[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 7 (Friday, January 12, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E103]]
                 INTRODUCTION OF ``SEARCH ACT OF 2007''

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 12, 2007

  Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to reintroduce the 
``Servitude and Emancipation Archival Research Clearing House, SEARCH, 
Act of 2007,'' a companion to Senator Mary Landrieu's bill of the same 
name, which would establish a national database of historic records of 
servitude and emancipation in the United States to assist African 
Americans in researching their genealogy.
  Madam Speaker, for most Americans, researching their genealogical 
history involves searching through municipal birth, death, and marriage 
records--most of which have been properly archived as public historical 
documents. However, African Americans in the United States face a 
unique challenge when conducting genealogical research.
  Due to slavery and discrimination, African Americans were denied many 
of the benefits of citizenship that produce traceable documentation 
such as voter registration, property ownership, business ownership, and 
school attendance. As a result, instead of looking up wills, land 
deeds, birth and death certificates, and other traditional genealogical 
research documents, African Americans must often try to identify the 
names of former slave owners, hoping that the owners kept records of 
pertinent information, such as births and deaths. Unfortunately, 
current records of emancipation and slavery are frequently 
inaccessible, poorly catalogued, and inadequately preserved from decay.
  Although some States and localities have undertaken efforts to 
collect these documents with varying degrees of success, there is no 
national effort to preserve these important pieces of public and 
personal history or to make them readily and easily accessible to all 
Americans. While entities such as Howard University and the Schomburg 
Center for Research in Black Culture Library have extensive African 
American archives, the SEARCH Act would create a centralized database 
of these historic records. This database would be administered by the 
Archivist of the United States as part of the National Archives.
  The SEARCH Act would also authorize 
$5 million for the National Historical Publications and Records 
Commission to establish the national database, as well as $5 million in 
grants for States and academic institutions to preserve local records 
of servitude and emancipation.
  I believe that this legislation will be a vital step in resurrecting 
the rich history of African Americans and the vital role that they 
played in building America. This legislation is not only a means by 
which African Americans can trace their lineage, but also a means by 
which our Nation can preserve historically comprehensive and accurate 
information for generations yet unborn.
  Author Maya Angelou once said that ``No man can know where he is 
going unless he knows exactly where he has been and exactly how he 
arrived at his present place.'' Let there be no mistake, Madam Speaker, 
the SEARCH Act will provide African Americans an opportunity to forge a 
crucial nexus between the past and the present. Just as important, it 
will give our Nation an opportunity to continue to correct the 
unintended consequences of the past.
  This Monday marks the anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr.'s birthday, and the day that we as a nation celebrate his legacy. 
In honor of Dr. King and the contributions he has made, and on behalf 
of the many African Americans throughout the United States, I urge my 
colleagues to cosponsor the SEARCH Act.
  Join me in ending the horrible legacies of slavery and discrimination 
by giving African Americans a real chance to understand who they are 
and from whence they came.

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