[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7549 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7549
To establish a National Council on African American History and Culture
within the National Endowment for the Humanities, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 12, 2026
Mr. Mfume (for himself, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms.
Schakowsky, Mr. Ivey, Ms. Simon, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Brown, Ms.
Clarke of New York, Mr. Bell, Mr. Carson, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania,
Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Norton, Mr. Raskin, Mr. David Scott of
Georgia, Ms. Titus, Mr. Olszewski, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr.
Thanedar, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Kelly of
Illinois, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mr.
Pallone, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Nadler, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Pocan, Mrs. Watson
Coleman, and Mrs. McBath) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a National Council on African American History and Culture
within the National Endowment for the Humanities, 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 ``National Council on African American
History and Culture Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. COUNCIL ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established in the National Endowment
for the Humanities a National Council on African American History and
Culture (referred to in this section as the ``Council'').
(b) Membership.--
(1) Number and appointment.--The Council shall be composed
of 12 members appointed by the President, by and with the
advice and consent of the Senate.
(2) Qualifications.--The members of the Council shall be
individuals who--
(A) are selected from among private citizens of the
United States who are recognized for their broad
knowledge of, expertise in, or commitment to the
preservation and celebration of African American
history and culture;
(B) are not currently employees of the Federal
Government; and
(C) have established records of distinguished
service, scholarship, or creativity.
(3) Considerations.--In appointing members to the Council
under paragraph (1), the President--
(A) shall give due regard to equitable
representation of women, people of color, and
individuals with disabilities who are involved in the
humanities;
(B) shall select such members in a manner that
ensures a comprehensive representation of the views of
scholars and professional practitioners in the
humanities and of the public throughout the United
States; and
(C) shall ensure that six members are individuals
affiliated with the Democratic party and six members
are individuals affiliated with the Republican party.
(4) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
(A) In general.--The Chairperson and Vice
Chairperson of the Council shall be designated by the
President from among the members of the Council. The
Vice Chairperson shall act as Chairperson in the
absence of the Chairperson.
(B) Party affiliation.--The Chairperson and Vice
Chairperson may not be affiliated with the same
political party.
(5) Term of office; vacancies; reappointment.--
(A) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for
a term of five years, except as provided in
subparagraphs (B) and (C).
(B) Terms of initial appointees.--As designated by
the President at the time of the appointment, of the
members first appointed to the Council under paragraph
(1)--
(i) six shall be appointed for terms of
three years, three of whom shall be individuals
affiliated with the Democratic party and three
of whom shall be individuals affiliated with
the Republican party; and
(ii) six shall be appointed for terms of
five years, three of whom shall be individuals
affiliated with the Democratic party and three
of whom shall be individuals affiliated with
the Republican party.
(C) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for
which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be
appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member
may serve after the expiration of that member's term
until a successor has taken office.
(D) Reappointment.--No member shall be eligible for
reappointment during the two-year period following the
expiration of such member's term.
(6) Basic pay.--
(A) Rates of pay.--Members shall receive
compensation at a rate of 50 percent of the daily rate
of the highest rate of basic pay payable for the
senior-level positions classified above GS-15 pursuant
to section 5108 of title 5, United States Code, for
each day (including travel time) during which they are
engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in
the Council.
(B) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions
under subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title 5, United
States Code.
(7) Quorum.--Nine members of the Council shall constitute a
quorum. The Council cannot hold hearings without a full quorum.
(8) Meetings.--The Council shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson but not less frequently than twice during each
calendar year.
(c) Duties.--The duties of the Council shall be--
(1) to prepare an annual report to be submitted to the
Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities on the
work of the National Endowment to preserve and celebrate
African American history and culture;
(2) to gather timely and authoritative information
concerning historical developments and cultural trends in
African American history and culture, as well as to monitor the
work of museums and organizations dedicated to the preservation
of African American history and culture, and to analyze and
interpret such information for the purpose of determining
whether national policy is necessary to further support those
efforts;
(3) to evaluate the various programs and activities of the
National Endowment for the Humanities for the purpose of
determining the extent to which such programs and activities
are contributing, and the extent to which they are not
contributing, to the successful preservation and celebration of
African American history and culture, and to make
recommendations to the President with respect to such programs
and activities;
(4) to develop and recommend to the Chairperson national
policies to foster and promote the understanding of African
American history, the preservation of African American culture,
and the celebration of African Americans as contributors to the
country's economic, cultural, and political success; and
(5) to make and furnish such studies, reports thereon, and
recommendations with respect to matters of cultural
preservation and African American history as the Chairperson
may request.
(d) Applicability of FACA.--Section 1013(a)(2) of title 5, United
States Code (relating to the termination of advisory committees), shall
not apply to the Council.
(e) Termination.--The Council shall terminate 10 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
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