[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1292 Referred in House (RFH)]

  2d Session
                                S. 1292


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 25, 2004

             Referred to the Committee on Government Reform

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                                 AN ACT


 
      To establish a servitude and emancipation archival research 
                clearinghouse in the National Archives.

    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 ``Servitude and Emancipation Archival 
Research ClearingHouse Act of 2004'' or the ``SEARCH Act of 2004''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF DATABASE.

    (a) In General.--The Archivist of the United States shall 
establish, as a part of the National Archives, a national database 
consisting of historic records of servitude and emancipation in the 
United States to assist African Americans in researching their 
genealogy.
    (b) Maintenance.--The database established by this Act shall be 
maintained by the National Historical Publications and Records 
Commission.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated--
            (1) $5,000,000 to establish the national database 
        authorized by this Act;
            (2) such sums as are necessary to operate and maintain the 
        national database authorized by this Act; and
            (3) $5,000,000 to provide grants to States, colleges and 
        universities, libraries, and museums to preserve local records 
        of servitude and emancipation.

            Passed the Senate June 25, 2004.

            Attest:

                                             EMILY J. REYNOLDS,

                                                             Secretary.