69–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 110–848 

CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY PROJECT ACT OF 2008 

SEPTEMBER 15, 2008.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on House 

Administration, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 998] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred 

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, having 

considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments 

and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

The amendments (stated in terms of the page and line numbers 

of the introduced bill) are as follows: 

Page 2, line 3, strike ‘‘2007’’ and insert ‘‘2008’’. 

Page 8, line 14, strike ‘‘2008’’ and insert ‘‘2009’’. 

Page 8, line 16, strike ‘‘2009 through 2012’’ and insert ‘‘2010 

through 2013’’. 

PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

H.R. 998, the Civil Rights History Project Act of 2008, would authorize funding to create a comprehensive compilation of audio and 

video recordings of personal histories and testimonials of individuals who participated in the Civil Rights movement. 

BILL SUMMARY

H.R. 998 would direct the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History 

and Culture to jointly work to collect and preserve for posterity 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with REPORTS
2 

audio and video recordings of the memories and stories of individuals who participated-in and witnessed first-hand the Civil Rights 

movement during the 1950s and 1960s. 

As participants in the Civil Rights movement continue to age, it 

is important that memories and stories of those individuals who 

participated in events such as the sit-ins, the Freedom Rides, the 

drive for voting rights in Mississippi, and the March to Selma are 

documented so that future generations will be able to access original sources of information regarding the lives and times of that 

era. 

The purpose of this Act is to coordinate at a national level the 

collection and the preservation of oral and video recordings. It will 

also serve to complement previous and ongoing documentary work 

on this subject. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

H.R. 998 was introduced on February 12, 2007 by Representative 

Carolyn McCarthy of New York along with Representative John 

Lewis of Georgia. On July 30, 2008, the Committee considered H.R. 

998 and, by voice vote, ordered the bill reported favorably with 

technical amendments offered by Chairman Brady which would 

move the start of the project to Fiscal Year 2009. No recorded votes 

were taken during the consideration of the bill. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR H.R. 998

It is in the best interest of the Nation to undertake the Civil 

Rights History Project so that future generations will be able to 

learn of the struggles and sacrifices of those who participated in 

the Civil Rights movement. A basic principle of democracy is that 

individuals should stand up for their rights and beliefs and pursue 

justice. The Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution 

will join forces to develop an extensive collection of oral histories 

of those participants who played a part and witnessed the American Civil Rights movement. 

The Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution have 

jointly signed a letter of intent outlining their agreement to carry 

out identified activities related to the project to the extent that 

funding for the project is available through appropriations or donations, specifically committing to create a detailed Memorandum of 

Understanding within two months of enactment of H.R. 998. That 

letter is appended to this report. 

ANALYSIS OF THE BILL (AS REPORTED)

The Civil Rights History Project Act of 2008 requires the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 

(acting through the Director of the National Museum of African 

American History and Culture) to establish an oral history project 

to: (1) collect video and audio recordings of, and visual and written 

materials relevant to the personal histories of participants in the 

Civil Rights movement; and (2) make the collection available for 

public use through the Library of Congress and the Museum. 

Section 1. Section 1 states the short title of the Act, the ‘‘Civil 

Rights History Project Act of 2008.’’


jbell on PROD1PC69 with REPORTS
3 

Section 2. Section 2 states that the participants in the civil rights 

movement hold an invaluable resource in their first-hand accounts 

of the era. The retelling of their memories and stories will capture 

the real-life events and actions of those who participated in the 

civil rights movement from the 1950’s through the 1960’s. Much is 

known about the lives of Thurgood Marshall, Dr. Martin Luther 

King, Jr., Rosa Parks and other prominent leaders of the movement; however, there were many others whose impact and experience were just as important to the cause but whose stories are not 

well known or documented. 

Section 3. Section 3 establishes the joint project at the Library 

of Congress and the National Museum of African American History 

and Culture. The initial phase of the project will be to survey the 

collections of audio and video recordings that are housed in various 

archives, libraries, museums, and other education institutions. The 

next step will be to solicit and collect materials that will create an 

extensive collection to be made available for public use through the 

Library of Congress and the National Museum of African American 

History and Culture. 

Section 4. Section 4 encourages private support for the Civil 

Rights History Project. Both the Librarian of Congress and the 

Smithsonian Secretary are encouraged to solicit and accept donations of funds and in-kind contributions to support the collection of 

materials. Donations will be deposited only into an account established for such purpose. 

Section 5. Section 5 authorizes appropriations to carry out this 

Act—

(1) $500,000 for Fiscal Year 2009; and 

(2) Such sums as may be necessary for each of the Fiscal 

Years 2010 through 2013. 

MATTERS REQUIRED UNDER RULES OF THE HOUSE

Constitutional Authority 

Clause 3(d)(1) of House Rule XIII requires each committee report 

on a public bill or joint resolution to include a statement citing the 

specific constitutional power(s) granted to the Congress on which 

the Committee relies for enactment of the measure under consideration. The Committee cites the legislative power granted to Congress in article I, section 8, clause 18. 

Committee Votes 

Clause 3(b) of House Rule XIII requires the results of each recorded vote on an amendment or motion to report, together with 

the names of those voting for and against, to be printed in the committee report. No recorded votes were taken during the Committee’s consideration of H.R. 998. 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate 

Clause 3(c)(3) of House Rule XIII requires the report of a committee on a measure which has been approved by the committee to 

include a cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the CBA, if timely 

submitted. The Director submitted the following estimate: 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with REPORTS
4 

U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, September 5, 2008. 

Hon. ROBERT A. BRADY, 

Chairman, Committee on House Administration, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 998, the Civil Rights History Project Act of 2008. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Christina Hawley Anthony. 

Sincerely, 

ROBERT A. SUNSHINE

(For Peter R. Orszag, Director). 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 998—Civil Rights History Project Act of 2008 

H.R. 998 would direct the Librarian of Congress and the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to establish an oral history 

project to survey, solicit, reproduce, and collect audio and video recordings of participants in the Civil Rights movement. The bill 

would permit the Librarian and Secretary to solicit and accept donations of funds and in-kind contributions to support those activities. In addition, H.R. 998 would authorize the appropriation of 

$500,000 for fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary 

for fiscal years 2010 through 2013. 

Based on information from the two agencies, and assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates that enacting 

H.R. 998 would cost $4 million over the 2009–2013 period. 

Because H.R. 998 would allow the Librarian and Secretary to accept and spend donations for projects, enacting H.R. 998 could affect direct spending and receipts, but the spending and the receipts 

would offset each other. Thus, CBO estimates that provision would 

not have a significant net effect on the federal budget. 

H.R. 998 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Christina Hawley Anthony. This estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant 

Director for Budget Analysis. 

Federal mandates 

Section 423 of the CBA requires a committee report on any public bill or joint resolution that includes a federal mandate to include 

specific information about such mandates. The Committee states 

that H.R. 998 includes no federal mandates. 

Preemption clarification 

Section 423 of the CBA requires a committee report on any public bill or joint resolution to include a committee statement on the 

extent to which the measure is intended to preempt state or local 

law. The Committee states that H.R. 998 is not intended to preempt any state or local law. 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with REPORTS
5 

Oversight findings 

Clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII requires each committee report to contain oversight findings and recommendations required pursuant to 

clause 2(b)(1) of House Rule X. The Committee has general oversight responsibility of the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian 

Institution. The Committee has included the findings in the body 

of the report. 

Statement of general performance goals and objectives 

Clause 3(c)(4) of House Rule XIII requires committee reports to 

include a statement of general performance goals and objectives. 

The Committee believes enactment of the bill would enhance the 

collections at both the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution. It would gather and preserve invaluable historical information, and provide additional resources to scholars for research, 

and to the public. 

Congressional ‘‘earmarks’’

Clause 9 of House Rule XXI requires committee reports on public 

bills and resolutions to contain an identification of congressional 

‘‘earmarks,’’ limited tax benefits, limited tariff benefits, and the 

names of requesting Members. The bill contains no such items either as introduced or as reported to the House. 

Congressional Accountability Act applicability 

Section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 

(Pub. L. 104–1) (CAA) requires each report on a public bill or joint 

resolution relating to terms and conditions of employment or access 

to public services or accommodations to describe the manner in 

which the legislation apply to the Legislative Branch. H.R. 998 

does not impact any provisions covered by the CAA. 

Changes in existing law made by the bill, as reported 

H.R. 998 makes no changes in existing law. 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with REPORTS
6 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with REPORTSInsert offset folio 8 here HR998.001
7 


jbell on PROD1PC69 with REPORTSInsert offset folio 9 here HR998.002