January 6th Oral History Project Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6952 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6952

 To direct the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to 
 establish an oral history program to collect certain video and audio 
recordings of personal histories and testimonials and written materials 
  with respect to individuals who were affected by the events at the 
   United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 6, 2026

  Mrs. Torres of California (for herself, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Ms. 
 Friedman, and Mrs. Fletcher) introduced the following bill; which was 
           referred to the Committee on House Administration

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                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to 
 establish an oral history program to collect certain video and audio 
recordings of personal histories and testimonials and written materials 
  with respect to individuals who were affected by the events at the 
   United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, 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 ``January 6th Oral History Project 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM AT AMERICAN FOLKLIFE CENTER TO COLLECT 
              VIDEO AND AUDIO RECORDINGS OF HISTORIES OF THE 
              INSURRECTION ATTEMPT OF JANUARY 6TH 2021.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the American Folklife Center at 
the Library of Congress shall establish an oral history program to--
            (1) collect video and audio recordings of personal 
        histories and testimonials of individuals who were present at 
        or affected by the events at the United States Capitol on 
        January 6, 2021, including but not limited to Members of 
        Congress, congressional staff, Capitol Police officers, other 
        law enforcement personnel, journalists, and other witnesses;
            (2) create a collection of the recordings obtained 
        (including a catalog and index) which will be available for 
        public use through the National Digital Library of the Library 
        of Congress and such other methods as the Director considers 
        appropriate to the extent feasible subject to available 
        resources; and
            (3) solicit, reproduce, and collect written materials (such 
        as contemporaneous notes, text messages, emails, social media 
        posts, photographs, and other documentation) relevant to the 
        personal histories of individuals who experienced or witnessed 
        the events of January 6, 2021, and to catalog such materials in 
        a manner the Director considers appropriate, consistent with 
        and complementary to the efforts described in paragraphs (1) 
        and (2).
    (b) Use of and Consultation With Other Entities.--The Director may 
carry out the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (3) of 
subsection (a) through agreements and partnerships entered into with 
other government and private entities, and may otherwise consult with 
interested persons (within the limits of available resources) and 
develop appropriate guidelines and arrangements for soliciting, 
acquiring, and making available recordings under the program under this 
Act.
    (c) Timing.--As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Director shall begin collecting video and audio 
recordings under subsection (a)(1) and shall prioritize the collection 
of testimonials from individuals whose accounts may be most at risk of 
being lost to time or whose perspectives are essential to understanding 
the full scope of the January 6, 2021, events.

SEC. 3. PRIVATE SUPPORT.

    (a) Acceptance of Donations.--The Librarian of Congress may solicit 
and accept donations of funds and in-kind contributions to carry out 
the January 6th oral history program under section 2.
    (b) Establishment of Separate Gift Account.--There is established 
in the Treasury (among the accounts of the Library of Congress) a gift 
account for the January 6th oral history program under section 2.
    (c) Dedication of Funds.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law--
            (1) any funds donated to the Librarian of Congress to carry 
        out the January 6th oral history program under section 2 shall 
        be deposited entirely into the gift account established under 
        subsection (b);
            (2) the funds contained in such account shall be used 
        solely to carry out the January 6th oral history program under 
        section 2; and
            (3) the Librarian of Congress may not deposit into such 
        account any funds donated to the Librarian which are not 
        donated for the exclusive purpose of carrying out the January 
        6th oral history program under section 2.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
            (1) $500,000 for fiscal year 2027; and
            (2) such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding 
        fiscal year.
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