SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Museum of
African American History and Culture Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that—
(1) since its founding, the United States has
grown into a symbol of democracy and freedom
around the world, and the legacy of African Ameri-
cans is rooted in the very fabric of the democracy
and freedom of the United States;
(2) there exists no national museum within the
Smithsonian Institution that—
(A) is devoted to the documentation of Af-
rican American life, art, history, and culture;
and
(B) encompasses, on a national level—
(i) the period of slavery;
(ii) the era of Reconstruction;
(iii) the Harlem renaissance;
(iv) the civil rights movement; and
(v) other periods associated with Afri-
can American life, art, history, and cul-
ture; and
(3) a National Museum of African American
History and Culture would be dedicated to the col-
lection, preservation, research, and exhibition of Af-
rican American historical and cultural material re-
flecting the breadth and depth of the experiences of
individuals of African descent living in the United
States.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) BOARD OF REGENTS.—The term ‘‘Board of
Regents’’ means the Board of Regents of the Smith-
sonian Institution.
(2) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the
National Museum of African American History and
Culture Council established by section 5.
(3) MUSEUM.—The term ‘‘Museum’’ means the
National Museum of African American History and
Culture established by section 4.
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within
the Smithsonian Institution a museum to be known as the
‘‘National Museum of African American History and Cul-
ture’’.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Museum shall be
to provide for—
(1) the collection, study, and establishment of
programs relating to African American life, art, his-
tory, and culture that encompass—
(A) the period of slavery;
(B) the era of Reconstruction;
(C) the Harlem renaissance;
(D) the civil rights movement; and
(E) other periods of the African American
diaspora;
(2) the creation and maintenance of permanent
and temporary exhibits documenting the history of
slavery in America and African American life, art,
history, and culture during the periods referred to in
paragraph (1);
(3) the collection and study of artifacts and
documents relating to African American life, art,
history, and culture; and
(4) collaboration between the Museum and
other museums, historically black colleges and uni-
versities, historical societies, educational institutions,
and other organizations that promote the study or
appreciation of African American life, art, history,
or culture, including collaboration concerning—
(A) development of cooperative programs
and exhibitions;
(B) identification, management, and care
of collections; and
(C) training of museum professionals.
SEC. 5. COUNCIL.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within
the Smithsonian Institution a council to be known as the
‘‘National Museum of African American History and Cul-
ture Council’’.
(b) DUTIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall—
(A) make recommendations to the Board
of Regents concerning the planning, design, and
construction of the Museum;
(B) advise and assist the Board of Regents
on all matters relating to the administration,
operation, maintenance, and preservation of the
Museum;
(C) recommend annual operating budgets
for the Museum to the Board of Regents;
(D) report annually to the Board of Re-
gents on the acquisition, disposition, and dis-
play of objects relating to African American
life, art, history, and culture; and
(E) adopt bylaws for the operation of the
Council.
(2) PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Coun-
cil, subject to the general policies of the Board of
Regents, shall have sole authority to—
(A) purchase, accept, borrow, and other-
wise acquire artifacts for addition to the collec-
tions of the Museum;
(B) loan, exchange, sell, and otherwise dis-
pose of any part of the collections of the Mu-
seum, but only if the funds generated by that
disposition are used for additions to the collec-
tions of the Museum; or
(C) specify criteria with respect to the use
of the collections and resources of the Museum,
including policies on programming, education,
exhibitions, and research with respect to—
(i) the life, art, history, and culture of
African Americans;
(ii) the role of African Americans in
the history of the United States from the
period of slavery to the present; and
(iii) the contributions of African
Americans to society.
(3) OTHER
RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Council,
subject to the general policies of the Board of Re-
gents, shall have authority—
(A) to provide for preservation, restoration,
and maintenance of the collections of the Mu-
seum; and
(B) to solicit, accept, use, and dispose of
gifts, bequests, and devises of personal property
for the purpose of aiding and facilitating the
work of the Museum.
(c) COMPOSITION AND APPOINTMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall be com-
posed of 19 voting members as provided under para-
graph (2).
(2) VOTING MEMBERS.—The Council shall in-
clude the following voting members:
(A) The Secretary of the Smithsonian In-
stitution.
(B) 1 member of the Board of Regents,
appointed by the Board of Regents.
(C) 17 individuals appointed by the Board
of Regents—
(i) taking into consideration individ-
uals recommended by organizations and
entities that are committed to the advance-
ment of knowledge of African American
life, art, history, and culture; and
(ii) taking into consideration individ-
uals recommended by the members of the
Council.
(3) INITIAL
APPOINTMENTS.—The Board of
Regents shall make initial appointments to the
Council under paragraph (2) not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) TERMS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in this
subsection, each appointed member of the Council
shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.
(2) INITIAL
APPOINTEES.—As designated by
the Board of Regents at the time of appointment, of
the voting members first appointed under subpara-
graph (C) of subsection (c)(2)—
(A) 6 members shall be appointed for a
term of 1 year;
(B) 6 members shall be appointed for a
term of 2 years; and
(C) 5 members shall be appointed for a
term of 3 years.
(3) REAPPOINTMENT.—A member of the Coun-
cil may be reappointed, except that no individual
may serve on the Council for a total of more than
2 terms. For purposes of this paragraph, the num-
ber of terms an individual serves on the Council
shall not include any portion of a term for which an
individual is appointed to fill a vacancy under para-
graph (4)(B).
(4) VACANCIES.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A vacancy on the
Council—
(i) shall not affect the powers of the
Council; and
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner
as the original appointment was made.
(B) TERM.—Any member of the Council
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the
expiration of the term for which the member’s
predecessor was appointed shall be appointed
for the remainder of that term.
(e) COMPENSATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), a member of the Council shall serve with-
out pay.
(2) TRAVEL
EXPENSES.—A member of the
Council shall be allowed travel expenses, including
per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized
for an employee of an agency under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while
away from the home or regular place of business of
the member in the performance of the duties of the
Council.
(f) CHAIRPERSON.—By a majority vote of its voting
members, the Council shall elect a chairperson from its
members.
(g) MEETINGS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall meet at
the call of the chairperson or on the written request
of a majority of the voting members of the Council,
but not fewer than twice each year.
(2) INITIAL MEETINGS.—During the 1-year pe-
riod beginning on the date of the first meeting of the
Council, the Council shall meet not fewer than 4
times for the purpose of carrying out the duties of
the Council under this Act.
(h) QUORUM.—A majority of the voting members of
the Council holding office shall constitute a quorum for
the purpose of conducting business, but a lesser number
may receive information on behalf of the Council.
SEC. 6. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF THE MUSEUM.
(a) DIRECTOR.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Museum shall have a
Director who shall be appointed by the Secretary,
taking into consideration individuals recommended
by the Council.
(2) DUTIES.—The Director shall manage the
Museum subject to the policies of the Board of Re-
gents.
(b) STAFF.—The Secretary may appoint 2 additional
employees to serve under the Director, except that such
additional employees may be appointed without regard to
the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing
appointments in the competitive service.
(c) PAY.—The employees appointed by the Secretary
under subsection (b) may be paid without regard to the
provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53
of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification
of positions and General Schedule pay rates.
SEC. 7. EDUCATIONAL AND LIAISON PROGRAMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—
(1) PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED.—The Director of
the Museum may carry out educational and liaison
programs in support of the goals of the Museum.
(2) SPECIFIC ACTIVITIES DESCRIBED.—In car-
rying out this section, the Director shall—
(A) carry out educational programs relat-
ing to African American life, art, history, and
culture, including—
(i) programs using digital, electronic,
and interactive technologies; and
(ii) programs carried out in collabora-
tion with elementary schools, secondary
schools, and postsecondary schools; and
(B) consult with the Director of the Insti-
tute of Museum and Library Services con-
cerning the grant and scholarship programs
carried out under subsection (b).
(b) GRANT AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—In consultation with the
Council and the Director of the Museum, the Direc-
tor of the Institute of Museum and Library Services
shall establish—
(A) a grant program with the purpose of
improving operations, care of collections, and
development of professional management at Af-
rican American museums;
(B) a grant program with the purpose of
providing internship and fellowship opportuni-
ties at African American museums;
(C) a scholarship program with the pur-
pose of assisting individuals who are pursuing
careers or carrying out studies in the arts, hu-