African American History Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7740
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Arts, Culture, Religion
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-26: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-17T08:06:56Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The African American History Act of 2026 aims to authorize and fund the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), part of the Smithsonian Institution, to develop and support educational programs focused on African American history. It emphasizes accurate, accessible resources that highlight the contributions, struggles, and innovations of African Americans, viewed through a lens of social justice (promoting fairness and equity) and anti-bias (reducing prejudice in education).
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- "African American history" covers the experiences of African peoples from the African diaspora (the spread of African communities worldwide due to historical events like the slave trade) to the present, including slavery, abolition (ending slavery), Reconstruction (post-Civil War rebuilding era), civil rights movements, and African American contributions to U.S. society.
- "African American history education program" includes initiatives on African American life, art, history, and culture, often using digital tools and partnering with schools at all levels (early childhood, elementary, secondary, and postsecondary).
- References terms from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), a major U.S. law on K-12 education, for consistency.
- Authorized Programs:
- The Director may use funds to create digital, print, and exhibition resources; convene experts and public discussions; provide technical support and content for online/in-person engagement; produce scholarly works like research and curricula; translate materials into other languages; expand museum collections through staffing and digitization (converting physical items to digital formats); and support teacher training, workshops, fellowships, and curriculum integration in schools.
- All activities incorporate a social justice and anti-bias approach.
- Specific focus on professional development for educators via workshops, partnerships with schools, and encouraging state/local adoption of these resources.
- Allows innovation in museum operations and rigorous evaluation of new programs.
- Online Resources:
- Develop and maintain NMAAHC website content for educators, students, and families to build awareness of African American history.
- Distribute information and respond to public inquiries about funded activities.
- Continuation of Existing Work:
- Funds can sustain ongoing NMAAHC programs related to these goals.
- Reporting and Oversight:
- Annual public report to Congress by February 1 on fund usage for education and other activities.
- Annual briefings to House and Senate committees starting 6 months after initial funding.
- Reporting requirements end on September 30, 2030 (a "sunset" clause that automatically terminates them).
- Sense of Congress:
- Expresses support for federal leadership in teaching histories of all minority groups (African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American/Pacific Islander, Native American) through social justice and anti-bias lenses.
- Encourages similar empowerment for other Smithsonian entities, like the National Museum of the American Indian and future museums on women's and Latino history.
- Funding:
- Authorizes $4,000,000 annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to carry out the Act.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This bill introduces new specific authorization for NMAAHC to expand education-focused activities, which were not previously funded at this dedicated level. It builds on the NMAAHC's establishment under the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act of 2003 but adds explicit funding and mandates for social justice-oriented programs, teacher training, and online resources. It also ties into broader education laws like ESEA without altering them directly. The "sense of Congress" provision is non-binding but signals intent to extend similar support to other minority history initiatives, potentially influencing future legislation.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Enhances NMAAHC's capacity within the Smithsonian by providing dedicated funding for education and collections, potentially increasing staffing and digital infrastructure. Requires administrative effort for reporting and briefings until 2030.
- Citizens: Improves access to free or low-cost educational resources on African American history for students, teachers, and families, fostering greater public understanding and reducing educational gaps in diverse histories. Could influence school curricula, promoting inclusive teaching across disciplines.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though translation of materials and focus on the African diaspora may indirectly support U.S. cultural diplomacy with African and global communities by highlighting shared histories.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- NMAAHC and Smithsonian Staff: Gain funding and authority to lead education initiatives, including the Director's discretionary role in program design.
- Educators and Schools: Benefit from professional development, curricula resources, and partnerships with elementary, secondary, postsecondary institutions, and local education agencies (public school districts).
- Students and Families: Access improved, interactive learning tools on African American history, especially via online platforms.
- Minority Communities: African Americans and other underrepresented groups see amplified recognition of their histories and contributions.
- Congress and Policymakers: Involved in oversight through reports and briefings; the bill's bipartisan sponsorship (over 70 House members) indicates broad support.
- State and Local Education Leaders: Encouraged to integrate resources, potentially affecting curriculum standards.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens NMAAHC's mandate under existing Smithsonian statutes without conflicting with First Amendment (free speech) or education laws, as it focuses on voluntary resources rather than mandating school content. The sunset clause limits long-term commitments, providing fiscal flexibility.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I, Section 8) to fund cultural and educational programs, promoting equal protection (14th Amendment) by addressing historical underrepresentation in education without favoring any group coercively.
- Political: Neutralizes debates on history education by emphasizing "accurate" and "evidence-based" approaches, but the social justice/anti-bias lens may spark discussions on curriculum neutrality amid national conversations on teaching race and equity. The non-binding "sense of Congress" could pave the way for similar bills on other minority histories, signaling a push for inclusive federal cultural policy.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (97)
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] and 47 more
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-26: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
- 2026-02-26: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-26: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- African American History Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-26 — PDF (9 pages)