H.R. 10812
Armenian American Cultural Heritage Act
Sponsor: Mike Carey · 0 cosponsors
In plain English: what this bill does
Short summary: this bill directs the Library of Congress to catalog and digitize its materials about Armenian Americans and their history in the United States, and to hold an exhibition about them by the end of 2026. It also lets the Library include these materials in its educational programs and accept outside donations to pay for the work, subject to available funds.
Who this affects
- Librarian of Congress: must list the Library's Armenian American materials in its catalog, digitize them where funds and copyright law allow, and report to Congress within one year.
- Director of the African and Middle East Division: must help digitize the Armenian American materials.
- Students and teachers: the Library must include these materials in its educational curricula under an existing 2005 law.
- Public: the Library must host an exhibition of these materials by the end of 2026, and an exhibition already held in 2026 before the bill passes can count.
Words to know
- Digitized: converted into electronic copies that can be viewed on a computer.
- Primary source: an original document or object from the time being studied, such as a letter or photograph.
- Appropriated: set aside by Congress as government money for a specific purpose.
- Semiquincentennial: a 250th anniversary, here the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.
For example
Made-up situation: A high school history teacher wants to show students a letter written by an Armenian immigrant family in 1920. Under this bill, the Library would list that letter in its catalog, digitize it if copyright law allows, and include it in the educational materials the Library provides, so the teacher could use it in class.
Written by AI from the bill's text below; it can be wrong. How it's written
Official summary
No official summary yet.
Text of the bill
(a) Catalog of holdings. The Librarian of Congress shall maintain information in the catalog of the Library of Congress that identifies and enumerates the materials in the collections of the Library of Congress related to Armenian Americans, for the purpose of collecting and preserving, and providing access to, the distinctive stories and heritage of Armenian Americans, their journeys into the United States, particularly in the subsequent period after the events of the Armenian Genocide, and their lives in the United States.
(b) Digitization of holdings. In carrying out subsection (a), and subject to the availability of funds and applicable copyright law, the Librarian of Congress and the Director of the African and Middle East Division shall make digitized copies, versions, or reproductions of such materials identified in the catalog described in the subsection.
(c) Inclusion in educational curricula. The Librarian of Congress shall include primary source materials referred to in subsection (a) or the digitized copies, versions, or reproductions of such materials in carrying out the Library of Congress Digital Collections and Educational Curricula Act of 2005 (2 U.S.C. 184).
(d) Report on activities. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Librarian of Congress shall submit to the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate a report describing the activities of the Library of Congress pursuant to this Act.
(e) Encouragement of contributions. The Librarian of Congress may solicit, accept, and use funds for carrying out this Act in accordance with section 4 of the Act entitled An Act to create a Library of Congress Trust Fund Board, and for other purposes, approved March 3, 1925 (2 U.S.C. 160).
(f) Availability of funds. The Librarian of Congress shall carry out this Act subject to the availability of funds.
(g) Authorization of appropriations. There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.