[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10340 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10340
To establish a program in the Library of Congress for the collection of
oral histories related to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 10, 2026
Mr. Kean introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on House Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a program in the Library of Congress for the collection of
oral histories related to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
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 ``9/11 Legacy Preservation Act of
2026''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York
City, New York, Arlington, Virginia, and Shanksville,
Pennsylvania remain the deadliest terrorist attacks in history.
(2) Targeting the World Trade Center in New York, hijacked
Flight 11 struck the North Tower and hijacked Flight 175 struck
the South Tower, ultimately causing the collapse of both
towers.
(3) Targeting the Pentagon in Arlington, hijacked Flight 77
struck the western facade of the Pentagon, decimating that
portion of the building.
(4) After passengers and crew aboard hijacked Flight 93
learned of the other two attacks, they fought to regain control
of the cockpit, crash-landing in a grassy field in Shanksville,
Pennsylvania. It is widely believed the final target of Flight
93 was the United States Capitol or the White House in
Washington, DC.
(5) The 9/11 attacks killed 2,753 people in New York, 184
people in Virginia, and 40 people in Pennsylvania.
(6) Oral histories are of immeasurable value to historians,
researchers, authors, journalists, filmmakers, scholars,
students, and citizens of all walks of life.
(7) Survivors of 9/11 are an invaluable resource in their
memories of the tragic events of that day, and can provide a
rich history of our Nation and its people through the retelling
of those memories.
(8) It is in the Nation's best interest to collect and
catalog oral histories of 9/11 survivors so that future
generations will have original sources of information regarding
the lives and times of those who survived this tragic day, and
so that Americans will never forget the events of September
11th, 2001.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM AT AMERICAN FOLKLIFE CENTER TO COLLECT
VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDINGS OF HISTORIES FROM SURVIVORS OF
SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.
(a) In General.--The Director of the American Folklife Center at
the Library of Congress shall establish an oral history program--
(1) to collect video and audio recordings of personal
histories and testimonials from survivors of September 11,
2001;
(2) to create a collection of the recordings obtained
(including a catalog and index) which will be available for
public use through the National Digital Library of the Library
of Congress and such other methods as the Director considers
appropriate to the extent feasible subject to available
resources; and
(3) to solicit, reproduce, and collect written materials
(such as letters and diaries) relevant to the personal
histories of survivors of September 11, 2001, and to catalog
such materials in a manner the Director considers appropriate,
consistent with and complimentary to the efforts described in
paragraphs (1) and (2).
(b) Use of and Consultation With Other Entities.--The Director may
carry out the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (3) of
subsection (a) 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 program under this
Act.
(c) Timing.--As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Director shall begin collecting video and audio
recordings under subsection (a)(1), and shall attempt to collect the
first such recordings from the oldest survivors.
SEC. 4. PRIVATE SUPPORT.
(a) Acceptance of Donations.--The Librarian of Congress may solicit
and accept donations of funds and in-kind contributions to carry out
the oral history program under section 3.
(b) Establishment of Separate Gift Account.--There is established
in the Treasury (among the accounts of the Library of Congress) a gift
account for the oral history program under section 3.
(c) Dedication of Funds.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law--
(1) any funds donated to the Librarian of Congress to carry
out the oral history program under section 3 shall be deposited
entirely into the gift account established under subsection
(b);
(2) the funds contained in such account shall be used
solely to carry out the oral history program under section 3;
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 carrying out the oral
history program under section 3.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
(1) $250,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
(2) such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding
fiscal year.
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