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Bill114th CongressFiled Feb 11, 2016Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
H.R. 4539

400 Years of African-American History Commission Act

Bill journey · stage 2 of 5

Under committee review

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Law

What it doesSummary reported to senate without amendment (Sep 6, 2016)

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on July 5, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

400 Years of African-American History Commission Act

(Sec. 3) This bill establishes the 400 Years of African-American History Commission to develop and carry out activities throughout the United States to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619.

The commission must:

  • plan programs to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States;
  • encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational, artistic, religious, and economic organizations to organize and participate in anniversary activities;
  • assist states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration; and
  • coordinate for the public scholarly research on the arrival of Africans in the United States and their contributions to this country.

(Sec. 5) The commission may provide: (1) grants to communities and nonprofit organizations for the development of programs; (2) grants to research and scholarly organizations to research, publish, or distribute information relating to the arrival of Africans in the United States; and (3) technical assistance to states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration.

(Sec. 7) The commission must prepare a strategic plan and submit a final report to Congress that contains a summary of its activities, an accounting of funds it received and expended, and its recommendations.

(Sec. 8) The commission shall terminate on July 1, 2020.

What just happenedSep 6, 2016

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 612.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3](D-VA)Sponsor
65 cosponsors61 D4 R
Read on Congress.gov
65cosponsors2committees14actions1related bills4subjects
  1. Sep 6, 2016Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 612.

  2. Sep 6, 2016Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 114-341.

    Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  3. Sep 6, 2016Committee14000

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 114-341.

    Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  4. Jul 13, 2016Committee

    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

    Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  5. Jul 6, 2016IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

    Energy and Natural Resources Committee
  6. Jul 5, 2016FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  7. Jul 5, 2016FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4260-4262)

  8. Jul 5, 2016Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4260-4262)

  9. Jul 5, 2016FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4539.

  10. Jul 5, 2016FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4260-4263)

  11. Jul 5, 2016FloorH30300

    Mr. Chaffetz moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  12. Feb 11, 2016IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

    Oversight and Accountability Committee
  13. Feb 11, 2016IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  14. Feb 11, 2016IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Reported to Senate without amendmentSep 6, 201680

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on July 5, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

400 Years of African-American History Commission Act

(Sec. 3) This bill establishes the 400 Years of African-American History Commission to develop and carry out activities throughout the United States to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619.

The commission must:

  • plan programs to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States;
  • encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational, artistic, religious, and economic organizations to organize and participate in anniversary activities;
  • assist states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration; and
  • coordinate for the public scholarly research on the arrival of Africans in the United States and their contributions to this country.

(Sec. 5) The commission may provide: (1) grants to communities and nonprofit organizations for the development of programs; (2) grants to research and scholarly organizations to research, publish, or distribute information relating to the arrival of Africans in the United States; and (3) technical assistance to states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration.

(Sec. 7) The commission must prepare a strategic plan and submit a final report to Congress that contains a summary of its activities, an accounting of funds it received and expended, and its recommendations.

(Sec. 8) The commission shall terminate on July 1, 2020.

Passed House amendedJul 5, 201636

400 Years of African-American History Commission Act

(Sec. 3) This bill establishes the 400 Years of African-American History Commission to develop and carry out activities throughout the United States to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619.

The commission must:

  • plan programs to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States;
  • encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational, artistic, religious, and economic organizations to organize and participate in anniversary activities;
  • assist states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration; and
  • coordinate for the public scholarly research on the arrival of Africans in the United States and their contributions to this country.

(Sec. 5) The commission may provide: (1) grants to communities and nonprofit organizations for the development of programs; (2) grants to research and scholarly organizations to research, publish, or distribute information relating to the arrival of Africans in the United States; and (3) technical assistance to states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration.

(Sec. 7) The commission must prepare a strategic plan and submit a final report to Congress that contains a summary of its activities, an accounting of funds it received and expended, and its recommendations.

(Sec. 8) The commission shall terminate on July 1, 2020.

Introduced in HouseFeb 11, 2016

400 Years of African-American History Commission Act

This bill establishes the 400 Years of African-American History Commission to develop and carry out activities throughout the United States to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619.

The commission must:

  • plan programs to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States;
  • encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational, artistic, religious, and economic organizations to organize and participate in anniversary activities;
  • assist states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration; and
  • coordinate for the public scholarly research on the arrival of Africans in the United States and their contributions to this country.

The commission may provide grants to: (1) communities and nonprofit organizations for the development of programs; and (2) research and scholarly organizations to research, publish, or distribute information relating to the arrival of Africans in the United States.

The commission shall terminate on July 1, 2020.

400 Years of African-American History Commission Act — Informed