What This Bill Does
This bill creates a new museum and educational center called the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center at the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City. The museum will serve as a memorial to enslaved people buried at the site and will examine slavery, African cultural traditions, and related history.
Who It Affects
The National Park Service, the Secretary of the Interior, the General Services Administration, the Smithsonian Institution, the State of New York, and the City of New York all have roles. Visitors and researchers who use the museum will be affected as well.
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of the Interior, working with the National Park Service, shall establish and operate the museum at the African Burial Ground National Monument (Sec. 4(a))
- The Secretary shall acquire property for the museum either adjacent to the monument or elsewhere within the National Landmark and shall pay two-thirds of the total costs of acquiring and constructing the museum (Sec. 5)
- An African Burial Ground Advisory Council shall be created with members appointed by the Secretary, including government officials and 14 additional members chosen with input from organizations committed to the African Burial Ground's legacy (Sec. 7)
- The museum shall become associated with the National Museum of African American History and Culture in a manner determined by the Secretary in consultation with the Advisory Council and the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents (Sec. 4(c))
- The Secretary may appoint a Director for the museum and up to 2 staff members to assist with museum operations (Sec. 8)
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, a new federal museum dedicated to enslaved Africans and African Americans will be established at the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City. The federal government will fund two-thirds of the costs to acquire property and construct the museum. An advisory council will be formed to guide the museum's development and operation. The property acquired for the museum will be added to and managed as part of the National Monument.
Important Definitions
The bill defines "Museum" as the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center. It defines "National Landmark" as the African Burial Ground National Historic Landmark in New York City. It defines "National Monument" as the African Burial Ground National Monument in New York City. It defines "Secretary" as the Secretary of the Interior acting through the Director of the National Park Service. It defines "Administrator" as the Administrator of the General Services Administration.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1349
To establish the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and
Educational Center in New York, New York, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 3, 2023
Mr. GOLDMAN of New York (for himself, Mr. NADLER, Ms. NORTON, Ms.
VELA´ZQUEZ, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. MEEKS, Ms. MENG, and Mr. BOWMAN)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
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
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•HR 1349 IH
(1) the African Burial Ground National His-
1
toric Landmark in New York, New York, holds the
2
remains of up to 20,000 enslaved Africans and
3
early-generation African Americans from the colonial
4
era;
5
(2) the Africans and African Americans that
6
suffered under slavery show us the strength of the
7
human character and provide us with a model of
8
courage, commitment, and perseverance;
9
(3) as President George W. Bush stated on
10
July 8, 2003, during his remarks at Goree Island,
11
Senegal: ‘‘For 250 years the captives endured an as-
12
sault on their culture and their dignity. The spirit
13
of Africans in America did not break. . . . All the
14
generations of oppression under the laws of man
15
could not crush the hope of freedom and defeat the
16
purposes of God.’’;
17
(4) on February 27, 2006, President George W.
18
Bush established the National Monument, which was
19
comprised of the approximately 15,000-square foot
20
parcel of the National Historic Landmark that was
21
bounded by Duane and Elk Streets in Lower Man-
22
hattan;
23
(5) an international memorial museum facility
24
dedicated to those individuals who suffered the grave
25
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•HR 1349 IH
injustice of slavery in the United States, while at the
1
same time helping to build the country, would—
2
(A) reflect the significance of the African
3
Burial Ground; and
4
(B) help the people of the United States
5
understand the past and honor the history of all
6
people in the United States;
7
(6) in 1998, the Secretary of the Smithsonian
8
Institution—
9
(A) stated that the African Burial Ground
10
affords the perfect opportunity to gain insight
11
into—
12
(i) the institution of slavery, as prac-
13
ticed in urban, rural, northern, and south-
14
ern parts of the United States; and
15
(ii) the international slave trade; and
16
(B) proposed that a partnership be formed
17
among the Smithsonian, the National Park
18
Service, and the General Services Administra-
19
tion to further develop the African Burial
20
Ground;
21
(7) the National Museum of African American
22
History and Culture Act (20 U.S.C. 80r et seq.),
23
which authorized construction of a museum in
24
Washington, DC, identified the period of slavery as
25
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•HR 1349 IH
one of the periods of the African-American diaspora
1
that would be encompassed by the museum;
2
(8) the African Burial Ground—
3
(A) is unlike any other anthropological and
4
symbolic site in the United States or the world;
5
(B) includes DNA samples from the re-
6
markably well-preserved human remains that
7
will enable researchers to trace the home
8
‘‘roots’’ in Africa of those individuals buried at
9
the African Burial Ground; and
10
(C) provides a fitting location for a na-
11
tional memorial facility, relating to the National
12
Museum of African American History and Cul-
13
ture that would—
14
(i) pay special tribute to—
15
(I) the thousands of enslaved in-
16
dividuals who are buried at the Afri-
17
can Burial Ground; and
18
(II) all of the individuals who
19
were enslaved during the history of
20
the United States;
21
(ii) examine the African cultural tra-
22
ditions brought to the United States by the
23
enslaved; and
24
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•HR 1349 IH
(iii) explore in-depth the institution of
1
slavery;
2
(9) a memorial museum at the site of the Afri-
3
can Burial Ground—
4
(A) was first recommended by a Federal
5
steering committee in 1992; and
6
(B) in conjunction with the World Trade
7
Center memorial and other nearby sites, would
8
attract millions of visitors from the United
9
States and abroad, making a substantial con-
10
tribution to the development and revitalization
11
of Lower Manhattan in response to the attacks
12
on the World Trade Center of September 11,
13
2001;
14
(10) Public Law 99–511 (100 Stat. 2080) en-
15
couraged support for the establishment of a com-
16
memorative structure within the National Park Sys-
17
tem or on other Federal land that is dedicated to the
18
promotion of understanding, knowledge, opportunity,
19
and equality for all people;
20
(11) similar to the National Museum of the Na-
21
tive American that was established by section 3(a) of
22
the National Museum of the American Indian Act
23
(20 U.S.C. 80q–1(a)), a memorial museum at the
24
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•HR 1349 IH
site of the African Burial Ground would benefit from
1
a partnership among—
2
(A) the Federal Government;
3
(B) the State of New York;
4
(C) the city of New York; and
5
(D) members of the private sector;
6
(12) the African Burial Ground—
7
(A) has been determined to be nationally
8
significant as—
9
(i) a National Historic Landmark;
10
and
11
(ii) a National Monument; and
12
(B) provides an important opportunity for
13
interpretation, understanding, partnership, and
14
pride; and
15
(13) the National Park Service—
16
(A) has played an important role in the de-
17
velopment of the African Burial Ground (in-
18
cluding the designation of the African Burial
19
Ground as a National Monument);
20
(B) successfully operates other national fa-
21
cilities in the city of New York that symbolize
22
freedom and the quest for freedom in America,
23
including—
24
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•HR 1349 IH
(i) the Statue of Liberty National
1
Monument; and
2
(ii) the Ellis Island National Monu-
3
ment;
4
(C) provided key support to the Presi-
5
dential Study Commission for the National Mu-
6
seum of African American History and Culture;
7
and
8
(D) is well-suited to assume a leadership
9
role with respect to the creation of the Museum.
10
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
11
In this Act:
12
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
13
trator’’ means the Administrator of the General
14
Services Administration.
15
(2) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Advisory
16
Council’’ means the African Burial Ground Advisory
17
Council established by section 7(a).
18
(3) CITY.—The term ‘‘City’’ means the city of
19
New York, New York.
20
(4) EXPANSION PROPERTY.—The term ‘‘expan-
21
sion property’’ means the property that is acquired
22
by the Secretary under section 5(a).
23
(5) MUSEUM.—The term ‘‘Museum’’ means the
24
African Burial Ground International Memorial Mu-
25
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•HR 1349 IH
seum and Educational Center established by section
1
4(a).
2
(6) NATIONAL
LANDMARK.—The term ‘‘Na-
3
tional Landmark’’ means the African Burial Ground
4
National Historic Landmark in the City.
5
(7) NATIONAL
MONUMENT.—The term ‘‘Na-
6
tional Monument’’ means the African Burial Ground
7
National Monument in the City.
8
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
9
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
10
rector of the National Park Service.
11
(9) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State
12
of New York.
13
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM.
14
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established at the
15
National Monument a memorial museum and educational
16
center, to be known as the ‘‘African Burial Ground Inter-
17
national Memorial Museum and Educational Center’’.
18
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Museum are—
19
(1) to serve as a permanent living memorial—
20
(A) to the enslaved who are buried at the
21
African Burial Ground; and
22
(B) to other Africans and African Ameri-
23
cans who were enslaved;
24
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•HR 1349 IH
(2) to examine the African cultural traditions
1
brought to the United States by the enslaved;
2
(3) to explore in-depth the institution of slavery
3
in the United States and other parts of the world;
4
(4) to provide a space for—
5
(A) permanent and temporary exhibits;
6
and
7
(B) the collection and study of artifacts
8
and documents; and
9
(5) to encourage collaboration between the Mu-
10
seum and the National Museum of African American
11
History and Culture, other museums, historically
12
Black colleges and universities, historical societies,
13
educational institutions, and other appropriate enti-
14
ties and organizations, including collaboration with
15
respect to—
16
(A) the development of cooperative pro-
17
grams and exhibitions, including through dig-
18
ital, electronic, and interactive technologies;
19
(B) the identification, management, and
20
care of Museum collections; and
21
(C) the training of Museum and National
22
Park Service professionals and other persons
23
concerned with heritage preservation.
24
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•HR 1349 IH
(c) ASSOCIATION WITH NATIONAL MUSEUM.—The
1
Museum shall become associated with the National Mu-
2
seum of African American History and Culture, in a man-
3
ner to be determined by the Secretary, in consultation with
4
the Advisory Council and the Board of Regents of the
5
Smithsonian Institution.
6
SEC. 5. SITE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT.
7
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation
8
with the Administrator, the Secretary of the Smithsonian
9
Institution, the City, the State, and the Advisory Council,
10
shall—
11
(1) acquire for the Museum property that is lo-
12
cated—
13
(A) adjacent to the National Monument; or
14
(B) in any other area of the National
15
Landmark other than the location described in
16
subparagraph (A); and
17
(2) plan, design, and construct the Museum on
18
the property acquired under paragraph (1).
19
(b) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Secretary shall pay 2⁄3
20
of the total costs of—
21
(1) acquiring property for the Museum; and
22
(2) planning, designing, constructing, recon-
23
structing, and renovating, as applicable, the Mu-
24
seum.
25
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•HR 1349 IH
(c) CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.—
1
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary and the Ad-
2
ministrator may enter into any agreements with
3
each other, the City, the State, and other parties
4
that are necessary for the acquisition, by donation or
5
other means, of property for—
6
(A) establishing the Museum; and
7
(B) planning, designing, constructing, re-
8
constructing, and renovating, as applicable, the
9
Museum.
10
(2) SITE ACQUISITION.—The Secretary may ac-
11
quire property under subsection (a)(1) by purchase,
12
long-term lease, or any other appropriate means of
13
acquisition, as determined by the Secretary.
14
(d) EXPANSION OF NATIONAL MONUMENT.—The ex-
15
pansion property is incorporated in, and shall be managed
16
as part of, the National Monument.
17
SEC. 6. OPERATION OF THE MUSEUM.
18
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in consultation
19
with the Advisory Council, shall operate the Museum.
20
(b) AUTHORITIES.—The Secretary, in consultation
21
with the Advisory Council, may—
22
(1) purchase, accept, borrow, and otherwise ac-
23
quire artifacts for the collections of the Museum;
24
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•HR 1349 IH
(2) loan, exchange, sell, and otherwise dispose
1
of any part of the collections of the Museum, if the
2
proceeds of the disposition are used for additions to
3
the collections of the Museum;
4
(3) specify criteria with respect to the use of
5
the collections and resources of the Museum, includ-
6
ing policies on programming, education, exhibitions,
7
and research;
8
(4) provide for preservation, restoration, and
9
maintenance of the collections of the Museum;
10
(5) solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, be-
11
quests, and devises of real and personal property for
12
the purpose of facilitating the work of the Museum;
13
(6) contract with such parties as may be nec-
14
essary to facilitate the operation of the Museum;
15
(7) administer the National Monument as a
16
unit of the National Park System in accordance
17
with—
18
(A) this Act; and
19
(B) the laws generally applicable to units
20
of the National Park System, including applica-
21
ble provisions of division A of subtitle I of title
22
54, United States Code; and
23
(8) conduct any other activities that are nec-
24
essary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
25
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•HR 1349 IH
SEC. 7. ADVISORY COUNCIL.
1
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within
2
the Department of the Interior an advisory council to be
3
known as the ‘‘African Burial Ground Advisory Council’’.
4
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—
5
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Council shall
6
be composed of the following members or their des-
7
ignees:
8
(A) The Secretary, who shall serve as
9
Chairperson of the Advisory Council.
10
(B) The Director of the National Park
11
Service.
12
(C) The Secretary of the Sm
[Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]