National Training Center for Afro-American Museum Professionals Act

National Training Center for Afro-American Museum Professionals Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the National Park Service, to: (1) provide for the operation and maintenance of, and technical assistance for, the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center (the Museum), in Wilberforce, Ohio; and (2) construct a National Training Center at the Museum to prepare professionals for our Nation's museums. Authorizes appropriations for such purposes.

Directs the Secretary of Education, acting through the Museum, to: (1) contract with a consortium of institutions of higher education to implement a program of Afro-American professional museum studies at such National Training Center of the Museum; and (2) provide scholarships and loans for students in those studies. Authorizes appropriations.

Terminates the National Afro-American History and Culture Commission (established by the National Center for the Study of Afro-American History and Culture Act) 30 days after the enactment of this Act.

Provides that ultimate governance of the Museum shall rest with a Board of Governors established by the Congress in consultation with the State of Ohio.

 
HR 1960 IH
102d CONGRESS
1st Session
 H. R. 1960
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to construct a National Training
Center at the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 18, 1991
Mr. STOKES introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the
Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs and Education and Labor
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of the Interior to construct a National Training
Center at the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center and for
other purposes.
  Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
  States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  This Act may be cited as the `National Training Center for Afro-American
  Museum Professionals Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  The Congress makes the following findings:
  (1) By a law enacted in 1980, the National Afro-American History and
  Culture Commission was established to develop plans for the construction
  and operation of the National Center for the Study of Afro-American History
  and Culture (now known as the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural
  Center and hereinafter referred to as the `Museum').
  (2) The Museum was constructed at Wilberforce, Ohio, and opened to the
  public in April 1988.
  (3) It was the intent of Congress, and the understanding of the State of
  Ohio, that the Federal Government would assist the State by providing funds
  for construction and development of the Museum, yet this partnership was
  not clarified in the original legislation.
  (4) The State of Ohio has assumed almost exclusive financial responsibility
  for the Museum thus far.
  (5) There is a gross underrepresentation of Afro-American museum
  professionals in our Nation's museums, which results in the failure to
  preserve important pieces of Afro-American historical and cultural artifacts.
  (6) The State of Ohio has gone as far as it can without tangible Federal
  assistance, and needs Federal funds for construction of a center at the
  Museum to be used to train Afro-American museum professionals for our
  Nation's museums.
  (7) If the charge of the original legislation is to be met, it is the
  responsibility of the Federal Government to authorize and appropriate
  funds for construction and maintenance of the National Training Center at
  the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center at Wilberforce, Ohio.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER AND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE.
  (a) CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE- The Secretary of the
  Interior, acting through the National Park Service, shall--
  (1) construct a National Training Center at the National Afro-American
  Museum and Cultural Center which will prepare professionals for our Nation's
  museums, and
  (2) provide for the operation and maintenance of the National Afro-American
  Museum and Cultural Center and provide for technical assistance to the
  Museum.
  (b) AUTHORIZATION- There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
  of Interior such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to carry out
  subsection (a).
SEC. 4. AFRO-AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL MUSEUM STUDIES.
  (a) STUDIES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE- The Secretary of Education, acting
  through the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, shall--
  (1) contract with a consortium of institutions of higher education to
  implement a program of Afro-American professional museum studies at the
  National Training Center of the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural
  Center, and
  (2) provide scholarships and loans for students in the studies established
  under paragraph (1).
  (b) AUTHORIZATION- There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
  of Education such sums as may be necessary for the Secretary to carry out
  subsection (a).
SEC. 5. COMMISSION TERMINATION.
  The National Afro-American History and Culture Commission established by
  the National Center for the Study of Afro-American History and Culture Act
  (20 U.S.C. 3701) shall terminate 30 days after the date of the enactment
  of this Act.
SEC. 6. GOVERNANCE OF MUSEUM.
  Ultimate governance of the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural
  Center shall rest with a Board of Governors established by Congress in
  consultation with the State of Ohio.