I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 5024
To require that the Director of the National Park Service construct a Na-
tional Training Center at the National Afro-American Museum and Cul-
tural Center, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEPTEMBER 12, 1994
Mr. STOKES (for himself and Mr. HOBSON) introduced the following bill;
which was referred jointly to the Committees on Natural Resources and
Education and Labor
A BILL
To require that the Director of the National Park Service
construct a National Training Center at the National
Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, 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 Training Cen-
ter for Minority Museum, Archives, and Historic Preserva-
tion Professionals Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress makes the following
findings:
(1) By a law enacted in 1980, the National
Afro-American History and Culture Commission was
established to develop plans for the construction and
operation of the National Center for the Study of
Afro-American History and Culture (now known as
the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural
Center).
(2) The Museum was constructed at Wilber-
force, Ohio, and opened to the public in April 1988.
(3) It was the intent of Congress, and the un-
derstanding of the State of Ohio, that the Federal
Government would assist the State by providing
funds for construction and development of the Mu-
seum as a joint Federal-State project, yet this part-
nership was not clarified in the original legislation.
(4) The State of Ohio has assumed almost ex-
clusive financial responsibility for the Museum thus
far.
(5) There is a gross underrepresentation of mi-
nority museum, archives, and historic preservation
professionals in our Nation’s museums, archives,
and historic preservation offices, which results in the
failure to preserve important artifacts, manuscripts,
and sites related to minority history and culture.
(6) The State of Ohio has gone as far as it can
without tangible Federal assistance and needs Fed-
eral funds for construction of a center at the Mu-
seum to be used to train minority museum, archives,
and historic preservation professionals for our Na-
tion’s museums, archives, and historic preservation
offices.
(7) Public Law 101–628 instructs the National
Park Service to develop a range of concepts to pre-
serve, interpret and commemorate the Underground
Railroad story. During the 19th Century, the State
of Ohio and its citizens played major roles in helping
escaped slaves to freedom via the Underground Rail-
road. Wilberforce, Ohio was an important station
among a network of stations in Ohio.
(b) PURPOSES.—In order to meet the charge of the
original legislation, the purposes of this Act are—
(1) to authorize the appropriation of funds for
construction and maintenance of the National Train-
ing Center at the National Afro-American Museum
and Cultural Center at Wilberforce, Ohio;
(2) to authorize the establishment of a Board
of Governors of the National Afro-American Mu-
seum and Cultural Center jointly with the State of
Ohio; and
(3) to authorize an interpretative and research
center to preserve, interpret and commemorate the
Underground Railroad story.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Act:
(1) BOARD OF GOVERNORS.—The term ‘‘Board
of Governors’’ means the Board of Governors of the
National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Cen-
ter established pursuant to section 6.
(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means
the Director of the National Park Service.
(3) MUSEUM.—The term ‘‘Museum’’ means the
National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Cen-
ter.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER CONSTRUCTION AND
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.
The Director shall—
(1) construct, jointly with the State of Ohio, a
National Training Center at the Museum which will
prepare professionals for our Nation’s museums, ar-
chives, and historic preservation offices; and
(2) through the Board of Governors established
pursuant to section 6, provide for the operation and
maintenance of the Museum and provide for tech-
nical assistance to the Museum.
SEC. 5. MINORITY MUSEUM PROFESSIONAL STUDIES.
The Secretary of Education, acting through the
Board of Governors, shall—
(1) contract with a consortium of institutions of
higher education to implement a graduate degree
program to train minorities in museum, archives,
and historic preservation studies at the Museum;
(2) offer annual seminars in museum, archival,
and historic preservation practices and periodic
workshops, in conjunction with the African Amer-
ican Museums Association and other professional or-
ganizations, to serve the needs of minority museum
professionals; and
(3) provide scholarships and loans for students
and professionals in the studies established under
paragraphs (1) and (2).
SEC. 6. BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF MUSEUM.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Education
and the Director are authorized to establish jointly with
the State of Ohio a Board of Governors of the National
Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center which meets
the requirements of subsection (b) and which has the au-
thority to carry out the duties, responsibilities, and au-
thorities required by this Act.
(b) REQUIREMENTS FOR BOARD OF GOVERNORS.—
The requirements for the Board of Governors referred to
in subsection (a) are as follows:
(1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—
(A) Four members of the Board of Gov-
ernors are appointed by the Governor of Ohio,
who are—
(i) the presidents of Central State
University, Wright State University, and
Wilberforce University, or their designees;
and
(ii) the Director of the Ohio Historical
Society, or the Director’s designee.
(B) Five members of the Board of Gov-
ernors who shall be from diverse disciplines and
geographical residence and shall be committed
to the advancement of knowledge and African
American and minority history and culture, of
whom—
(i) three shall be appointed by the
Governor of Ohio;
(ii) one shall be appointed by the Sec-
retary; and
(iii) one shall be appointed by the Di-
rector.
(2) TERMS.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), the term for members of the
Board of Governors is three years and members
may be reappointed.
(B) STAGGERED
TERMS.—As designated
by the appointing authority at the time of ini-
tial 
appointments 
pursuant 
to 
paragraph
(1)(B), the term of one member expires at the
end of one year, the terms of two members ex-
pire at the end of two years, and the terms of
three members expire at the end of three years.
(3) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Board of
Governors shall not affect its powers and shall be
filled in the manner in which the original appoint-
ment was made. Any member appointed to fill a va-
cancy occurring before the expiration of the term for
which the predecessor of the member was appointed
for the remainder of the term.
(4) NO COMPENSATION.—Except as provided in
paragraph (5), members of the Board of Governors
appointed pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) shall serve
without pay.
(5) EXPENSES.—Members of the Board of Gov-
ernors appointed pursuant to paragraph (1)(B) shall
receive per diem, travel, and transportation expenses
for each day, including travel time, during which
they are engaged in the performance of the duties of
the Board of Governors in accordance with section
5703 of title 5, United States Code, with respect to
employees serving intermittently in the Government
service.
(6) CHAIRPERSON.—The Board of Governors
shall elect a chairperson by a majority vote of the
members of the Board of Governors.
(7) MEETINGS.—The Board of Governors shall
meet at the call of the chairperson or upon the writ-
ten request of a majority of its members, but shall
meet not less than twice each year.
(8) QUORUM.—A majority of the Board of Gov-
ernors shall constitute a quorum for purposes of
conducting business, but a lesser number may re-
ceive information on behalf of the Board of Gov-
ernors.
(9) VOLUNTARY
SERVICES.—Notwithstanding
section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the
chairperson of the Board of Governors may accept
acquire artifacts and other property for addi-
tion to the collections of the Museum;
(C) establish policy with respect to the uti-
lization of the collections of the Museum; and
(D) establish policy regarding program-
ming, education, exhibitions, and research, with
respect to the life and culture of African Ameri-
cans, the role of African Americans in the his-
tory of the United States, especially the signifi-
cance of the Underground Railroad, and the
contributions of African Americans to society.
(3) To have authority to—
(A) provide for restoration, preservation,
and maintenance of the collections of the Mu-
seum;
(B) solicit funds for the Museum and de-
termine the purposes to which those funds shall
be used;
(C) approve expenditures from the endow-
ment of the Museum, or of income generated
from the endowment, for any purpose of the
Museum; and
(D) consult with, advise, and support the
Director in the operation of the Museum.
display of minority American objects and artifacts
and on other appropriate matters.
SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) CAPITAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Director for construction, equipment, and
exhibit 
installation 
pursuant 
to 
section 
4(1) 
(1)
$2,000,000 for fiscal year 1996 for planning and design;
and (2) $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1997 and
1998 for construction, equipment and exhibit installation.
(b) OPERATIONS.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated to the Director (1) $1,000,000 for operation and
maintenance pursuant to section 4(2); and (2) $25,000
annually for the Board of Governors pursuant to section
6(b)(5).
(c) MINORITY MUSEUM PROFESSIONAL STUDIES.—
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
such sums as may be necessary to carry out section 5.
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