H.R. 7549

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7549 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7549

To establish a National Council on African American History and Culture 
within the National Endowment for the Humanities, and for other 
purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 12, 2026

Mr. Mfume (for himself, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania, Ms. 
Schakowsky, Mr. Ivey, Ms. Simon, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Ms. Brown, Ms. 
Clarke of New York, Mr. Bell, Mr. Carson, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, 
Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, Ms. Norton, Mr. Raskin, Mr. David Scott of 
Georgia, Ms. Titus, Mr. Olszewski, Ms. Williams of Georgia, Mr. 
Thanedar, Mr. Veasey, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Kelly of 
Illinois, Ms. Sewell, Ms. Strickland, Mr. Goldman of New York, Mr. 
Pallone, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Nadler, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Pocan, Mrs. Watson 
Coleman, and Mrs. McBath) introduced the following bill; which was 
referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To establish a National Council on African American History and Culture 
within the National Endowment for the Humanities, and for other 
purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``National Council on African American 
History and Culture Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. COUNCIL ON AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.

(a) Establishment.--There is established in the National Endowment 
for the Humanities a National Council on African American History and 
Culture (referred to in this section as the ``Council'').
(b) Membership.--
(1) Number and appointment.--The Council shall be composed 
of 12 members appointed by the President, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate.
(2) Qualifications.--The members of the Council shall be 
individuals who--
(A) are selected from among private citizens of the 
United States who are recognized for their broad 
knowledge of, expertise in, or commitment to the 
preservation and celebration of African American 
history and culture;
(B) are not currently employees of the Federal 
Government; and
(C) have established records of distinguished 
service, scholarship, or creativity.
(3) Considerations.--In appointing members to the Council 
under paragraph (1), the President--
(A) shall give due regard to equitable 
representation of women, people of color, and 
individuals with disabilities who are involved in the 
humanities;
(B) shall select such members in a manner that 
ensures a comprehensive representation of the views of 
scholars and professional practitioners in the 
humanities and of the public throughout the United 
States; and
(C) shall ensure that six members are individuals 
affiliated with the Democratic party and six members 
are individuals affiliated with the Republican party.
(4) Chairperson; vice chairperson.--
(A) In general.--The Chairperson and Vice 
Chairperson of the Council shall be designated by the 
President from among the members of the Council. The 
Vice Chairperson shall act as Chairperson in the 
absence of the Chairperson.
(B) Party affiliation.--The Chairperson and Vice 
Chairperson may not be affiliated with the same 
political party.
(5) Term of office; vacancies; reappointment.--
(A) In general.--Each member shall be appointed for 
a term of five years, except as provided in 
subparagraphs (B) and (C).
(B) Terms of initial appointees.--As designated by 
the President at the time of the appointment, of the 
members first appointed to the Council under paragraph 
(1)--
(i) six shall be appointed for terms of 
three years, three of whom shall be individuals 
affiliated with the Democratic party and three 
of whom shall be individuals affiliated with 
the Republican party; and
(ii) six shall be appointed for terms of 
five years, three of whom shall be individuals 
affiliated with the Democratic party and three 
of whom shall be individuals affiliated with 
the Republican party.
(C) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a 
vacancy occurring before the expiration of the term for 
which the member's predecessor was appointed shall be 
appointed only for the remainder of that term. A member 
may serve after the expiration of that member's term 
until a successor has taken office.
(D) Reappointment.--No member shall be eligible for 
reappointment during the two-year period following the 
expiration of such member's term.
(6) Basic pay.--
(A) Rates of pay.--Members shall receive 
compensation at a rate of 50 percent of the daily rate 
of the highest rate of basic pay payable for the 
senior-level positions classified above GS-15 pursuant 
to section 5108 of title 5, United States Code, for 
each day (including travel time) during which they are 
engaged in the actual performance of duties vested in 
the Council.
(B) Travel expenses.--Each member shall receive 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of 
subsistence, in accordance with applicable provisions 
under subchapter 1 of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code.
(7) Quorum.--Nine members of the Council shall constitute a 
quorum. The Council cannot hold hearings without a full quorum.
(8) Meetings.--The Council shall meet at the call of the 
Chairperson but not less frequently than twice during each 
calendar year.
(c) Duties.--The duties of the Council shall be--
(1) to prepare an annual report to be submitted to the 
Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities on the 
work of the National Endowment to preserve and celebrate 
African American history and culture;
(2) to gather timely and authoritative information 
concerning historical developments and cultural trends in 
African American history and culture, as well as to monitor the 
work of museums and organizations dedicated to the preservation 
of African American history and culture, and to analyze and 
interpret such information for the purpose of determining 
whether national policy is necessary to further support those 
efforts;
(3) to evaluate the various programs and activities of the 
National Endowment for the Humanities for the purpose of 
determining the extent to which such programs and activities 
are contributing, and the extent to which they are not 
contributing, to the successful preservation and celebration of 
African American history and culture, and to make 
recommendations to the President with respect to such programs 
and activities;
(4) to develop and recommend to the Chairperson national 
policies to foster and promote the understanding of African 
American history, the preservation of African American culture, 
and the celebration of African Americans as contributors to the 
country's economic, cultural, and political success; and
(5) to make and furnish such studies, reports thereon, and 
recommendations with respect to matters of cultural 
preservation and African American history as the Chairperson 
may request.
(d) Applicability of FACA.--Section 1013(a)(2) of title 5, United 
States Code (relating to the termination of advisory committees), shall 
not apply to the Council.
(e) Termination.--The Council shall terminate 10 years after the 
date of the enactment of this Act.
<all>