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H.R. 7740: African American History Act of 2026

This legislation, known as the African American History Act of 2026, aims to enhance education regarding African American history through various programs overseen by the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Here are the primary provisions and objectives of the bill:

Definitions

African American history refers to the history of African Americans, covering topics from the African diaspora to present-day contributions and impacts on American history.
African American history education program involves educational initiatives that relate to African American life, art, history, and culture. These programs may utilize digital and interactive technologies and are designed in collaboration with educational institutions at various levels.
Director refers to the Director of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Program Authorization

The bill authorizes the Director to conduct a range of activities funded by appropriations, including:

Developing educational resources—both digital and print—to promote understanding of African American history.
Facilitating public engagement and discourse on African American history, with a focus on social justice and anti-bias perspectives.
Providing technical support and content creation to reach diverse audiences both in-person and online.
Conducting scholarly work, including research and developing curricula.
Translating materials related to African American history for broader accessibility.
Improving collection acquisition processes, access, and digitization efforts at the museum.
Enhancing education programs specifically related to sound practices in teaching African American history.
Creating partnerships with local education authorities to promote curriculum inclusion of these resources.

Online Resources

The Director may also use funds to:

Create and maintain educational content on the museum's website, targeting educators, students, and families.
Disseminate information about the bill's funded activities via the museum's online platforms.

Annual Reporting

The Director is required to submit an annual report detailing:

How the appropriated funds have been used for educational initiatives.
Other activities conducted under this act.

Additionally, the Director or their representative must provide updates to Congress concerning ongoing efforts and outcomes related to the act.

Support for Broader Educational Initiatives

The bill expresses the sense of Congress that there should be recognition for the accurate education of minority histories in the U.S. It encourages leadership from the federal government in developing educational materials across various minority histories, including Native American and Hispanic histories.