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Public Law115th CongressCivil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
H.R. 1242Became Law

400 Years of African-American History Commission Act

This bill became law

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Law

What it doesSummary public law (Jan 8, 2018)

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 1, 2017. 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 its received and expended funds, and its recommendations.

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

(Sec. 9) All expenditures of the commission shall be made solely from donated funds.

What just happenedJan 8, 2018

Signed by President.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3](D-VA)Sponsor
53 cosponsors47 D6 R
Read on Congress.gov
53cosponsors1committees22actions2related bills4subjects
  1. Jan 8, 2018President

    Signed by President.

  2. Jan 8, 2018BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  3. Dec 27, 2017Floor

    Presented to President.

  4. Dec 27, 2017President28000

    Presented to President.

  5. Dec 22, 2017Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  6. Dec 21, 2017Floor

    Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S8267-8269)

  7. Dec 21, 2017Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S8267-8269)

  8. May 2, 2017IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate, read twice.

  9. May 1, 2017FloorH38310

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

  10. May 1, 2017FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2985-2986)

  11. May 1, 2017Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2985-2986)

  12. May 1, 2017FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1242.

  13. May 1, 2017FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2985-2987)

  14. May 1, 2017FloorH30300

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

  15. May 1, 2017CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 62.

  16. May 1, 2017CommitteeH12200

    Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-105.

    Oversight and Accountability Committee
  17. May 1, 2017Committee5000

    Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-105.

    Oversight and Accountability Committee
  18. Mar 28, 2017Committee

    Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.

    Oversight and Accountability Committee
  19. Mar 28, 2017Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Oversight and Accountability Committee
  20. Feb 28, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

    Oversight and Accountability Committee
  21. Feb 28, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  22. Feb 28, 2017IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Public LawJan 8, 201849

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 1, 2017. 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 its received and expended funds, and its recommendations.

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

(Sec. 9) All expenditures of the commission shall be made solely from donated funds.

Passed Senate without amendmentDec 21, 201782

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on May 1, 2017. 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 its received and expended funds, and its recommendations.

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

(Sec. 9) All expenditures of the commission shall be made solely from donated funds.

Passed House amendedMay 1, 201736

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 its received and expended funds, and its recommendations.

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

(Sec. 9) All expenditures of the commission shall be made solely from donated funds.

Introduced in HouseFeb 28, 2017

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: (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.

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

The commission shall terminate on July 1, 2020.

400 Years of African-American History Commission Act — Informed