I 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5216 

To require the establishment of a national database in the National Archives 

to preserve records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction and to provide grants to State and local entities to establish 

similar local databases. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 27, 2006 

Mr. LANTOS (for himself, Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. CUMMINGS, Mr. 

VAN HOLLEN, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. 

OWENS, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. KUCINICH, Mr. WOLF, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Ms. KILPATRICK of Michigan, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. SNYDER, Ms. 

BORDALLO, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. CLYBURN, Mr. 

SCOTT of Virginia, Ms. MILLENDER-MCDONALD, Mr. CAPUANO, Mrs. 

CHRISTENSEN, Mrs. MCCARTHY, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of 

Texas, Mr. TAYLOR of Mississippi, Mr. SERRANO, Mr. FATTAH, Mr. 

BOYD, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. TOWNS, Ms. NORTON, Mr. FOLEY, Mrs. 

MALONEY, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Mr. MEEKS of New York, Mr. 

HASTINGS of Florida, Ms. WATSON, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. CLAY, and Mr. BERMAN) introduced the following bill; which was 

referred to the Committee on Government Reform 

A BILL 

To require the establishment of a national database in the 

National Archives to preserve records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction and to provide grants to State and local entities to establish similar 

local databases. 


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•HR 5216 IH 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Preservation of 

5 Records of Servitude, Emancipation, and Post-Civil War 

6 Reconstruction Act of 2006’’. 

7 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL DATABASE. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Archivist of the United 

9 States shall preserve relevant records and establish, as 

10 part of the National Archives, an electronically searchable 

11 national database consisting of historic records of ser12 vitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction, 

13 including the Southern Claims Commission Records, 

14 Freedmen’s Bureau Records, Records of the Freedmen’s 

15 Bank, Slave Impressments Records, Slave Payroll 

16 Records, Slave Manifest, and others, contained within the 

17 agencies and departments of the Federal Government to 

18 assist African Americans and others in conducting genea19 logical and historical research. 

20 (b) MAINTENANCE.—The database established under 

21 this section shall be maintained by the National Archives 

22 or an entity within the National Archives designated by 

23 the Archivist. 


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•HR 5216 IH 

1 SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE AND 

2 LOCAL DATABASES. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The National Historical Publica4 tions and Records Commission of the National Archives 

5 shall provide grants to States, colleges and universities, 

6 and genealogical associations to preserve records and es7 tablish electronically searchable databases consisting of 

8 local records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil 

9 War reconstruction. 

10 (b) MAINTENANCE.—The databases established using 

11 grants provided under this section shall be maintained by 

12 appropriate agencies or institutions designated by the Na13 tional Historical Publications and Records Commission. 

14 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

15 There are authorized to be appropriated— 

16 (1) $5,000,000 to implement section 2; and 

17 (2) $5,000,000 to provide grants under section 

18 3. 

Æ 


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