I 
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. SCHA-
KOWSKY, Mr. IVEY, Ms. SIMON, Ms. WILSON of Florida, Ms. BROWN, Ms. 
CLARKE of New York, Mr. BELL, Mr. CARSON, Mr. EVANS of Pennsyl-
vania, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Ms. NORTON, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. DAVID 
SCOTT of Georgia, Ms. TITUS, Mr. OLSZEWSKI, Ms. WILLIAMS of Geor-
gia, 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) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Edu-
cation 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 Representa-
tives 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’’. 
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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 (re-
ferred 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 citi-
zens 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 distin-
guished service, scholarship, or creativity. 
(3) CONSIDERATIONS.—In appointing members 
to the Council under paragraph (1), the President— 
(A) shall give due regard to equitable rep-
resentation of women, people of color, and indi-
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viduals 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 practi-
tioners in the humanities and of the public 
throughout the United States; and 
(C) shall ensure that six members are indi-
viduals 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 des-
ignated by the President from among the mem-
bers of the Council. The Vice Chairperson shall 
act as Chairperson in the absence of the Chair-
person. 
(B) PARTY
AFFILIATION.—The Chair-
person and Vice Chairperson may not be affili-
ated with the same political party. 
(5) TERM OF OFFICE; VACANCIES; REAPPOINT-
MENT.— 
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(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 individ-
uals affiliated with the Democratic party 
and three of whom shall be individuals af-
filiated with the Republican party; and 
(ii) six shall be appointed for terms of 
five years, three of whom shall be individ-
uals affiliated with the Democratic party 
and three of whom shall be individuals af-
filiated 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. 
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(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 re-
ceive 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 appli-
cable 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. 
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(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 Endow-
ment to preserve and celebrate African American 
history and culture; 
(2) to gather timely and authoritative informa-
tion concerning historical developments and cultural 
trends in African American history and culture, as 
well as to monitor the work of museums and organi-
zations dedicated to the preservation of African 
American history and culture, and to analyze and in-
terpret such information for the purpose of deter-
mining whether national policy is necessary to fur-
ther support those efforts; 
(3) to evaluate the various programs and activi-
ties 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 rec-
ommendations to the President with respect to such 
programs and activities; 
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