PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 612.
Congressional Research Service
Version 80 · Reported to Senate without amendment · Sep 6, 2016
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on July 5, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
400 Years of African-American History Commission Act
(Sec. 3) This bill establishes the 400 Years of African-American History Commission to develop and carry out activities throughout the United States to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
The commission must:
plan programs to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States;
encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational, artistic, religious, and economic organizations to organize and participate in anniversary activities;
assist states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration; and
coordinate for the public scholarly research on the arrival of Africans in the United States and their contributions to this country.
(Sec. 5) The commission may provide: (1) grants to communities and nonprofit organizations for the development of programs; (2) grants to research and scholarly organizations to research, publish, or distribute information relating to the arrival of Africans in the United States; and (3) technical assistance to states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration.
(Sec. 7) The commission must prepare a strategic plan and submit a final report to Congress that contains a summary of its activities, an accounting of funds it received and expended, and its recommendations.
(Sec. 8) The commission shall terminate on July 1, 2020.
People & committees
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] · D–VA
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 612.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 114-341.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 114-341.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4260-4262)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H4260-4262)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 4539.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H4260-4263)
Mr. Chaffetz moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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Analyze H.R.4539 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
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