shall be used;
(C) approve expenditures from the endowment of the
Museum, or of income generated from the endowment, for
any purpose of the Museum; and
(D) consult with, advise, and support the Director
in the operation of the Museum;
(4) establish programs in cooperation with other African
American museums, historically black colleges and universities,
historical societies, educational institutions, cultural and
other organizations for the education and promotion of
understanding regarding African American life, art, history,
and culture;
(5) support the efforts of other African American museums,
historically black colleges and universities, and cultural and
other organizations to educate and promote understanding
regarding African American life, art, history, and culture,
including--
(A) development of cooperative programs and
exhibitions;
(B) identification, management, and care of
collections;
(C) participation in the training of museum
professionals; and
(D) creating opportunities for--
(i) research fellowships; and
(ii) professional and student internships;
(6) adopt bylaws to carry out the functions of the Board of
Trustees; and
(7) report annually to the Board of Regents on the
acquisition, disposition, and display of African American
objects and artifacts and on other appropriate matters.
SEC. 7. DIRECTOR AND STAFF.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, in
consultation with the Board of Trustees, shall appoint a Director who
shall manage the Museum.
(b) Applicability of Certain Civil Service Laws.--The Secretary of
the Smithsonian Institution may--
(1) appoint the Director and 5 employees under subsection
(a), without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service; and
(2) fix the pay of the Director and such 5 employees,
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter
III of chapter 53 of such title, relating to classification and
General Schedule pay rates.
SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
(1) The term ``Board of Regents'' means the Board of
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.
(2) The term ``Board of Trustees'' means the Board of
Trustees of the National African American Museum established in
section 5(a).
(3) The term ``Museum'' means the National African American
Museum established under section 3(a).
(4) The term ``Arts and Industries Building'' means the
building located on the Mall at 900 Jefferson Drive, S.W. in
Washington, the District of Columbia.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 and such sums as may be necessary for
each of the succeeding fiscal years.
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