[106th Congress Public Law 99]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ099.106]
[[Page 113 STAT. 1330]]
Public Law 106-99
106th Congress
An Act
To direct the Librarian of Congress to prepare the history of the House
of Representatives, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Nov. 12,
1999 - [H.R. 2303]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress <<NOTE: History of the House
Awareness and Preservation Act.>> assembled,
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 2 USC 183 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
2 USC 183
note.
This Act may be cited as the ``History of the House Awareness and
Preservation Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 2 USC 183.>> WRITTEN HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
(a) In General.--Subject to available funding and in accordance with
the requirements of this Act, the Librarian of Congress shall prepare,
print, distribute, and arrange for the funding of, a new and complete
written history of the House of Representatives, in consultation with
the Committee on House Administration. In preparing this written
history, the Librarian of Congress shall consult, commission, or engage
the services or participation of, eminent historians, Members, and
former Members of the House of Representatives.
(b) Guidelines.--In carrying out subsection (a), the Librarian of
Congress shall take into account the following:
(1) The history should be an illustrated, narrative history
of the House of Representatives, organized chronologically.
(2) The history's intended audience is the general reader,
as well as Members of Congress and their staffs.
(3) The history should include a discussion of the First and
Second Continental Congresses and the Constitutional Convention,
especially with regard to their roles in creating the House of
Representatives.
(c) Printing.--
(1) In general.--The Librarian of Congress shall arrange for
the printing of the history.
(2) Printing arrangements.--The printing may be performed--
(A) by the Public Printer pursuant to the provisions
of chapter 5 of title 44, United States Code;
(B) under a cooperative arrangement among the
Librarian of Congress, a private funding source obtained
pursuant to subsection (e), and a publisher in the
private sector; or
(C) under subparagraphs (A) and (B).
[[Page 109 STAT. 1331]]
(3) Internet dissemination.--Any arrangement under paragraph
(2) shall include terms for dissemination of the history over
the Internet via facilities maintained by the United States
Government.
(4) Member copies.--To the extent that the history is
printed by the Public Printer, copies of the history provided to
the Congress under subsection (d) shall be charged to the
Government Printing Office's congressional allotment for
printing and binding.
(d) Distribution.--The Librarian of Congress shall make the history
available for sale to the public, and shall make available, free of
charge, 5 copies to each Member of the House of Representatives and 250
copies to the Senate.
(e) Private Funding.--The Librarian of Congress shall solicit and
accept funding for the preparation, publication, marketing, and public
distribution of the history from private individuals, organizations, or
entities.
SEC. 3. <<NOTE: 2 USC 183a.>> ORAL HISTORY OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
(a) In General.--The Librarian of Congress shall accept for deposit,
preserve, maintain, and make accessible an oral history of the House of
Representatives, as told by its Members and former Members, compiled and
updated (on a voluntary or contract basis) by the United States
Association of Former Members of Congress or other private organization.
In carrying out this section, the Librarian of Congress may enlist the
voluntary aid or assistance of such organization, or may contract with
it for such services as may be necessary.
(b) Definition of Oral History.--In this section, the term ``oral
history'' means a story or history consisting of personal recollection
as recorded by any one or more of the following means:
(1) Interviews.
(2) Transcripts.
(3) Audio recordings.
(4) Video recordings.
(5) Such other form or means as may be suitable for the
recording and preservation of such information.
SEC. 4. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.
It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) orientation programs for freshman Members of the House
of Representatives should contain a seminar on the history of
the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Speaker of the House of Representatives should
conduct a series of forums on the topic of the history of the
House of Representatives.
Approved November 12, 1999.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2303:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999):
Oct. 25, considered and passed House.
Oct. 29, considered and passed Senate.
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