II 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3491
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
NOVEMBER 20, 2003
Received 
AN ACT 
To establish within the Smithsonian Institution the National 
Museum of African American History and Culture, and 
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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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-
HR 3491 RDS 
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—
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(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;