[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 728 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 728
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 25, 2025
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 Memorial Museum
and Educational Center in New York, New York, 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 ``African Burial Ground International
Memorial Museum and Educational Center Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the African Burial Ground National Historic Landmark in
New York, New York, holds the remains of up to 20,000 enslaved
Africans and early-generation African Americans from the
colonial era;
(2) the Africans and African Americans that suffered under
slavery show us the strength of the human character and provide
us with a model of courage, commitment, and perseverance;
(3) as President George W. Bush stated on July 8, 2003,
during his remarks at Goree Island, Senegal: ``For 250 years
the captives endured an assault on their culture and their
dignity. The spirit of Africans in America did not break. . . .
All the generations of oppression under the laws of man could
not crush the hope of freedom and defeat the purposes of
God.'';
(4) on February 27, 2006, President George W. Bush
established the National Monument, which was comprised of the
approximately 15,000-square foot parcel of the National
Historic Landmark that was bounded by Duane and Elk Streets in
Lower Manhattan;
(5) an international memorial museum facility dedicated to
those individuals who suffered the grave injustice of slavery
in the United States, while at the same time helping to build
the country, would--
(A) reflect the significance of the African Burial
Ground; and
(B) help the people of the United States understand
the past and honor the history of all people in the
United States;
(6) in 1998, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution--
(A) stated that the African Burial Ground affords
the perfect opportunity to gain insight into--
(i) the institution of slavery, as
practiced in urban, rural, northern, and
southern parts of the United States; and
(ii) the international slave trade; and
(B) proposed that a partnership be formed among the
Smithsonian, the National Park Service, and the General
Services Administration to further develop the African
Burial Ground;
(7) the National Museum of African American History and
Culture Act (20 U.S.C. 80r et seq.), which authorized
construction of a museum in Washington, DC, identified the
period of slavery as one of the periods of the African-American
diaspora that would be encompassed by the museum;
(8) the African Burial Ground--
(A) is unlike any other anthropological and
symbolic site in the United States or the world;
(B) includes DNA samples from the remarkably well-
preserved human remains that will enable researchers to
trace the home ``roots'' in Africa of those individuals
buried at the African Burial Ground; and
(C) provides a fitting location for a national
memorial facility, relating to the National Museum of
African American History and Culture that would--
(i) pay special tribute to--
(I) the thousands of enslaved
individuals who are buried at the
African Burial Ground; and
(II) all of the individuals who
were enslaved during the history of the
United States;
(ii) examine the African cultural
traditions brought to the United States by the
enslaved; and
(iii) explore in-depth the institution of
slavery;
(9) a memorial museum at the site of the African Burial
Ground--
(A) was first recommended by a Federal steering
committee in 1992; and
(B) in conjunction with the World Trade Center
memorial and other nearby sites, would attract millions
of visitors from the United States and abroad, making a
substantial contribution to the development and
revitalization of Lower Manhattan in response to the
attacks on the World Trade Center of September 11,
2001;
(10) Public Law 99-511 (100 Stat. 2080) encouraged support
for the establishment of a commemorative structure within the
National Park System or on other Federal land that is dedicated
to the promotion of understanding, knowledge, opportunity, and
equality for all people;
(11) similar to the National Museum of the Native American
that was established by section 3(a) of the National Museum of
the American Indian Act (20 U.S.C. 80q-1(a)), a memorial museum
at the site of the African Burial Ground would benefit from a
partnership among--
(A) the Federal Government;
(B) the State of New York;
(C) the city of New York; and
(D) members of the private sector;
(12) the African Burial Ground--
(A) has been determined to be nationally
significant as--
(i) a National Historic Landmark; and
(ii) a National Monument; and
(B) provides an important opportunity for
interpretation, understanding, partnership, and pride;
and
(13) the National Park Service--
(A) has played an important role in the development
of the African Burial Ground (including the designation
of the African Burial Ground as a National Monument);
(B) successfully operates other national facilities
in the city of New York that symbolize freedom and the
quest for freedom in America, including--
(i) the Statue of Liberty National
Monument; and
(ii) the Ellis Island National Monument;
(C) provided key support to the Presidential Study
Commission for the National Museum of African American
History and Culture; and
(D) is well-suited to assume a leadership role with
respect to the creation of the Museum.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the General Services Administration.
(2) Advisory council.--The term ``Advisory Council'' means
the African Burial Ground Advisory Council established by
section 7(a).
(3) City.--The term ``City'' means the city of New York,
New York.
(4) Expansion property.--The term ``expansion property''
means the property that is acquired by the Secretary under
section 5(a).
(5) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the African Burial
Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center
established by section 4(a).
(6) National landmark.--The term ``National Landmark''
means the African Burial Ground National Historic Landmark in
the City.
(7) National monument.--The term ``National Monument''
means the African Burial Ground National Monument in the City.
(8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National
Park Service.
(9) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of New York.
SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF MUSEUM.
(a) Establishment.--There is established at the National Monument a
memorial museum and educational center, to be known as the ``African
Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center''.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Museum are--
(1) to serve as a permanent living memorial--
(A) to the enslaved who are buried at the African
Burial Ground; and
(B) to other Africans and African Americans who
were enslaved;
(2) to examine the African cultural traditions brought to
the United States by the enslaved;
(3) to explore in-depth the institution of slavery in the
United States and other parts of the world;
(4) to provide a space for--
(A) permanent and temporary exhibits; and
(B) the collection and study of artifacts and
documents; and
(5) to encourage collaboration between the Museum and the
National Museum of African American History and Culture, other
museums, historically Black colleges and universities,
historical societies, educational institutions, and other
appropriate entities and organizations, such as the African
Burial Ground Memorial Foundation, including collaboration with
respect to--
(A) the development of cooperative programs and
exhibitions, including through digital, electronic, and
interactive technologies;
(B) the identification, management, and care of
Museum collections; and
(C) the training of Museum and National Park
Service professionals and other persons concerned with
heritage preservation.
(c) Association With National Museum.--The Museum shall become
associated with the National Museum of African American History and
Culture, in a manner to be determined by the Secretary, in consultation
with the Advisory Council and the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian
Institution.
SEC. 5. SITE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the
Administrator, the Advisory Council, and other appropriate entities or
organizations, such as the African Burial Ground Memorial Foundation,
shall--
(1) acquire for the Museum property that is located--
(A) at 22 Reade Street, which is adjacent to the
National Monument; or
(B) in any other area of the National Landmark
other than the location described in subparagraph (A);
and
(2) plan, design, and construct the Museum on the property
acquired under paragraph (1).
(b) Federal Share.--The Secretary shall pay \2/3\ of the total
costs of--
(1) acquiring property for the Museum; and
(2) planning, designing, constructing, reconstructing, and
renovating, as applicable, the Museum.
(c) Contracting Authority.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary and the Administrator may
enter into any agreements with each other, the City, the State,
and other parties, such as the African Burial Ground Memorial
Foundation, that are necessary for the acquisition, by donation
or other means, of property for--
(A) establishing the Museum; and
(B) planning, designing, constructing,
reconstructing, and renovating, as applicable, the
Museum.
(2) Site acquisition.--The Secretary may acquire property
under subsection (a)(1) by purchase, long-term lease, or any
other appropriate means of acquisition, as determined by the
Secretary.
(d) Expansion of National Monument.--The expansion property is
incorporated in, and shall be managed as part of, the National
Monument.
SEC. 6. OPERATION OF THE MUSEUM.
(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory
Council and the African Burial Ground Memorial Foundation, shall
operate the Museum.
(b) Authorities.--The Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory
Council, may--
(1) purchase, accept, borrow, and otherwise acquire
artifacts for the collections of the Museum;
(2) loan, exchange, sell, and otherwise dispose of any part
of the collections of the Museum, if the proceeds of the
disposition are used for additions to the collections of the
Museum;
(3) specify criteria with respect to the use of the
collections and resources of the Museum, including policies on
programming, education, exhibitions, and research;
(4) provide for preservation, restoration, and maintenance
of the collections of the Museum;
(5) solicit, accept, use, and dispose of gifts, bequests,
and devises of real and personal property for the purpose of
facilitating the work of the Museum;
(6) contract with such parties as may be necessary to
facilitate the operation of the Museum;
(7) administer the National Monument as a unit of the
National Park System in accordance with--
(A) this Act; and
(B) the laws generally applicable to units of the
National Park System, including applicable provisions
of division A of subtitle I of title 54, United States
Code; and
(8) conduct any other activities that are necessary to
carry out the purposes of this Act.
SEC. 7. ADVISORY COUNCIL.
(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Department of
the Interior an advisory council to be known as the ``African Burial
Ground Advisory Council''.
(b) Membership.--
(1) Composition.--The Advisory Council shall be composed of
the following members or their designees:
(A) The Secretary, who shall serve as Chairperson
of the Advisory Council.
(B) The Director of the National Park Service.
(C) The Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
(D) The Administrator.
(E) The Governor of the State.
(F) The Mayor of the City.
(G) The President of the Borough of Manhattan.
(H) Fourteen members, to be appointed by the
Secretary, taking into consideration--
(i) recommendations from organizations and
entities that are committed to the legacy of
the African Burial Ground, such as the African
Burial Ground Memorial Foundation; and
(ii) recommendations from the members of
the Advisory Council.
(2) Nonvoting members.--The Secretary may appoint as
nonvoting members of the Advisory Council--
(A) members of the United States Senate;
(B) members of the House of Representatives;
(C) officials representing the City;
(D) officials representing the State; and
(E) any other individuals that the Secretary, in
consultation with the members of the Advisory Council,
determines to be appropriate.
(3) Date of appointments.--The initial appointment of a
member under paragraph (1) shall be made not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) Terms.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each
member of the Advisory Council shall be appointed for a term of
3 years.
(2) Initial appointees.--Of the members first appointed
under subsection (b)(1)(H)--
(A) 5 members shall be appointed for a term of 1
year;
(B) 5 members shall be appointed for a term of 2
years; and
(C) 4 members shall be appointed for a terms of 3
years.
(3) Reappointment.--
(A) In general.--A member of the Advisory Council
may be reappointed, except that no individual may serve
on the Advisory Council for a total of more than 2
terms.
(B) Vacancy appointments.--For purposes of
subparagraph (A), the number of terms an individual
serves on the Advisory Council shall not include any
portion of a term for which an individual is appointed
to fill a vacancy under paragraph (4)(B).
(4) Vacancies.--
(A) In general.--A vacancy on the Advisory
Council--
(i) shall not affect the powers of the
Advisory Council; and
(ii) shall be filled in the same manner as
the original appointment was made.
(B) Term.--Any member of the Advisory Council
appointed to fill a vacancy occurring before the
expiration of the term for which the member's
predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the
remainder of that term.
(d) Duties.--The Advisory Council shall--
(1) make recommendations to the Secretary on the planning,
design, and construction of the Museum;
(2) advise and assist the Secretary on all matters relating
to the administration, operation, maintenance, and preservation
of the Museum;
(3) provide significant opportunities for public input with
respect to carrying out the duties under paragraphs (1) and
(2); and
(4) adopt bylaws for the operation of the Advisory Council.
(e) Compensation.--
(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a
member of the Advisory Council shall serve without
compensation.
(2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Council shall be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, at rates authorized for an employee of an agency
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States
Code, while away from the home or regular place of business of
the member in the performance of the duties of the Advisory
Council.
(f) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Advisory Council shall meet at the
call of the chairperson or on the written request of a majority
of the members of the Advisory Council, but not fewer than 2
times each year.
(2) Initial meetings.--During the 1-year period beginning
on the date of the first meeting of the Advisory Council, the
Advisory Council shall meet not fewer than 4 times for the
purpose of carrying out the duties of the Advisory Council.
(g) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Advisory Council
shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business, but a
lesser number may receive information on behalf of the Advisory
Council.
SEC. 8. DIRECTOR AND STAFF.
(a) Director.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall appoint a Director for
the Museum, taking into consideration recommendations by the
Advisory Council.
(2) Duties.--The Director of the Museum shall manage the
Museum, in accordance with any policies established by the
Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Council.
(b) Staff.--
(1) Appointment.--The Secretary may, without regard to the
civil service laws, appoint 2 employees to assist the Director
of the Museum in carrying out the duties of the Director.
(2) Compensation.--The employees appointed under subsection
(b) may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51
and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States
Code.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--Except as provided in subsection (b), there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act--
(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and
(2) such sums as are necessary for each fiscal year
thereafter.
(b) Acquisition of Museum Site.--There are authorized to be
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out section 5.
(c) Availability.--Amounts made available under subsections (a) and
(b) shall remain available, without fiscal year limitation, until
expended.
(d) Use of Funds.--Amounts made available under this section may be
used to support the Museum and expand or establish programs that
promote and preserve the legacy of the African Burial Ground,
including--
(1) using amounts made available under this section to
raise funds from private sources to support and promote the
Museum;
(2) supporting curriculum development, workshops, and
community outreach to deepen public understanding of the
historical significance of the African Burial Ground;
(3) establishing a dedicated visitor's center to provide an
immersive educational experience, including interactive
exhibits and technology-driven tools to enhance public
engagement; and
(4) ensuring the long-term sustainability of the facilities
and organizational objectives of the Museum.
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