[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 390 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

  1st Session
                                H. R. 390


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 23, 2007

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security 
                        and Governmental Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
  To require the establishment of a national database in the National 
Archives to preserve records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil 
War reconstruction and to provide grants to State and local entities to 
                   establish similar local databases.

    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 ``Preservation of Records of 
Servitude, Emancipation, and Post-Civil War Reconstruction Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL DATABASE.

    (a) In General.--The Archivist of the United States shall preserve 
relevant records and establish, as part of the National Archives, an 
electronically searchable national database consisting of historic 
records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction, 
including the Southern Claims Commission Records, Records of the 
Freedmen's Bank, Slave Impressments Records, Slave Payroll Records, 
Slave Manifest, and others, contained within the agencies and 
departments of the Federal Government to assist African Americans and 
others in conducting genealogical and historical research.
    (b) Maintenance.--The database established under this section shall 
be maintained by the National Archives or an entity within the National 
Archives designated by the Archivist.

SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE AND LOCAL DATABASES.

    (a) In General.--The National Historical Publications and Records 
Commission of the National Archives shall provide grants to States, 
colleges and universities, and genealogical associations to preserve 
records and establish electronically searchable databases consisting of 
local records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War 
reconstruction.
    (b) Maintenance.--The databases established using grants provided 
under this section shall be maintained by appropriate agencies or 
institutions designated by the National Historical Publications and 
Records Commission.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated--
            (1) $5,000,000 to implement section 2; and
            (2) $5,000,000 to provide grants under section 3.

            Passed the House of Representatives January 22, 2007.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.