National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 3890
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Arts, Culture, Religion
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-27T17:23:08Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to create a temporary advisory body within the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) to promote, preserve, and celebrate African American history and culture. It seeks to ensure federal support for these efforts through expert guidance, reporting, and policy recommendations.
Key Provisions
- Establishment: Creates the National Council on African American History and Culture (the "Council") as an independent advisory group housed within the NEH.
- Membership:
- Composed of 12 private citizens appointed by the President with Senate confirmation.
- Members must have recognized expertise in African American history and culture, no current federal employment, and a record of distinguished service, scholarship, or creativity.
- Appointments prioritize balanced representation, including women, people of color, individuals with disabilities, scholars, practitioners, and the public; exactly 6 members from each major political party (Democratic and Republican).
- President designates a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson from members (must be from different parties); Vice acts in Chairperson's absence.
- Terms: Generally 5 years, with initial appointments staggered (6 for 3 years, 6 for 5 years, balanced by party); vacancies filled for remainder of term; no reappointment for 2 years after term ends; members can serve until successor is appointed.
- Compensation: Members receive pay at 50% of the top senior-level federal rate (above GS-15, a high-level civil service grade) for days worked, plus travel and subsistence expenses.
- Operations: Requires 9 members for a quorum; meetings at least twice yearly, called by Chairperson; no hearings without full quorum.
- Duties:
- Submit an annual report to the NEH Chairperson on efforts to preserve and celebrate African American history and culture.
- Collect and analyze information on historical and cultural trends, monitor relevant museums and organizations, and assess if national policies are needed.
- Evaluate NEH programs for their effectiveness in this area and recommend improvements to the President.
- Develop policies to enhance understanding, preservation, and recognition of African American contributions to U.S. economic, cultural, and political life.
- Provide studies and recommendations as requested by the NEH Chairperson.
- Administrative Details:
- Exempt from automatic termination rules for federal advisory committees under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA, a law governing such groups).
- The Council automatically dissolves 10 years after enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a new, dedicated advisory council within the NEH, which previously lacked a specific body focused solely on African American history and culture.
- Modifies advisory committee rules by exempting the Council from FACA's sunset provision (automatic expiration after 2 years), allowing it to operate for a fixed 10-year term.
- Mandates bipartisan balance (equal Democratic and Republican members) and diverse representation, which is not a standard requirement for all NEH advisory groups.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The NEH will receive structured oversight and recommendations, potentially leading to more targeted funding and programs for African American cultural preservation; increases administrative workload for appointments and reporting.
- Citizens: Enhances public access to and education on African American history through improved federal initiatives, benefiting communities, educators, and cultural enthusiasts; no direct costs to individuals.
- International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it could indirectly strengthen U.S. cultural diplomacy by highlighting diverse historical narratives.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- African American Communities and Cultural Organizations: Primary beneficiaries through increased preservation efforts and recognition of contributions.
- Historians, Scholars, and Museums: Gain opportunities for involvement, funding influence, and policy input.
- National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): Directly tasked with integrating Council advice into operations.
- President and Senate: Responsible for appointments, ensuring political and demographic balance.
- General Public: Indirectly affected via broader cultural education and national policy on heritage preservation.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces the NEH's role under the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 by adding specialized advisory functions; the 10-year sunset clause provides a trial period without permanent expansion of federal bureaucracy.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power (Article I) to promote general welfare through cultural programs; Senate confirmation upholds advice-and-consent role (Article II).
- Political: Bipartisan membership requirement promotes cross-party collaboration but could lead to partisan disputes in appointments; emphasis on diversity reflects ongoing efforts to address historical inequities, potentially sparking debates on representation in federal advisory roles.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]
Cosponsors (5)
Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-12: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-02-12: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-12 — PDF (7 pages)