COVID–19 Oral History Project Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 6615 To direct the Librarian of Congress to establish a program in the American Folklife Center to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of those affected by the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 24, 2020 Mr. BERA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration A BILL To direct the Librarian of Congress to establish a program in the American Folklife Center to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of those affected by the COVID–19 pandemic, 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 ‘‘COVID–19 Oral His- 4 tory Project Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:50 Apr 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6615.IH H6615 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 6615 IH SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM AT AMERICAN 1 FOLKLIFE CENTER TO COLLECT VIDEO AND 2 AUDIO RECORDING OF HISTORIES OF THE 3 COVID–19 PANDEMIC. 4 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Librarian of Congress shall 5 establish an oral history program in the American Folklife 6 Center at the Library of Congress to collect and make 7 publicly available in a digital format individual stories of 8 events and experiences during the COVID–19 pandemic 9 in the United States. In carrying out the program, the 10 Librarian shall— 11 (1) collect video and audio recordings of per- 12 sonal histories and testimonials of those who were 13 affected by the COVID–19 pandemic, such as first 14 responders and health care workers, individuals who 15 survived the disease, family members of those who 16 passed away from the disease, individuals who were 17 repatriated from other countries or from cruise 18 ships, individuals with major life events affected by 19 responding to the outbreak, as well as any other in- 20 dividuals whose lives were altered; 21 (2) create a collection of the recordings ob- 22 tained (including a catalog and index) which will be 23 available for public use through the digital collec- 24 tions of the Library of Congress and such other 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:50 Apr 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6615.IH H6615 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 6615 IH methods as the Librarian considers appropriate to 1 the extent feasible subject to available resources; and 2 (3) solicit, collect, and make available in a dig- 3 ital format written materials (such as letters and 4 diaries) relevant to the personal histories of health 5 care workers and first responders who served during 6 the COVID–19 pandemic and to catalog such mate- 7 rials in a manner the Librarian considers appro- 8 priate, consistent with and complimentary to the ef- 9 forts described in paragraphs (1) and (2). 10 (b) USE OF AND CONSULTATION WITH OTHER ENTI- 11 TIES.—The Librarian may carry out the activities de- 12 scribed in paragraphs (1) and (3) of subsection (a) 13 through agreements and partnerships entered into with 14 other government and private entities, including through 15 collaboration with existing archival and oral history pro- 16 grams throughout the United States, and may otherwise 17 consult with interested persons (within the limits of avail- 18 able resources) and develop appropriate guidelines and ar- 19 rangements for soliciting, acquiring, and making available 20 recordings under the program under this Act. 21 (c) TIMING FOR AUTHORITY TO COLLECT RECORD- 22 INGS.— 23 (1) INITIATION.—As soon as practicable after 24 the enactment of this Act, the Librarian shall begin 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:50 Apr 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6615.IH H6615 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 6615 IH collecting video and audio recordings under sub- 1 section (a)(1). 2 (2) SUNSET.—The authority of the Librarian to 3 collect video and audio recordings under subsection 4 (a)(1) shall terminate upon the expiration of the 5- 5 year period which begins on the date of the enact- 6 ment of this Act. 7 SEC. 3. PRIVATE SUPPORT. 8 (a) ACCEPTANCE OF DONATIONS.—The Librarian of 9 Congress may solicit and accept donations of funds and 10 in-kind contributions to carry out the oral history program 11 under section 2. 12 (b) ESTABLISHMENT OF SEPARATE GIFT AC- 13 COUNT.—There is established in the Treasury (among the 14 accounts of the Library of Congress) a gift account for 15 the oral history program under section 2. 16 (c) DEDICATION OF FUNDS.—Notwithstanding any 17 other provision of law— 18 (1) any funds donated to the Librarian to carry 19 out the oral history program under section 2 shall 20 be deposited entirely into the gift account estab- 21 lished under subsection (b); 22 (2) the funds contained in such account shall be 23 used solely to carry out the oral history program 24 under section 2; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:50 Apr 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H6615.IH H6615 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 6615 IH (3) the Librarian may not deposit into such ac- 1 count any funds donated to the Librarian which are 2 not donated for the exclusive purpose. 3 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 4 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be ap- 5 propriated to carry out this Act— 6 (1) $7,600,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 7 (2) such sums as may be necessary for each of 8 the fiscal years 2021 through 2024. 9 (b) CONTINUING AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Any 10 amount appropriated pursuant to the authorization under 11 this section shall remain available until expended. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:50 Apr 27, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H6615.IH H6615 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS