,,iv  #aad? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,h4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #afj  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se  
,,( ,,repres5tatives  ,septemb] #bb1    
#bjaf,mr4 ,lewis 7= himself1 ,ms4       
,adams1 ,ms4 ,bass1 ,mrs4 ,beatty1 ,mr4 
,bec]ra1 ,mr4 ,bi%op ( ,georgia1 ,mr4   
,blum5au]1 ,mr4 ,br5dan ,f4 ,boyle (    
,p5nsylvania1 ,ms4 ,bonamici1 ,mr4      
,brady ( ,p5nsylvania1 ,ms4 ,br[n (     
,florida1 ,mr4 ,butt]field1 ,mr4        
,capuano1 ,mr4 ,crd5as1 ,mr4 ,c>son (   
,indiana1 ,mr4 ,c>t] ( ,georgia1 ,mr4   
,c>twright1 ,ms4 ,ca/or ( ,florida1 ,ms4
 ,judy ,*u ( ,cali=nia1 ,ms4 ,cl>k (    
,massa*usetts1 ,ms4 ,cl>ke ( ,new ,york1
 ,mr4 ,clay1 ,mr4 ,cleav]1 ,mr4         
,clyburn1 ,mr4 ,coh51 ,mr4 ,coll9s (    
,georgia1 ,mr4 ,cony]s1 ,mr4 ,c\rtney1  
,mr4 ,cr[ley1 ,mr4 ,cumm+s1 ,mr4 ,danny 
,k4 ,davis ( ,ill9ois1 ,mrs4 ,davis (   
,cali=nia1 ,mr4 ,delaney1 ,mr4 ,deut*1  
,mrs4 ,d+ell1 ,ms4 ,duckwor?1 ,ms4      
,edw>ds1 ,mr4 ,engel1 ,mr4 ,fo/]1 ,ms4  
,fudge1 ,ms4 ,gabb>d1 ,mr4 ,g>am5di1    
,mr4 ,al ,gre5 ( ,texas1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1

 ,mr4 ,gutirrez1 ,ms4 ,hahn1 ,mr4       
,ha/+s1 ,mr4 ,heck ( ,wa%+ton1 ,mr4     
,himes1 ,mr4 ,honda1 ,mr4 ,hoy]1 ,mr4   
,israel1 ,ms4 ,jackson ,lee1 ,mr4       
,jeffries1 ,ms4 ,eddie ,b]nice ,johnson 
( ,texas1 ,mr4 ,johnson ( ,georgia1 ,ms4
 ,kaptur1 ,mr4 ,keat+1 ,ms4 ,kelly (    
,ill9ois1 ,mr4 ,kildee1 ,mrs4           
,kirkpatrick1 ,mr4 ,langev91 ,mrs4      
,lawr5ce1 ,mr4 ,l>s5 ( ,wa%+ton1 ,mr4   
,l>son ( ,connecticut1 ,ms4 ,lee1 ,mr4  
,loebsack1 ,mr4 ,l[5?al1 ,mr4 ,b5 ,ray  
,lujn ( ,new ,mexico1 ,mrs4 ,c>olyn ,b4 
,maloney ( ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,sean       
,patrick ,maloney ( ,new ,york1 ,ms4    
,matsui1 ,ms4 ,mc,collum1 ,mr4          
,mc,govern1 ,mr4 ,mc,nerney1 ,mr4       
,m\lton1 ,mr4 ,neal1 ,mr4 ,meeks1 ,ms4  
,moore1 ,mr4 ,murphy ( ,florida1 ,mr4   
,nadl]1 ,mr4 ,norcross1 ,ms4 ,norton1   
,mr4 ,pascrell1 ,mr4 ,payne1 ,ms4       
,pelosi1 ,mr4 ,pet]s1 ,ms4 ,plaskett1   
,mr4 ,pocan1 ,mr4 ,quigley1 ,mr4        
,rangel1 ,mr4 ,ri*mond1 ,mr4 ,ryan (    
,ohio1 ,ms4 ,l9da ,t4 ,sn*ez (          

,cali=nia1 ,ms4 ,s*ak[sky1 ,mr4 ,s*rad]1
 ,mr4 ,david ,scott ( ,georgia1 ,mr4    
,scott ( ,virg9ia1 ,mr4 ,s]rano1 ,ms4   
,sewell ( ,alabama1 ,ms4 ,s9ema1 ,ms4   
,slaught]1 ,mr4 ,smi? ( ,wa%+ton1 ,mr4  
,swalwell ( ,cali=nia1 ,mr4 ,?ompson (  
,cali=nia1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,mr4 ,tonko1    
,mrs4 ,torres1 ,mr4 ,van ,holl51 ,mr4   
,v>gas1 ,mr4 ,veasey1 ,ms4 ,wass]man    
,s*ultz1 ,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman1 ,ms4   
,wilson ( ,florida1 & ,mr4 ,y>mu?7      
submitt$ ! foll[+ concurr5t resolution2 
:i* 0 ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,h\se   
,adm9i/ration  ,,concurr5t ,,resolution 
,recogniz+ ! op5+ ( ! ,smi?sonian's     
,national ,museum ( ,african ,am]ican   
,hi/ory & ,culture1 ! only national     
museum d$icat$ to docum5t+ ,african     
,am]ican life1 hi/ory1 & culture4       
,:]eas ! public & congressional ef=ts to
 build a public1 national tribute to    
,african ,am]icans began ov] #ajj ye>s  
ago2 ,:]eas x took bip>tisan & bicam]al 
support ov] _m ye>s & sessions (        
,congress = legislation to e/abli% !    

,national ,museum ( ,african ,am]ican   
,hi/ory & ,culture to ov]come proc$ural 
& political hurdles2 ,:]eas1 on ,novemb]
 #ba1 #aihe1 ,repres5tative ,mickey     
,lel& f ,texas reviv$ ! ef=t & 0 jo9$ by
 ?irte5 ,memb]s ( ,congress 9 introduc+ 
a bill to e/abli% an ,am]ican ,slav]y   
,memorial ,c\ncil & to provide = !      
con/ruction ( a p]man5t museum          
memorializ+ ! victims ( slav]y2 ,:]eas  
,repres5tative ,john ,lewis cont9u$ !   
ef=t by introduc+ ! ,national ,african  
,am]ican ,h]itage ,museum & ,memorial   
,act on ,septemb] #ad1 #aihh2 ,:]eas    
additional key congressional propon5ts (
 ! legislative ef=ts includ$ ,s5ators   
,paul ,m>t9 ,simon1 ,samuel ,br[nback1  
,*ri/oph] ,dodd1 & ,max ,clel&1 &       
,repres5tatives ,william ,lacy ,bill    
,clay1 ,sr41 ,jack ,k+/on1 ,julius      
,caes> ,j4,c4 ,watts1 ,jr41 & memb]s ( !
 ,congressional ,black ,caucus2 ,:]eas  
foll[+ unanim\s congressional approval1 
,public ,law #ajg-ajf1 ! ,national      
,museum ( ,african ,am]ican ,hi/ory &   

,culture ,plan = ,action ,presid5tial   
,commission ,act ( #bjja1 0 sign$ into  
law on ,decemb] #bh1 #bjja2 ,:]eas      
,public ,law #ajg-ajf e/abli%$ a        
#bc-memb] ,commission requir$ to develop
 a report ) a propos$ plan ( action = ! 
e/abli%m5t & ma9t5ance ( ! ,national    
,museum ( ,african ,am]ican ,hi/ory &   
,culture 9 ,wa%+ton1 ,,dc2 ,:]eas aft]  
ext5sive /udy & national outrea*1 !     
,commission releas$ two reports to !    
,presid5t & ,congress3 ,! ,"t ,has      
,come1 publi%$ 9 ,april #bjjc1 & ! ,f9al
 ,site ,report1 submitt$ 9 ,septemb]    
#bjjc2 ,:]eas ^u receipt ( !            
,commission's report1 ,congress conduct$
 a timely review ( ! recomm5dations &   
pass$ ! ,national ,museum ( ,african    
,am]ican ,hi/ory & ,culture ,act1 :i* 0 
sign$ into law by ,presid5t ,george ,w4 
,bu% on ,decemb] #af1 #bjjc2 ,:]eas 9   
#bjjd1 ! ,smi?sonian ,in/itution's ,bo>d
 ( ,reg5ts appo9t$ #ai memb]s to s]ve on
 ! ,national ,museum ( ,african ,am]ican
 ,hi/ory & ,culture ,c\ncil2 ,:]eas 9   

,janu>y #bjje1 ! ,smi?sonian            
,in/itution's ,bo>d ( ,reg5ts select$ ! 
,museum's location to be on ! ,national 
,mall & ne> ! ,wa%+ton ,monum5t2 ,:]eas1
 on ,m>* #ad1 #bjje1 ,dr4 ,lonnie ,g4   
,bun* ,,iii 0 appo9t$ z ! ,f\nd+        
,director ( ! ,national ,museum (       
,african ,am]ican ,hi/ory & ,culture2   
,:]eas ! prelim9>y plann+ = ! museum    
build+ result$ 9 ! ,may #bjjh           
,environm5tal & ,hi/oric ,pres]vation   
,report2 ,:]eas foll[+ a global         
competition1 lead design] ,david ,adjaye
 & lead ar*itect ,philip ,freelon1 along
 ) ! ar*itectural team ,freelon ,adjaye 
,bond_/,smi? ,gr\p1 7 select$ to design 
! ,museum 9 #bjji2 ,:]eas ! ,museum's   
design pays homage to ! int]section (   
,african1 ,am]ican1 & ,diaspora hi/ory &
 traditions1 z ! ma9 entrance is int5d$ 
to be a welcom+ por*1 & ! ext]ior's     
metal lattice is inspir$ by ! ,yoruban  
,c>yatid1 a traditional wood5 column    
featur+ a cr[n or corona at its peak2   
,:]eas ,presid5t ,b>ack ,obama          

p>ticipat$ 9 ! gr\ndbreak+ c]emony = !  
,national ,museum ( ,african ,am]ican   
,hi/ory & ,culture1 :i* occurr$ on      
,febru>y #bb1 #bjab2 ,:]eas ! ,museum   
has collect$ m ?an #cg1jjj artifacts    
repres5t+ ,african ,am]ican & !         
,diaspora's families & communities2     
milit>y s]vicememb]s2 religi\s & fai?   
traditions2 regional ,am]ican artifacts2
 clo?+ & dress2 education1 lit]ature1   
music1 photography1 & art2 & slav]y1    
segregation1 & ! ,civil ,rights         
,movem5t2 ,:]eas ! #djj1jjj-squ>e-foot  
,museum is s*$ul$ to (ficially op5 on   
,septemb] #bd1 #bjaf1 & w be free &     
accessible to all visitors2 ,:]eas !re  
is significant national & int]national  
en?usiasm & int]e/ reg>d+ ! ,national   
,museum ( ,african ,am]ican ,hi/ory &   
,culture's op5+2 ,:]eas 9 ,augu/ #bjaf1 
^u be+ made available to ! public1 m ?an
 #bh1jjj op5+ week5d tickets to visit ! 
,museum 7 quickly claim$1 & :5 !        
,smi?sonian respond$ by ext5d+ !        
,museum's h\rs & add+ #hj1jjj m free1   

tim$-entry passes1 ^! too 7 also almo/  
imm$iately res]v$2 ,:]eas ?r\gh\t !     
,museum's op5+ week5d1 !re w be a free1 
public1 int]active1 arts1 music &       
culture fe/ival1 ,fre$om ,s\nds3 ,a     
,community ,celebration2 & ,:]eas ^u    
op5+1 ! ,national ,museum ( ,african    
,am]ican ,hi/ory & ,culture w be ! only 
national museum devot$ exclusively to ! 
docum5tation ( ,african ,am]ican life1  
hi/ory1 & culture3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x  ,t 
,congress-- 7#a7 comm5ds ! lead]%ip1    
/aff1 s*ol>s1 design]s1 con/ruction     
work]s1 volunte]s1 *>t] memb]s1 & donors
 :o work$ tirelessly to realize !       
v5]able dream ( op5+ ! ,national ,museum
 ( ,african ,am]ican ,hi/ory & ,culture2
 &  7#b7 enc\rages all citiz5s &        
resid5ts ( & visitors to ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 to visit ! ,smi?sonian's ,national     
,museum ( ,african ,am]ican ,hi/ory &   
,culture :5 t\r+ ! ,nation's ,capital4