[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 148 (Wednesday, September 17, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8369-H8371]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY PROJECT ACT OF 2008

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 998) to direct the Librarian of Congress and 
the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to carry out a joint 
project at the Library of Congress and the National Museum of African 
American History and Culture to collect video and audio recordings of 
personal histories and testimonials of individuals who participated in 
the Civil Rights movement, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 998

       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 ``Civil Rights History Project 
     Act of [2007] 2008''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds as follows:
       (1) A fundamental principle of American democracy is that 
     individuals should stand up for their rights and beliefs and 
     fight for justice.
       (2) The actions of those who participated in the Civil 
     Rights movement from the 1950's through the 1960's are a 
     shining example of this principle in action, demonstrated in 
     events as varied as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the sit-ins, 
     the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington, the drive for 
     voting rights in Mississippi, and the March to Selma.
       (3) While the Civil Rights movement had many visible 
     leaders, including Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Martin Luther King, 
     Jr., and Rosa Parks, there were many others whose impact and 
     experience were just as important to the cause but who are 
     not as well known.
       (4) The participants in the Civil Rights movement possess 
     an invaluable resource in their first-hand memories of the 
     movement, and the recording of the retelling of their stories 
     and memories will provide a rich, detailed history of our 
     Nation during an important and tumultuous period.
       (5) It is in the Nation's interest to undertake a project 
     to collect oral histories of individuals from the Civil 
     Rights movement so future generations will be able to learn 
     of their struggle and sacrifice through primary-source, 
     eyewitness material. A coordinated Federal project would also 
     focus attention on the efforts undertaken by various public 
     and private entities to collect and interpret articles in all 
     formats relating to the Civil Rights movement, and serve as a 
     model for future projects undertaken in museums, libraries, 
     and universities throughout the Nation.
       (6) The Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution 
     are appropriate repositories to collect, preserve, and make 
     available to the public a collection of these oral histories. 
     The Library and Smithsonian have expertise in the management 
     of documentation projects, and experience in the development 
     of cultural and educational programs for the public.
       (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to create a new 
     federally sponsored, authorized, and funded project that will 
     coordinate at a national level the collection of video and 
     audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of 
     individuals who participated in the American Civil Rights 
     movement that will build upon and complement previous and 
     ongoing documentary work on this subject, and to assist and 
     encourage local efforts to preserve the memories of such 
     individuals so that Americans of all current and future 
     generations may hear from them directly and better appreciate 
     the sacrifices they made.

     SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF JOINT PROJECT AT LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
                   AND NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY 
                   AND CULTURE TO COLLECT VIDEO AND AUDIO 
                   RECORDINGS OF HISTORIES OF PARTICIPANTS IN 
                   AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

       (a) Establishment of Project.--
       (1) In general.--Within the limits of available funds, the 
     Librarian of Congress (hereafter referred to as the 
     ``Librarian'') and the Secretary of the Smithsonian 
     Institution (hereafter referred to as the ``Secretary''), 
     acting jointly, shall establish an oral history project--
       (A) to survey, during the initial phase of the project, 
     collections of audio and video recordings of the 
     reminiscences of participants in the Civil Rights movement 
     that are housed in archives, libraries, museums, and other 
     educational institutions, as well as ongoing documentary 
     work, in order to augment and complement these endeavors and 
     avoid duplication of effort;
       (B) to solicit, reproduce, and collect--
       (i) video and audio recordings of personal histories and 
     testimonials of individuals who participated in the Civil 
     Rights movement, and
       (ii) visual and written materials (such as letters, 
     diaries, photographs, and ephemera) relevant to the personal 
     histories of individuals;
       (C) to create a collection of the recordings and other 
     materials obtained, and to catalog and index the collection 
     in a manner the Librarian and the Secretary consider 
     appropriate; and
       (D) to make the collection available for public use through 
     the Library of Congress and the National Museum of African 
     American History and Culture, as well as through such other 
     methods as the Librarian and the Secretary consider 
     appropriate.
       (2) Role of director of museum.--The Secretary shall carry 
     out the Secretary's duties under this Act through the 
     Director of the National Museum of African American History 
     and Culture.
       (b) Use of and Consultation With Other Entities.--The 
     Librarian and the Secretary may carry out the activities 
     described in subsection (a)(1) 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 project 
     under this Act.
       (c) Services of Experts and Consultants; Acceptance of 
     Volunteer Services; Advance Payments.--In carrying out 
     activities described in subsection (a)(1), the Librarian and 
     the Secretary may--
       (1) procure temporary and intermittent services under 
     section 3109 of title 5, United States Code;
       (2) accept and utilize the services of volunteers and other 
     uncompensated personnel and reimburse them for travel 
     expenses, including per diem, as authorized under section 
     5703 of title 5, United States Code; and
       (3) make advances of money and payments in advance in 
     accordance with section 3324 of title 31, United States Code.
       (d) Timing.--As soon as practicable after the enactment of 
     this Act, the Librarian and the Secretary shall begin 
     collecting video and audio recordings and other materials 
     under subsection (a)(1), and shall attempt to collect the 
     first such recordings from the oldest individuals involved.
       (e) Definition.--In this Act, the term ``Civil Rights 
     movement'' means the movement to secure racial equality in 
     the United States for African Americans that, focusing on the 
     period 1954 through 1968, challenged the practice of racial 
     segregation in the Nation and achieved equal rights 
     legislation for all American citizens.

     SEC. 4. PRIVATE SUPPORT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY PROJECT.

       (a) Encouraging Solicitation and Acceptance of Donations.--
     The Librarian of Congress and the Secretary are encouraged to 
     solicit and accept donations of funds and in-kind 
     contributions to support activities under section 3.
       (b) Dedication of Funds Provided to Library of Congress.--
     Notwithstanding any other provision of law--
       (1) any funds donated to the Librarian of Congress to 
     support the activities of the Librarian under section 3 shall 
     be deposited entirely into an account established for such 
     purpose;
       (2) the funds contained in such account shall be used 
     solely to support such activities; 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 supporting such 
     activities.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     Act--
       (1) $500,000 for fiscal year [2008] 2009; and
       (2) such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal 
     years [2009 through 2012] 2010 through 2013.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Mrs. Davis) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
McCarthy) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask that all Members have 5 
legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks in the 
Record on this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 998, which would create 
the Civil Rights History Project. The bill directs the Library of 
Congress and the Smithsonian Institution, through the National Museum 
of African American

[[Page H8370]]

History and Culture, to collaborate and establish an oral history 
project. This joint venture will result in the collection and 
preservation of audio and video recordings by individuals who 
participated in the Civil Rights Movement.
  A fundamental precept of our American democracy is that individuals 
stand up for their rights and beliefs and pursue justice through civil 
means. Many who participated in the Civil Rights Movement did so at 
great personal sacrifice. Their actions were often heroic and tireless, 
and challenged the practice of racial segregation in the Nation, which 
resulted in equal rights legislation for all American citizens.
  As these pioneers continue to age, it is important that their 
memories and stories of events are documented so that future 
generations can witness their testimony regarding the lives and times 
of that era.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCARTHY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 998, which would direct the Library of Congress and the 
Smithsonian Institution to collect and preserve audio and video 
recordings from individuals who were involved in the civil rights 
movement.
  In 1954 the Supreme Court landmark decision, Brown v. Board of 
Education, served as a beacon of hope to those who had longed for 
racial equality in this Nation, and is largely credited with beginning 
the period commonly referred to as the civil rights movement. Rather 
than viewing the case which provided for the desegregation of public 
schools in the United States as the end of a journey, supporters of the 
civil rights movement recognized the Court's decision as the beginning 
of a long and difficult road ahead.
  The years that followed brought many hard battles, from the 
Montgomery Bus Boycott that was a result of Rosa Parks' brave refusal 
to give up her seat to a white passenger, to the march in Selma, 
Alabama, during which our own colleague, Congressman Lewis, suffered 
severe physical trauma in defense of voting rights. Congressman Lewis' 
recollections of this time have often brought those who have heard him 
speak to tears. It is exactly those types of oral histories that are in 
danger of being lost in the absence of a concerted effort to preserve 
them. We cannot afford to lose those accounts of extraordinary courage 
in the face of profound injustice.
  With the passage of time, generations of Americans have now been born 
with freedoms that would not have been possible without the struggle 
and sacrifice of those who participated in the civil rights movement. 
The audio and video recordings preserved as a result of this bill's 
passage will be an invaluable resource from which those young people 
who may learn about the struggle for racial equality and will serve as 
an inspiration to all Americans as they reflect upon this pivotal time 
in our Nation's history.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such 
time as she may consume to Representative McCarthy of New York.
  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. I thank my colleague from California.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 998, the Civil Rights 
Oral History Project. I want to thank Chairman Brady and Ranking Member 
Ehlers and the Committee on House Administration for moving to the 
floor on this bill.
  I also want to thank my lead cosponsor of the bill, Congressman John 
Lewis of Georgia, himself a civil rights hero, for all of his help in 
developing and generating support for this bill.
  Mr. Lewis was at the forefront of the battle to end segregation, and 
his contribution to ensuring equality in our country cannot be 
overstated. I know I speak for all of my colleagues when I say that we 
are honored to serve with him, and grateful for all he has done and 
continues to do for all Americans as a steward of justice and equal 
rights.
  We are fortunate to serve in Congress with several other influential 
civil rights leaders, and I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you 
for their sacrifices and commitment to the cause of freedom.
  The fight for civil rights was one of the most significant social and 
cultural movements in our Nation's history. The will of a generation to 
right centuries of injustice changed the world we live in forever.
  The leaders of the civil rights movement displayed tremendous courage 
and persistence to ensure that all Americans were treated equally, with 
dignity, regardless of their ethnic background, race or origins. Many 
leaders from all walks of life put their lives on the line to make it 
possible for all people to live freely and have the same fundamental 
rights.
  We can never overstate the contributions of our Nation's civil rights 
leaders. Without their efforts, many of the things we take for granted 
every day would not have come to pass. It is vital that future 
generations know and understand the struggles and the challenges of 
those that paved the way for us to live in this Nation free.
  These brave Americans' stories must continue to be told to not only 
inspire future generations, but to remind people what is possible in 
America and how far we have come. Unfortunately, with each passing 
year, our Nation loses more and more of the people that played major 
roles in the struggles to secure equal rights for all Americans. In 
recent years we have lost great leaders like Mrs. Coretta Scott King 
and Mrs. Rosa Parks. Thankfully, their stories have been well 
documented in the historical record, but there are many others who have 
already passed or whose memories are fading.
  While we know so much about the lives of the leaders of the civil 
rights movement, such as Dr. Martin Luther King; our colleague, 
Congressman John Lewis; and Thurgood Marshall, it's important that we 
learn about the everyday people of all races who took a stand during a 
pivotal time in our Nation's history.
  There were so many people who were crucial to the civil rights 
movement but have not had as much recorded about their experiences for 
the public record. These were the people, in many cases, that were part 
of some of the most significant battles in the fight for equality. The 
workers in Memphis that went on strike and marched in protest with Dr. 
King, the students that held sit-ins at lunch counters in the South, 
the thousands of people that marched on Washington and witnessed the 
``I Have a Dream Speech,'' and the millions of Americans that stood up 
and worked in their own ways to make our country a better place for all 
people. These people are heroes of the civil rights movement, and we 
need to make sure that their stories are woven into the fabric of the 
American story.
  That's why I have introduced the Civil Rights Oral History bill. The 
purpose of the Civil Rights Oral History bill is to catalogue and 
preserve the stories and experiences of the people who were involved in 
the civil rights movement.
  This legislation stresses the importance of capturing the memories 
and the deeds of the civil rights generation and will give us a unique 
insight into the experiences of the people that we rely on in the front 
lines of the civil rights movement.
  This bill will create a joint effort between the future National 
Museum of African American History and Culture and the Library of 
Congress to collect oral histories of the people that were involved in 
the civil rights movement and preserve their stories for future 
generations. I urge my colleagues to support this bill and to take the 
time to acknowledge the contributions of these great Americans who 
fought to make our Nation a more fair and just place.
  Mr. Speaker, we have been going for a number of years working with 
our veterans across this Nation to get the history from them, an oral 
history, that has been going to the Library of Congress. That's where 
this idea came from.
  When you think that we are really a very young country, and 
hopefully, we're going to be around for centuries to come, and I think 
it's important that future generations actually know how we became a 
great country, but also the struggles that many Americans went through. 
This bill will help preserve that.
  I hope my colleagues will support this bill. This is for the future 
of America; it's for the future of the generations to see the history.

[[Page H8371]]

  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to Mr. 
Hinchey of New York as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to stand here this evening 
with my friends and colleagues and particularly with my friend and 
colleague, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, to voice my support for H.R. 
998, a bill which she has produced and which will enrich the lives of 
future generations. This bill will collect oral history records from 
those whose struggles made them among America's most notable heroes, 
the leaders of the civil rights generation.
  The civil rights movement has strengthened our social fabric by 
extending basic rights to all of America's people through the right to 
employment, the right to buy or rent a home, the right to education, 
rights that are the most basic and fundamental in our country.
  It is imperative that we collect oral history in order to preserve 
the rich cultural heritage of our Nation. Preserving oral history gives 
those in the future a firsthand account of the struggle that Americans 
went through to change the laws and the lives of our people and our 
government. These great Americans stood up to violence, they stood up 
to death threats, they stood up to local, State and government 
oppression and opposition, and they risked their own economic well-
being so that our great Nation could fulfill its promise to all of its 
people. We must preserve that history that explains the hardship and 
sacrifice that many African Americans and others went through to get 
equal treatment under the law.
  This history can be most richly delivered by the people who led the 
movement themselves, those who fought so valiantly, and who can give 
their account firsthand. This bill will preserve an important part of 
our heritage through the process of collecting this oral history and 
making it available. Firsthand accounts, which include the honesty, 
emotion and accuracy are needed as an important part of our historical 
record.

                              {time}  1915

  Collecting these first person accounts from the civil rights movement 
will also give generations, those in the future, inspiration and 
motivation to uphold and strengthen America's promise for equal 
opportunity and to be sure that that promise is fulfilled.
  It is my hope that our future generations will always be able to 
access oral histories and will blaze new trails that promote equality 
and richness in diversity.
  Again, I'd like to thank all of my friends who were involved with 
this bill, especially my colleague and friend, Carolyn McCarthy, for 
including me to celebrate the culture that makes America the great 
Nation that it is by taking further steps to allow future generations 
to learn from our notable American heroes.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, It is now my pleasure to yield 
2 minutes to Mr. Cohen of Tennessee.
  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Davis and 
particularly Congresswoman McCarthy for bringing H.R. 998.
  I do represent Memphis, Tennessee, and much of the civil rights 
history of Memphis, for better and for worse purposes, have occurred in 
my district. It is important that the history of that struggle be 
maintained to teach people about the courageous struggle, the 
leadership that many, many people had to embark on to achieve their 
rights that should have been part of 18th century America, but the 18th 
century America was not complete, and all men were not created equal. 
Certainly women weren't created equal either, and people had to fight 
and risk their lives to attain rights for people who today are 
beneficiaries thereof.
  In my community, many of these heroes of the civil rights movement 
have been dying lately. They're getting old. This bill I wish would 
have come earlier, but I really thank Representative McCarthy for 
bringing it. It's a start. And there are people like the great Reverend 
Benjamin Hooks, who's getting up in his years but who's got many 
stories to tell, and Russell Sugarman. We lost Mr. Ernest Withers, a 
great photographer of the civil rights movement, this past year.
  Time goes by for all of us, and the opportunities to collect history 
become more difficult as each day passes.
  So I'm proud to speak on behalf of this, but mostly as a 
Congressperson from the Ninth District in Tennessee, I want to express 
my appreciation to Representative McCarthy for having the leadership to 
bring this and for initiating this process.
  Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I'm very pleased that 
Congresswoman McCarthy has brought this legislation forward. As someone 
who's had an opportunity to travel on the pilgrimages of the civil 
rights movement with our own John Lewis, Congressman John Lewis, I know 
how important it is for us to act now and to capture the words and the 
actions and the memories of those who played such an important and 
historical role in this country.
  I urge all Members to support this bill.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
the Civil Rights Oral History Project. I want to thank Congresswoman 
McCarthy for her leadership on this issue and for bringing this bill to 
the floor today.
  Oral history is such an important way to capture and share our 
nation's story.
  These are stories that need to be told, and preserved. These are the 
stories of the civil rights movement; eye witness accounts of the 
struggle for civil rights.
  These are recollections of real people who marched, and even spilled 
a little blood in the cause of civil rights and civil liberties, and in 
the cause of voting rights.
  These stories will be collected and preserved by the National Museum 
of African American History and Culture and the Library of Congress. 
Future generations will be able to hear the voices of people who were 
there during the civil rights movement, and hear them tell their 
stories in their own words.
  We have lost too many of those voices in the last few years--Mrs. 
Coretta Scott King and Mrs. Rosa Parks, and we will continue to lose 
more courageous Civil Rights pioneers. We must begin this wonderful 
Oral History Project today, before we lose parts of the story. I 
strongly support this bill and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. DAVIS of California. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 998, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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