# What This Bill Does

This bill creates a new advisory council focused on African American history and culture within the National Endowment for the Humanities, a federal agency that funds cultural and educational projects. Think of it as establishing a specialized committee of experts whose job is to make sure the government is doing enough to preserve and celebrate African American contributions to American society.

The council will have 12 members appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. These members need to be recognized experts or scholars in African American history and culture—people who've made their mark through distinguished work in this field. The bill specifically asks the President to consider diversity when making these appointments, including women, people of color, and people with disabilities. Members will serve five-year terms and receive modest compensation when they're actively working on council business, plus travel expenses.

The council's main responsibilities are to keep tabs on what the National Endowment for the Humanities is doing to support African American history and culture, gather information about trends and developments in this area, and make recommendations to improve federal efforts. They'll prepare annual reports and advise the government on whether current programs are working well or if new policies are needed. Essentially, they're a watchdog and advisory group rolled into one, making sure African American history and culture get appropriate attention and resources from the federal government.

The council will meet at least twice a year and will exist for ten years from when the bill becomes law. After that, it automatically ends unless Congress decides to extend it.

National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2022

National Council on African American History and Culture Act of 2022 This bill establishes a National Council on African American History and Culture in the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The duties of the council shall include <ul> <li> gathering timely and authoritative information concerning historical developments and cultural trends in African-American history and culture; </li> <li> evaluating the various programs and activities of the NEH to determine the extent to which such programs and activities are contributing, or not contributing, to the successful preservation and celebration of African-American history and culture; and </li> <li>developing and recommending to the NEH national policies to foster and promote the understanding of African-American history, the preservation of African-American culture, and the celebration of African Americans as contributors to the country's economic, cultural, and political success.</li> </ul>