Bill · S. 728· Senate(119-S-728)
African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center Act
- Introduced
- 2/25/2025
- Last activity
- 2/25/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Sponsored by
- Kirsten Gillibrand
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill establishes the African Burial Ground International Memorial Museum and Educational Center in New York, New York. The museum is intended to serve as a permanent living memorial to enslaved individuals buried at the African Burial Ground. It aims to examine African cultural traditions and the institution of slavery through various exhibits and studies. The Secretary of the Interior will oversee the site, which includes acquiring property adjacent to the National Monument. A specialized Advisory Council will be created to provide guidance on the museum's development and operation. The act also provides for the appropriation of funds to support these goals.
Yes· 3 of 10
Would Black Americans be better off under this?+9
The bill creates a permanent memorial and educational center dedicated to the history and legacy of enslaved Africans and African Americans.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+8
The bill establishes a memorial and educational center to honor the history and culture of enslaved Africans and African Americans.
Does this put more money into scientific research?+5
The museum will facilitate research using DNA samples from preserved human remains to trace ancestral roots.
The opposite
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?-1
The bill authorizes significant new federal spending for the acquisition and construction of the museum.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Historical Education and Honoring History: The museum is designed to help people in the United States understand the past and honor the history of all people in the United States by exploring the institution of slavery and African cultural traditions (Section 2, Paragraph 5; Section 4, Paragraph b).
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Economic Revitalization: A memorial museum at the site, alongside the World Trade Center memorial, is expected to attract millions of visitors, which would contribute to the development and revitalization of Lower Manhattan (Section 2, Paragraph 9).
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Scientific Research: The site includes DNA samples from preserved human remains that will allow researchers to trace the ancestral roots of individuals buried there back to Africa (Section 2, Paragraph 8).
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Community and Educational Collaboration: The museum aims to encourage collaboration with various entities, including historically Black colleges and universities, historical societies, and educational institutions (Section 4, Paragraph b, Part 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, designing, constructing, and renovating of the museum (Section 5, Paragraph b).
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Large Scale Appropriations: The bill authorizes $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2025, as well as such sums as are necessary for each fiscal year thereafter, for the purpose of carrying out the Act (Section 9, Paragraph 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 Urban Residents+4Good For Business Owners+3Good For Low Income Households+1Good For Middle Class Households+1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+8
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+5Improves College Affordability+1
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Government Spending-1
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Public Transit+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+1
- 4/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/25/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Charles SchumerDemocrat · New York