National African American Museum Act

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 30, 1995

National African American Museum Act - Establishes within the Smithsonian Institution the National African American Museum to be operated as a center for scholarship and a location for museum training, public education, exhibits, and collection and study of items and materials relating to the life, art, history, and culture of African Americans. Authorizes the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to plan, design, reconstruct, and renovate the Arts and Industries Building to house the Museum. Establishes a Board of Trustees of the Museum in the Smithsonian Institution. Directs the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution to appoint a Director to manage the Museum.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Simon, Paul [D-IL] · D–IL

Committees

Rules and Administration Committee

19 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.

Mar 30, 1995
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules.
Mar 30, 1995
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4927)
Mar 30, 1995
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

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

Introduced in Senate · Mar 30, 1995 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

HR 786 · National African American Museum Act

Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.649 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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Discuss S.649, 104th Congress: National African American Museum Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/649

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-03-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s649/BILLS-104s649is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:15:58Z. 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 S.649 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 S.649 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.

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Discuss S.649, 104th Congress: National African American Museum Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/649

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-03-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s649/BILLS-104s649is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:15:58Z. 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 S.649 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 S.649 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 S.649, 104th Congress: National African American Museum Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/649

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-03-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s649/BILLS-104s649is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:15:58Z. 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 S.649 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 S.649 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 S.649, 104th Congress: National African American Museum Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/104th-congress/senate-bill/649

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1995-03-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/104/bills/s649/BILLS-104s649is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-08-21T20:15:58Z. 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 S.649 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.