National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2026

Summary

This bill would establish a National Council on African American History and Culture within the National Endowment for the Humanities. The key provisions of the bill include:

Establishment and Membership

• The Council would be composed of 12 members appointed by the President with Senate confirmation.
• Members must be recognized experts or have a strong commitment to preserving and celebrating African American history and culture.
• The Council must have balanced representation from both Democratic and Republican parties.
• The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson would be designated by the President and must be from different political parties.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Prepare annual reports on the National Endowment for the Humanities' work to preserve and celebrate African American history and culture.
• Monitor developments and trends in African American history and culture, and make policy recommendations.
• Evaluate the Endowment's programs and activities and make recommendations for improvement.
• Develop and recommend national policies to foster understanding, preservation, and celebration of African American history and culture.
• Conduct studies and provide advice and recommendations as requested by the Endowment Chairperson.

Compensation and Operations

• Members would receive compensation at 50% of the highest federal senior-level pay rate for each day engaged in Council duties.
• Members would also receive travel expenses.
• A quorum of 9 members is required for the Council to hold hearings.
• The Council must meet at least twice per year.

Impact

The bill aims to elevate the role of the federal government in preserving and celebrating African American history and culture by establishing a dedicated Council within the National Endowment for the Humanities. This could lead to increased funding, programming, and policy focus in this area. The balanced partisan representation on the Council is intended to promote bipartisan support and coordination on these issues.