What This Bill Does
This bill creates a new museum called the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center in New York City. The museum will be built at the African Burial Ground National Monument to honor enslaved Africans and African Americans and teach visitors about slavery and African cultural traditions.
Who It Affects
The National Park Service (the federal agency managing the site), the city and state of New York, the Smithsonian Institution, visitors to the museum, and the general public interested in learning about African American history.
Key Provisions
• The federal government will pay two-thirds of the costs to buy property for the museum and build it. The remaining one-third comes from other sources. (Sec. 5(b))
• The Secretary of the Interior will operate the museum with help from an advisory council and may acquire artifacts, accept donations, and set rules about how the museum's collections are used. (Sec. 6(a), (b))
• An Advisory Council will be created with members including the Secretary of the Interior, the Governor of New York, the Mayor of New York City, and 14 appointed members who will advise on planning and operations. (Sec. 7(a), (b))
• The museum will work with the National Museum of African American History and Culture and other institutions on exhibits, research, and training programs. (Sec. 4(b)(5))
• The Secretary can acquire property by purchase, lease, or other means and will expand the National Monument to include the museum property. (Sec. 5(a), (d))
What Changes
If this becomes law, a new federal museum facility will be built on or near the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City. The National Park Service will manage this site as part of the National Park System. The government will use federal funding to construct and operate the museum, and an advisory council will help guide its development and operation.
Important Definitions
• Museum: the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center (Sec. 3(5))
• National Landmark: the African Burial Ground National Historic Landmark in New York City (Sec. 3(6))
• National Monument: the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City (Sec. 3(7))
• Secretary: the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service (Sec. 3(8))
• Administrator: the Administrator of the General Services Administration (Sec. 3(1))
Effective Date
Not specified in bill text
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 527
To establish the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and
Educational Center in New York, New York, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 27, 2023
Mrs. GILLIBRAND introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
A BILL
To establish the African Burial Ground International Memo-
rial Museum and Educational Center in New York, New
York, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘African Burial Ground
4
International Memorial Museum and Educational Center
5
Act’’.
6
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
7
Congress finds that—
8
(1) the African Burial Ground National His-
9
toric Landmark in New York, New York, holds the
10
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remains of up to 20,000 enslaved Africans and
1
early-generation African Americans from the colonial
2
era;
3
(2) the Africans and African Americans that
4
suffered under slavery show us the strength of the
5
human character and provide us with a model of
6
courage, commitment, and perseverance;
7
(3) as President George W. Bush stated on
8
July 8, 2003, during his remarks at Goree Island,
9
Senegal: ‘‘For 250 years the captives endured an as-
10
sault on their culture and their dignity. The spirit
11
of Africans in America did not break. . . . All the
12
generations of oppression under the laws of man
13
could not crush the hope of freedom and defeat the
14
purposes of God.’’;
15
(4) on February 27, 2006, President George W.
16
Bush established the National Monument, which was
17
comprised of the approximately 15,000-square foot
18
parcel of the National Historic Landmark that was
19
bounded by Duane and Elk Streets in Lower Man-
20
hattan;
21
(5) an international memorial museum facility
22
dedicated to those individuals who suffered the grave
23
injustice of slavery in the United States, while at the
24
same time helping to build the country, would—
25
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(A) reflect the significance of the African
1
Burial Ground; and
2
(B) help the people of the United States
3
understand the past and honor the history of all
4
people in the United States;
5
(6) in 1998, the Secretary of the Smithsonian
6
Institution—
7
(A) stated that the African Burial Ground
8
affords the perfect opportunity to gain insight
9
into—
10
(i) the institution of slavery, as prac-
11
ticed in urban, rural, northern, and south-
12
ern parts of the United States; and
13
(ii) the international slave trade; and
14
(B) proposed that a partnership be formed
15
among the Smithsonian, the National Park
16
Service, and the General Services Administra-
17
tion to further develop the African Burial
18
Ground;
19
(7) the National Museum of African American
20
History and Culture Act (20 U.S.C. 80r et seq.),
21
which authorized construction of a museum in
22
Washington, DC, identified the period of slavery as
23
one of the periods of the African-American diaspora
24
that would be encompassed by the museum;
25
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(8) the African Burial Ground—
1
(A) is unlike any other anthropological and
2
symbolic site in the United States or the world;
3
(B) includes DNA samples from the re-
4
markably well-preserved human remains that
5
will enable researchers to trace the home
6
‘‘roots’’ in Africa of those individuals buried at
7
the African Burial Ground; and
8
(C) provides a fitting location for a na-
9
tional memorial facility, relating to the National
10
Museum of African American History and Cul-
11
ture that would—
12
(i) pay special tribute to—
13
(I) the thousands of enslaved in-
14
dividuals who are buried at the Afri-
15
can Burial Ground; and
16
(II) all of the individuals who
17
were enslaved during the history of
18
the United States;
19
(ii) examine the African cultural tra-
20
ditions brought to the United States by the
21
enslaved; and
22
(iii) explore in-depth the institution of
23
slavery;
24
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(9) a memorial museum at the site of the Afri-
1
can Burial Ground—
2
(A) was first recommended by a Federal
3
steering committee in 1992; and
4
(B) in conjunction with the World Trade
5
Center memorial and other nearby sites, would
6
attract millions of visitors from the United
7
States and abroad, making a substantial con-
8
tribution to the development and revitalization
9
of Lower Manhattan in response to the attacks
10
on the World Trade Center of September 11,
11
2001;
12
(10) Public Law 99–511 (100 Stat. 2080) en-
13
couraged support for the establishment of a com-
14
memorative structure within the National Park Sys-
15
tem or on other Federal land that is dedicated to the
16
promotion of understanding, knowledge, opportunity,
17
and equality for all people;
18
(11) similar to the National Museum of the Na-
19
tive American that was established by section 3(a) of
20
the National Museum of the American Indian Act
21
(20 U.S.C. 80q–1(a)), a memorial museum at the
22
site of the African Burial Ground would benefit from
23
a partnership among—
24
(A) the Federal Government;
25
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(B) the State of New York;
1
(C) the city of New York; and
2
(D) members of the private sector;
3
(12) the African Burial Ground—
4
(A) has been determined to be nationally
5
significant as—
6
(i) a National Historic Landmark;
7
and
8
(ii) a National Monument; and
9
(B) provides an important opportunity for
10
interpretation, understanding, partnership, and
11
pride; and
12
(13) the National Park Service—
13
(A) has played an important role in the de-
14
velopment of the African Burial Ground (in-
15
cluding the designation of the African Burial
16
Ground as a National Monument);
17
(B) successfully operates other national fa-
18
cilities in the city of New York that symbolize
19
freedom and the quest for freedom in America,
20
including—
21
(i) the Statue of Liberty National
22
Monument; and
23
(ii) the Ellis Island National Monu-
24
ment;
25
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(C) provided key support to the Presi-
1
dential Study Commission for the National Mu-
2
seum of African American History and Culture;
3
and
4
(D) is well-suited to assume a leadership
5
role with respect to the creation of the Museum.
6
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
7
In this Act:
8
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
9
trator’’ means the Administrator of the General
10
Services Administration.
11
(2) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Advisory
12
Council’’ means the African Burial Ground Advisory
13
Council established by section 7(a).
14
(3) CITY.—The term ‘‘City’’ means the city of
15
New York, New York.
16
(4) EXPANSION PROPERTY.—The term ‘‘expan-
17
sion property’’ means the property that is acquired
18
by the Secretary under section 5(a).
19
(5) MUSEUM.—The term ‘‘Museum’’ means the
20
African Burial Ground International Memorial Mu-
21
seum and Educational Center established by section
22
4(a).
23
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(6) NATIONAL
LANDMARK.—The term ‘‘Na-
1
tional Landmark’’ means the African Burial Ground
2
National Historic Landmark in the City.
3
(7) NATIONAL
MONUMENT.—The term ‘‘Na-
4
tional Monument’’ means the African Burial Ground
5
National Monument in the City.
6
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
7
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
8
rector of the National Park Service.
9
(9) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State
10
of New York.
11
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM.
12
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established at the
13
National Monument a memorial museum and educational
14
center, to be known as the ‘‘African Burial Ground Inter-
15
national Memorial Museum and Educational Center’’.
16
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Museum are—
17
(1) to serve as a permanent living memorial—
18
(A) to the enslaved who are buried at the
19
African Burial Ground; and
20
(B) to other Africans and African Ameri-
21
cans who were enslaved;
22
(2) to examine the African cultural traditions
23
brought to the United States by the enslaved;
24
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(3) to explore in-depth the institution of slavery
1
in the United States and other parts of the world;
2
(4) to provide a space for—
3
(A) permanent and temporary exhibits;
4
and
5
(B) the collection and study of artifacts
6
and documents; and
7
(5) to encourage collaboration between the Mu-
8
seum and the National Museum of African American
9
History and Culture, other museums, historically
10
Black colleges and universities, historical societies,
11
educational institutions, and other appropriate enti-
12
ties and organizations, including collaboration with
13
respect to—
14
(A) the development of cooperative pro-
15
grams and exhibitions, including through dig-
16
ital, electronic, and interactive technologies;
17
(B) the identification, management, and
18
care of Museum collections; and
19
(C) the training of Museum and National
20
Park Service professionals and other persons
21
concerned with heritage preservation.
22
(c) ASSOCIATION WITH NATIONAL MUSEUM.—The
23
Museum shall become associated with the National Mu-
24
seum of African American History and Culture, in a man-
25
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ner to be determined by the Secretary, in consultation with
1
the Advisory Council and the Board of Regents of the
2
Smithsonian Institution.
3
SEC. 5. SITE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT.
4
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation
5
with the Administrator, the Secretary of the Smithsonian
6
Institution, the City, the State, and the Advisory Council,
7
shall—
8
(1) acquire for the Museum property that is lo-
9
cated—
10
(A) adjacent to the National Monument; or
11
(B) in any other area of the National
12
Landmark other than the location described in
13
subparagraph (A); and
14
(2) plan, design, and construct the Museum on
15
the property acquired under paragraph (1).
16
(b) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Secretary shall pay 2⁄3
17
of the total costs of—
18
(1) acquiring property for the Museum; and
19
(2) planning, designing, constructing, recon-
20
structing, and renovating, as applicable, the Mu-
21
seum.
22
(c) CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.—
23
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary and the Ad-
24
ministrator may enter into any agreements with
25
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each other, the City, the State, and other parties
1
that are necessary for the acquisition, by donation or
2
other means, of property for—
3
(A) establishing the Museum; and
4
(B) planning, designing, constructing, re-
5
constructing, and renovating, as applicable, the
6
Museum.
7
(2) SITE ACQUISITION.—The Secretary may ac-
8
quire property under subsection (a)(1) by purchase,
9
long-term lease, or any other appropriate means of
10
acquisition, as determined by the Secretary.
11
(d) EXPANSION OF NATIONAL MONUMENT.—The ex-
12
pansion property is incorporated in, and shall be managed
13
as part of, the National Monument.
14
SEC. 6. OPERATION OF THE MUSEUM.
15
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation
16
with the Advisory Council, shall operate the Museum.
17
(b) AUTHORITIES.—The Secretary, in consultation
18
with the Advisory Council, may—
19
(1) purchase, accept, borrow, and otherwise ac-
20
quire artifacts for the collections of the Museum;
21
(2) loan, exchange, sell, and otherwise dispose
22
of any part of the collections of the Museum, if the
23
proceeds of the disposition are used for additions to
24
the collections of the Museum;
25
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(3) specify criteria with respect to the use of
1
the collections and resources of the Museum, includ-
2
ing policies on programming, education, exhibitions,
3
and research;
4
(4) provide for preservation, restoration, and
5
maintenance of the collections of the Museum;
6
(5) solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, be-
7
quests, and devises of real and personal property for
8
the purpose of facilitating the work of the Museum;
9
(6) contract with such parties as may be nec-
10
essary to facilitate the operation of the Museum;
11
(7) administer the National Monument as a
12
unit of the National Park System in accordance
13
with—
14
(A) this Act; and
15
(B) the laws generally applicable to units
16
of the National Park System, including applica-
17
ble provisions of division A of subtitle I of title
18
54, United States Code; and
19
(8) conduct any other activities that are nec-
20
essary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
21
SEC. 7. ADVISORY COUNCIL.
22
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within
23
the Department of the Interior an advisory council to be
24
known as the ‘‘African Burial Ground Advisory Council’’.
25
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(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
1
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Council shall
2
be composed of the following members or their des-
3
ignees:
4
(A) The Secretary, who shall serve as
5
Chairperson of the Advisory Council.
6
(B) The Director of the National Park
7
Service.
8
(C) The Secretary of the Smithsonian In-
9
stitution.
10
(D) The Administrator.
11
(E) The Governor of the State.
12
(F) The Mayor of the City.
13
(G) The P
[Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]