[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 26 (Monday, February 9, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2028-S2029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Bennett, Mr. 
        Cochran, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Schumer):
  S. 395. A bill 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 recording of personal histories 
and testimonials of individuals who participated in the Civil Rights 
movement, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Civil Rights 
History Project Act of 2009.
  This is a bill that is very important to me and to many other Members 
of Congress. It would authorize the Library of Congress and the 
Smithsonian to record and preserve an oral history of the Civil Rights 
Movement.
  The bill is cosponsored by Senators Alexander, Bennett, Cochran, 
Kennedy, and Schumer. In the 110th Congress, then-Senator Clinton 
introduced it, and I want to thank Secretary Clinton very much for her 
work on behalf of the bill.
  Last month, the United States celebrated the inauguration of our 
first African-American President. It was a historic event, and it was 
one more example that we, the American people, can live up to our 
highest ideals and aspirations. Although there is much left to be done, 
critical progress has been made.
  As we reflect on this historical moment, it is important for us to 
remember that it did not happen all at once. As Senator Robert Kennedy 
once said, ``It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief 
that human history is shaped.''
  Our society today would not be possible without the extraordinary 
people who dedicated themselves to the Civil Rights Movement.
  Whether on a bus in Montgomery, at a lunch counter in Greensboro, in 
a high school in Little Rock, or on a bridge in Selma, these courageous 
individuals risked their lives to bring real and necessary change to 
our country.
  The bill I am introducing today would help to ensure that we never 
forget their stories.
  The bill would direct the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian's 
National Museum of African American History to record--in audio and 
video--firsthand stories from the Civil Rights Movement. Like the 
Veterans History Project started by the Library of Congress in 2000, 
these recordings would document the memories of Civil Rights pioneers 
for generations to come. Students would be able to hear the stories in 
their own voices, and historians would have primary sources on which to 
draw for research.
  We need to start recording this history as soon as possible. In the 
last three years alone, we have lost Civil Rights leaders like Rosa 
Parks and Coretta Scott King--whose contributions would have been 
invaluable.
  The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the cost of the 
project be a maximum of approximately $4 million over 5 years, and that 
much of this cost will be offset by private donations. Even at its 
maximum cost, the project will be well worth it.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There beinig no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 395

       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 2009''.

     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 1950s through the 1960s 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.--

[[Page S2029]]

       (1) In general.--Within the limits of available funds, the 
     Librarian of Congress (referred to in this Act as the 
     ``Librarian'') and the Secretary of the Smithsonian 
     Institution (referred to in this Act 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 date of 
     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 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 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 may not deposit into such account any 
     funds donated to the Librarian that 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 2010; and
       (2) such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal 
     years 2011 through 2014.

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