What does Preamble of African American History Act of 2026 do?

This bill authorizes the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to support African American history education programs. The bill's stated purpose is to support African American history education.

What does SHORT TITLE. of African American History Act of 2026 do?

This bill is formally titled the African American History Act of 2026.

What does DEFINITIONS. of African American History Act of 2026 do?

This section defines terms used within the Act. “African American history” is defined as the history of African Americans, beginning with the African diaspora, and encompassing events like slavery, abolition, reconstruction, and the civil rights movements, as well as their contributions to society. An “African American history education program” is defined as an educational program relating to African American life, art, history, and culture, potentially utilizing digital technologies and collaborating with schools. “Director” refers to the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The terms 'early childhood education program,' 'elementary school,' 'local educational agency,' and 'secondary school' are defined by reference to section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

What does PROGRAM AUTHORIZED. of African American History Act of 2026 do?

This section authorizes the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to use funds appropriated under section 6 to carry out various activities. Authorized activities include developing resources to promote understanding of African American history, convening experts, and engaging the public. The Director may also increase resource capacity, create scholarly work, provide language translation, and expand collection acquisition and access processes. The section supports augmenting African American history education program activities, such as developing pedagogy principles and providing professional development for educators. It also encourages engagement with state and local education leaders to integrate resources into curricula. The Director is authorized to develop and maintain online resources for educators, students, and families to improve their understanding of African American history. The Director can continue activities already underway by the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

What does ANNUAL REPORT AND BRIEFINGS. of African American History Act of 2026 do?

The Director must submit an annual report to Congress and make it publicly available. The report details how funds from this Act were used for educational activities and other purposes. The Director, or a designee, must provide briefings to the House Committee on House Administration and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. These briefings are required within six months of the first funding distribution and annually thereafter. Subsections (a) and (b) will expire on September 30, 2030.

What does SENSE OF CONGRESS. of African American History Act of 2026 do?

This section expresses the sense of Congress regarding the importance of accurate education about the history of minority groups in the United States. It suggests the Federal Government should take a leadership role in improving the teaching of African American, Hispanic and Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander, and Native American history. The Director of the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian is encouraged to develop and disseminate materials focused on Native American history. Directors of future Smithsonian museums covering minority group histories are empowered to create and disseminate educational materials.

What does AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. of African American History Act of 2026 do?

This section authorizes appropriations for carrying out the Act. A total of $4,000,000 is authorized for fiscal year 2027. An additional $4,000,000 is authorized for each of the four succeeding fiscal years.

Back to bills

African American History Act of 2026

Last updated: 2/26/2026 · Introduced: 2/26/2026

Author: Cory Booker (D-NJ)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill authorizes the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture to support African American history education programs through resource development, expert engagement, and public outreach.
The bill authorizes a total of $20,000,000 in funding over six fiscal years to support these educational activities.
The Director must submit annual reports to Congress detailing how funds are used and provide briefings to relevant committees.

119th Congressin committeeHR. 7740(In Committee)Official page

Verified Votes

No verified votes yet.

Community Votes

No community votes yet. Be the first!

Voting as guest · Sign in for verified votes

Other Sections

Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 5 more.

7 sections

Click "Show details" to explore individual sections. Use the community vote above or visit All Sections to vote per section.

Read official text

Want the full experience?

Create a free account to cast verified votes on each section, get a personalized summary, and track your voting history.

Create Free Account