,i  #aafth ,,congress  #b;d ,session    
,h4 ,r4 #ffae  ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of  
,,representatives  ,april #bd1 #bjbj,mr4
 ,bera introduced the following bill2   
which was referred to the ,committee on 
,house ,administration  ,a ,,bill  ,to  
direct the ,librarian of ,congress to   
establish a program in the ,american    
,folklife ,center to collect video and  
audio recordings of personal histories  
and testimonials of those affected by   
the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 and for other 
purposes4  #a4 ,short title ,this ,act  
may be cited as the ,,covid-#ai ,oral   
,history ,project ,act4  #b4            
,establishment of program at ,american  
,folklife ,center to collect video and  
audio recording of histories of the     
,,covid-#ai pandemic  7a7 ,in ,general  
,the ,librarian of ,congress shall      
establish an oral history program in the
 ,american ,folklife ,center at the     
,library of ,congress to collect and    
make publicly available in a digital    
format individual stories of events and 

experiences during the ,,covid-#ai      
pandemic in the ,united ,states4 ,in    
carrying out the program1 the ,librarian
 shall-- 7#a7 collect video and audio   
recordings of personal histories and    
testimonials of those who were affected 
by the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 such as    
first responders and health care        
workers1 individuals who survived the   
disease1 family members of those who    
passed away from the disease1           
individuals who were repatriated from   
other countries or from cruise ships1   
individuals with major life events      
affected by responding to the outbreak1 
as well as any other individuals whose  
lives were altered2  7#b7 create a      
collection of the recordings obtained   
7including a catalog and index7 which   
will be available for public use through
 the digital collections of the ,library
 of ,congress and such other methods as 
the ,librarian considers appropriate to 
the extent feasible subject to available
 resources2 and  7#c7 solicit1 collect1 

and make available in a digital format  
written materials 7such as letters and  
diaries7 relevant to the personal       
histories of health care workers and    
first responders who served during the  
,,covid-#ai pandemic and to catalog such
 materials in a manner the ,librarian   
considers appropriate1 consistent with  
and complimentary to the efforts        
described in paragraphs 7#a7 and 7#b74  
7b7 ,use of and consultation with other 
entities ,the ,librarian may carry out  
the activities described in paragraphs  
7#a7 and 7#c7 of subsection 7a7 through 
agreements and partnerships entered into
 with other government and private      
entities1 including through             
collaboration with existing archival and
 oral history programs throughout the   
,united ,states1 and may otherwise      
consult with interested persons 7within 
the limits of available resources7 and  
develop appropriate guidelines and      
arrangements for soliciting1 acquiring1 
and making available recordings under   

the program under this ,act4  7c7       
,timing for authority ,to collect       
recordings  7#a7 ,initiation ,as soon as
 practicable after the enactment of this
 ,act1 the ,librarian shall begin       
collecting video and audio recordings   
under subsection 7a77#a74  7#b7 ,sunset 
,the authority of the ,librarian to     
collect video and audio recordings under
 subsection 7a77#a7 shall terminate upon
 the expiration of the #e-year period   
which begins on the date of the         
enactment of this ,act4  #c4 ,private   
support  7a7 ,acceptance of ,donations  
,the ,librarian of ,congress may solicit
 and accept donations of funds and      
in-kind contributions to carry out the  
oral history program under section #b4  
7b7 ,establishment of ,separate ,gift   
,account ,there is established in the   
,treasury 7among the accounts of the    
,library of ,congress7 a gift account   
for the oral history program under      
section #b4  7c7 ,dedication of funds   
,notwithstanding any other provision of 

law-- 7#a7 any funds donated to the     
,librarian to carry out the oral history
 program under section #b shall be      
deposited entirely into the gift account
 established under subsection 7b72  7#b7
 the funds contained in such account    
shall be used solely to carry out the   
oral history program under section #b2  
and  7#c7 the ,librarian may not deposit
 into such account any funds donated to 
the ,librarian which are not donated for
 the exclusive purpose4  #d4            
,authorization of appropriations  7a7   
,authorization ,there are authorized to 
be appropriated to carry out this ,act--
 7#a7 #g1fjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjbj2 
and  7#b7 such sums as may be necessary 
for each of the fiscal years #bjba      
through #bjbd4  7b7 ,continuing         
availability of funds ,any amount       
appropriated pursuant to the            
authorization under this section shall  
remain available until expended4