Bill Overview
Title: National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2022
Description: This bill establishes within the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) a National Council on African American History and Culture. The council shall prepare an annual report to be submitted to NEH on the work of NEH to preserve and celebrate African-American history and culture; gather timely and authoritative information concerning historical developments and cultural trends in African-American history and culture and take other specified steps; evaluate the various programs and activities of NEH to determine the extent to which such programs and activities are contributing to the successful preservation and celebration of African-American history and culture and make recommendations to the President; develop and recommend national policies to foster and promote the understanding and preservation of African-American culture and the celebration of African Americans as contributors to the country's success; and make and furnish such studies, reports thereon, and recommendations with respect to matters of cultural preservation and African-American history. The bill terminates the council 10 years after its enactment.
Sponsors: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]
Target Audience
Population: Scholars and educators in African American history and culture
Estimated Size: 47051638
- African Americans comprise approximately 13% of the US population, based on recent census data.
- New programs and initiatives to preserve and celebrate African-American history and culture could indirectly affect the general US public by enhancing cultural awareness and education.
- The council will operate within the National Endowment for the Humanities, which primarily impacts US citizens.
- Approximately 330 million people live in the US, and cultural initiatives like this could influence a large portion of them in terms of exposure to African American culture and history.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily impacts scholars, educators, and cultural institutions directly involved with African American history and culture. However, the wider public can also experience indirect benefits through enhanced cultural awareness.
- Given that African Americans make up about 13% of the US population, the policy has a specific target demographic but also holds potential for broader national influence.
- The budget constraints mean that the initiatives must be carefully managed to make significant cultural and educational impacts without exceeding financial limitations.
Simulated Interviews
Professor of African American Studies (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The establishment of the council would provide a much-needed boost to resources and visibility for our field.
- I expect increased funding opportunities for research and community projects.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Director of an African American cultural museum (Atlanta, Georgia)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The council would elevate public engagement with African American cultural institutions.
- We might receive grants to develop new exhibits and educational programs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
High School History Teacher (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Access to new resources and frameworks would enrich my teaching.
- This could lead to better educational outcomes for my students.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Retired African American history professor (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The council's work would likely offer new insights and materials for continued study and discussion.
- Would appreciate the focus on preserving oral histories and narratives.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
African American culture blogger (New York, New York)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The council could offer content opportunities for my blog with increased cultural events and developments.
- Readers would benefit from more comprehensive dialogues around African American culture.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
College student studying Political Science (Miami, Florida)
Age: 25 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could create more internship and learning opportunities that align with my career goals.
- The preservation of culture is personally meaningful to me and my peers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Public school superintendent (Houston, Texas)
Age: 49 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The council's work can provide a richer curriculum for our schools, enhancing student engagement and knowledge.
- Promoting cultural awareness in schools is crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Tech startup founder (Baltimore, Maryland)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Could partner with educational bodies influenced by the council to incorporate new historical content into apps.
- Business opportunities in educational sectors may increase.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Civil rights activist (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy's success in preserving history could empower communities and remind people of our strength and contributions.
- Increased archival and cultural documentation would be valuable.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Marketing intern at a non-profit organization (San Francisco, California)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The council's initiatives may provide marketing and collaboration opportunities for non-profits addressing cultural issues.
- I see it as an opportunity to learn more about African American culture.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 2: $5000000 (Low: $4000000, High: $6000000)
Year 3: $5200000 (Low: $4200000, High: $6200000)
Year 5: $5500000 (Low: $4500000, High: $6500000)
Year 10: $6000000 (Low: $4800000, High: $7200000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The council is set to be terminated after 10 years, limiting its financial impact over the long term.
- Integration with existing NEH structures may mitigate some additional costs, but initial establishment costs are expected.
- Potential non-monetary benefits include enhanced cultural awareness and educational impacts, primarily among African American communities but also across the broader U.S. population.