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119-hr-7549119th Congress

National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create a bipartisan National Council on African American History and Culture inside the National Endowment for the Humanities to guide preservation, scholarship, and public celebration of African American history. It would set membership rules, duties, meeting requirements, and a 10-year sunset.

Show full summary
  • Scholars and humanities professionals — Twelve private U.S. citizens would serve on the council with staggered initial terms of three and five years to build a standing advisory body.
  • Museums and cultural organizations — The council would monitor museums and preservation groups, evaluate NEH programs, and recommend national policies to support preservation and celebration.
  • The President and appointees — Members are appointed by the President with Senate consent, must include six Democrats and six Republicans, and the Chair and Vice Chair must be from different parties; members must not be current federal employees.
  • Public and education — The council would collect timely research, prepare an annual report on NEH work related to African American history and culture, and advise the President on policy and outreach.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Council on African American History

This bill would create a 12-member National Council on African American History and Culture inside the National Endowment for the Humanities. The President would appoint members with Senate confirmation and require six members affiliated with the Democratic party and six with the Republican party. Members would serve generally five-year terms, with initial staggered three- and five-year terms, and the Council would end 10 years after enactment. Members would be private U.S. citizens, paid 50% of the top senior daily rate for days they work, and get travel pay and per diem. The Council would meet at least twice per year, need nine members for a quorum to hold hearings, send an annual report to the NEH Chair, monitor museums and NEH programs, and recommend national policies and studies on African American history and culture. The Federal Advisory Committee Act termination rule in 5 U.S.C. 1013(a)(2) would not apply to this Council.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]

MD • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 10/6/2026

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2026

  • Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 6/23/2026

  • Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]

    MS • D

    Sponsored 6/25/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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