PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.

A bill to amend the American Folklife Preservation Act to permanently authorize the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Apr 23, 1998

Amends the American Folklife Preservation Act to add the following individuals to the Board of Trustees of the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress: (1) four members appointed by the Librarian of Congress from among individuals widely recognized by virtue of their scholarship, experience, creativity, or interest in American folklife traditions and arts; (2) the President of the American Folklore Society; and (3) the President of the Society for Ethnomusicology. Requires the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to give due consideration to the appointment of individuals who will provide diversity on the Board. Revises provisions regarding reimbursement of travel expenses. Requires Board members to serve without pay and authorizes members who are not regular full-time Federal employees, at the Librarian's discretion, to be reimbursed for actual and necessary traveling and subsistence expenses incurred in the performance of Board duties. (Currently, such members are entitled to receive compensation at rates fixed by the Librarian of up to $100 per diem while serving on business and allowed travel expenses.) Requires the Board to meet at least once each fiscal year. Fixes the annual pay of the Center Director at a minimum of 120 percent of the minimum rate of pay for GS-15 of the General Schedule or a maximum of the pay under level IV of the Executive Schedule. (Currently, the Director's pay is not to exceed the annual rate for GS-18.) Eliminates the position of Deputy Director of the Center. Makes permanent the authorization of appropriations for the Center. Establishes a six-year term for Board members appointed by the Librarian under this Act, with exceptions.

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.

Who introduced it

Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS] · R–MS

Committees

  • Rules and Administration Committee
3 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

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

  1. Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

  2. Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3535)

  3. Introduced in Senate

Bill text & related measures

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

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: Jan 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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 S.1971 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
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.1971 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
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.1971 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
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.1971 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