To direct the Architect of the Capitol to establish and display within the Capitol Visitor Center a suitable exhibit which depicts the Congressional careers, accomplishments, and contributions of the 22 African-American Members of Congress who served during the Reconstruction and Post-Reconstruction Eras, and a suitable exhibit which acknowledges the use of slave labor in the construction of the Capitol.

Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Jan 4, 2007

Requires the Architect of the Capitol to establish and display in a prominent location within the Capitol Visitor Center suitable exhibits which: (1) depict the congressional careers, accomplishments, and contributions of the 22 African-American Members of Congress who served during the Reconstruction and Post-Reconstruction Eras, including the two African-American Senators, beginning with Congressman Joseph H. Rainey of South Carolina (1870-1879) and ending with Congressman George H. White of North Carolina (1897-1901); and (2) acknowledge the use of slave labor in the construction of the U.S. Capitol.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1] · D–NC

Committees

Committee on House Administration

42 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Jan 4, 2007
Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
Jan 4, 2007
Introduced in House
Jan 4, 2007
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Jan 4, 2007 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Feb 7, 2024. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.47 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.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.47, 110th Congress: To direct the Architect of the Capitol to establish and display within the Capitol Visitor Center a suitable exhibit which depicts the Congressional careers, accomplishments, and contributions of the 22 African-American Members of Congress who served during the Reconstruction and Post-Reconstruction Eras, and a suitable exhibit which acknowledges the use of slave labor in the construction of the Capitol.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/47

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2007-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hr47/BILLS-110hr47ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T11:40:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.47 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.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.47 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.47, 110th Congress: To direct the Architect of the Capitol to establish and display within the Capitol Visitor Center a suitable exhibit which depicts the Congressional careers, accomplishments, and contributions of the 22 African-American Members of Congress who served during the Reconstruction and Post-Reconstruction Eras, and a suitable exhibit which acknowledges the use of slave labor in the construction of the Capitol.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/47

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2007-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hr47/BILLS-110hr47ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T11:40:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.47 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.47 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.47, 110th Congress: To direct the Architect of the Capitol to establish and display within the Capitol Visitor Center a suitable exhibit which depicts the Congressional careers, accomplishments, and contributions of the 22 African-American Members of Congress who served during the Reconstruction and Post-Reconstruction Eras, and a suitable exhibit which acknowledges the use of slave labor in the construction of the Capitol.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/47

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2007-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hr47/BILLS-110hr47ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T11:40:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.47 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.47 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.47, 110th Congress: To direct the Architect of the Capitol to establish and display within the Capitol Visitor Center a suitable exhibit which depicts the Congressional careers, accomplishments, and contributions of the 22 African-American Members of Congress who served during the Reconstruction and Post-Reconstruction Eras, and a suitable exhibit which acknowledges the use of slave labor in the construction of the Capitol.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/110th-congress/house-bill/47

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2007-01-04.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/110/bills/hr47/BILLS-110hr47ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2024-02-07T11:40:23Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.47 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.