PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 81.
Congressional Research Service
Version 80 · Reported to Senate without amendment · May 16, 2017
(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)
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 its received and expended funds, and its recommendations.
(Sec. 9) The commission shall terminate on July 1, 2020.
People & committees
Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] · D–VA
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 81.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-63.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Reported by Senator Murkowski without amendment. With written report No. 115-63.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S1219)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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