United States · Law · HR
H.R. 1242 (115th)
400 Years of African-American History Commission Act
Introduced
28 February 2017
Last action
8 January 2018 · President
Status
Became Public Law No: 115-102.
Sponsors
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3], Rep. Taylor, Scott [R-VA-2], Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4], Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Comstock, Barbara [R-VA-10], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA-2], Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1], Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10], Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1], Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12], Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5], Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9], Rep. Delaney, John K. [D-MD-6], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18], Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4], Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12], Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14], Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9], Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6], Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
Subjects
Discovery layer
Source updated
15 January 2026
Summary
400 Years of African-American History Commission Act 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. 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. 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. 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. The commission shall terminate on July 1, 2020.
This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.
Timeline
28 February 2017
Introduced
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Source: IntroReferral
28 February 2017
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
28 February 2017
Introduced
Introduced in House
Source: IntroReferral
28 March 2017
Reported
Ordered to be Reported by Voice Vote.
Source: Committee
28 March 2017
Committee
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Source: Committee
1 May 2017
Floor
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2985-2987)
Source: Floor
1 May 2017
Passed
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Source: Floor
1 May 2017
Passed
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H2985-2986)
Source: Floor
1 May 2017
Passed
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H2985-2986)
Source: Floor
1 May 2017
Floor
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1242.
Source: Floor
1 May 2017
Floor
Mr. Comer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Source: Floor
1 May 2017
Calendars
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 62.
Source: Calendars
1 May 2017
Reported
Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-105.
Source: Committee
1 May 2017
Reported
Reported by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-105.
Source: Committee
2 May 2017
Introduced
Received in the Senate, read twice.
Source: IntroReferral
21 December 2017
Passed
Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S8267-8269)
Source: Floor
21 December 2017
Passed
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Voice Vote.(consideration: CR S8267-8269)
Source: Floor
22 December 2017
Floor
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Source: Floor
27 December 2017
Floor
Presented to President.
Source: Floor
27 December 2017
President
Presented to President.
Source: President
8 January 2018
Became law
Became Public Law No: 115-102.
Source: President
8 January 2018
Became law
Signed by President.
Source: BecameLaw
8 January 2018
President
Signed by President.
Source: President
Votes
No vote records are attached yet.
Versions
- Enrolled Bill · — · Download file
- Public Law · 8 January 2018 · Download file
- Received in Senate · 2 May 2017 · Download file
- Reported in House · 1 May 2017 · Download file
- Engrossed in House · 1 May 2017 · Download file
- Introduced in House · 28 February 2017 · Download file
Documents
16 official files
Enrolled Bill (text)
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Enrolled Bill (text)
Enrolled Bill · EN
Enrolled Bill (PDF)
Enrolled Bill · EN
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Public Law (text)
Public Law · EN · 8 January 2018
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Public Law (PDF)
Public Law · EN · 8 January 2018
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Public Law
summary · EN · 8 January 2018
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Passed Senate without amendment
summary · EN · 21 December 2017
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Received in Senate (text)
Received in Senate · EN · 2 May 2017
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Received in Senate (PDF)
Received in Senate · EN · 2 May 2017
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Engrossed in House (text)
Engrossed in House · EN · 1 May 2017
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Engrossed in House (PDF)
Engrossed in House · EN · 1 May 2017
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Reported in House (text)
Reported in House · EN · 1 May 2017
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Reported in House (PDF)
Reported in House · EN · 1 May 2017
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Passed House amended
summary · EN · 1 May 2017
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Introduced in House (text)
Introduced in House · EN · 28 February 2017
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Introduced in House (PDF)
Introduced in House · EN · 28 February 2017
ViewDownloadOpen at official source
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Introduced in House
summary · EN · 28 February 2017
Leesvertaling
Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.
Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.
Sponsors
- Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Taylor, Scott [R-VA-2] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Comstock, Barbara [R-VA-10] · R · Sponsor
- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA-2] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Cummings, Elijah E. [D-MD-7] · D · Sponsor
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Ellison, Keith [D-MN-5] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Delaney, John K. [D-MD-6] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] · D · Sponsor
- Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Slaughter, Louise McIntosh [D-NY-25] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Griffith, H. Morgan [R-VA-9] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Goodlatte, Bob [R-VA-6] · R · Cosponsor
- Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4] · D · Cosponsor
- Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14] · D · Cosponsor
Showing 48 of 55 sponsors and actors.
Related records
- related to → 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act
- related to ← Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017
- related to ← 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act
Related across the Repo ecosystem
Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.
Direct relationships
- Legal framework · 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act · H.R. 1242 (115th) · US
- Identifier matchPROJECTS_FROM
Same us record 115-hr-1242 projected from PoliticalRepo US row.
Sources
PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.
- Official source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1242
- Open data entity: https://api.congress.gov/v3/bill/115/hr/1242
- us · 115-hr-1242 · source updated 15 January 2026