Bill · H.R. 1568· House(119-HR-1568)
African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center Act
- Introduced
- 2/25/2025
- Last activity
- 2/25/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Daniel Goldman
- Cosponsors
- - 7 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill proposes to establish the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center in New York, New York. The museum would serve as a permanent living memorial to enslaved Africans and African Americans buried at the African Burial Ground National Historic Landmark. It aims to examine African cultural traditions and the institution of slavery. The Secretary of the Interior would oversee the development, which includes acquiring property and constructing the facility. An Advisory Council will be created to assist with the administration and preservation of the site. The act also authorizes various appropriations to fund the project and its operations.
Yes· 3 of 11
Would Black Americans be better off under this?+9
The museum serves as a permanent living memorial to the history and culture of enslaved Africans and African Americans.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+8
The bill honors the history of enslaved Africans and promotes understanding of African cultural traditions.
Would students be better off under this?+3
The museum provides educational opportunities and historical research spaces.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government owes?-1
The bill authorizes significant new federal spending and appropriations for the museum and site acquisition.
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-1
The bill increases government spending through new museum construction and operation costs.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Honoring History and Culture: The museum will serve as a permanent living memorial to the thousands of enslaved individuals buried at the site and examine the African cultural traditions they brought to the United States (Section 4(b)).
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Educational Opportunities: The facility is intended to help people understand the past and honor the history of all people in the United States through permanent and temporary exhibits (Section 2(5); Section 4(b)(4)).
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Economic Contribution: The creation of the memorial museum, in conjunction with nearby sites, is expected to attract millions of visitors, contributing to the development and revitalization of Lower Manhattan (Section 2(9)(B)).
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Research and Preservation: The museum will provide a space for the collection and study of artifacts and documents, including the use of DNA samples to help researchers trace the ancestral roots of individuals buried at the site (Section 2(8)(B); Section 4(b)(4)).
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Community and Institutional Collaboration: The act encourages collaboration between the museum and various entities, including historically Black colleges and universities and other educational institutions (Section 4(b)(5)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Federal Spending: The bill authorizes the Secretary to pay 2/3 of the total costs for acquiring property and for the planning, design, and construction of the museum (Section 5(b)).
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Appropriations Requirement: The bill authorizes $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, plus necessary sums for each fiscal year thereafter, as well as sums necessary for site acquisition (Section 9(a)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For African Americans+9Good For Students+3Good For Urban Residents+3Good For Business Owners+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+8
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+3
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Land Management+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+2Increases Job Creation+2Reduces Government Spending-1Reduces National Debt-1
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+2
- Healthcare
- Increases Research Funding+2
- 2/25/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
Adriano EspaillatDemocrat · New York
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
Jerrold NadlerDemocrat · New York
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Jamie RaskinDemocrat · Maryland
Nydia VelázquezDemocrat · New York