,i #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,r4 #ieeh ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #cj1 #bjbf,mr4 ,lieu 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,leger ,fernandez1 ,mr4 ,tonko1 ,ms4 ,williams of ,georgia1 and ,ms4 ,norton7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and ,workforce ,a ,,bill ,to establish a grant program in the ,national ,endowment for the ,arts to document the ,american experience4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the #bast ,century ,federal ,writers' ,project ,act4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,the observance and commemoration of the #bejth anniversary of the founding of the ,united ,states are of major significance to the national heritage4 7#b7 ,the #bejth anniversary of the founding of the ,united ,states should inspire patriotism and national unity4 7#c7 ,documenting the full breadth of the ,american experience1 including the history1 culture1 customs1 folklore1 and daily life of communities across all ,states and regions1 will foster mutual understanding and national unity4 7#d7 ,nearly a century ago1 the ,federal ,writers' ,project employed up to #g1gjj people to document the ,american experience1 producing-- 7,a7 the ,american ,guide ,series1 which included #dh ,states1 #dj cities1 #ah regions and territories1 and countless counties2 and 7,b7 more than #a1jjj books and pamphlets covering local and regional histories1 folklore collections1 humor1 and nature studies4 7#e7 ,the commemoration of the #bejth anniversary of the ,united ,states merits a new portrait of ,american life1 capturing the history1 culture1 agriculture1 industry1 infrastructure1 and communities that define this ,nation1 produced by a #bast-,century ,federal ,writers' ,project4 7#f7 ,the ,national ,endowment for the ,arts is the appropriate ,federal agency to administer a program supporting literary and documentary arts that capture the full diversity and vitality of the ,american experience1 consistent with its mission under the ,national ,foundation on the ,arts and the ,humanities ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #iea et seq474 7#g7 ,american feature writers1 photographers1 and documentary artists possess skills uniquely suited to preserving a living record of ,american life for future generations4 #c4 #bast ,century ,federal ,writers' ,project ,grant ,program 7a7 ,in general ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,chair of the ,national ,endowment for the ,arts 7in this section referred to as the ,chair71 with the advice of the ,national ,council of the ,arts1 shall establish a competitive grant program 7in this section referred to as the ,program7 to provide grants to eligible entities described in subsection 7d7 to document in writing and images the history1 culture1 customs1 folklore1 and lived experience of the ,american people4 7b7 ,advisory panel 7#a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,chairperson shall appoint an advisory panel comprising #e members to assist in developing guidelines for the ,program4 7#b7 ,members ,the advisory panel shall include-- 7,a7 a member representing the literary arts1 documentary audiovisual1 or print journalism communities2 7,b7 the ,librarian of ,congress1 or the ,librarian's designee2 7,c7 a member representing a ,state arts agency2 7,d7 a member representing communities underserved by existing arts and literary programs1 including rural and ,tribal communities2 and 7,e7 a member with expertise in-- 7i7 the original ,federal ,writers' ,project2 7ii7 involved with ongoing efforts to reproduce it2 and 7iii7 with ,federal experience with administering nationwide programs4 7#c7 ,reports ,not later than #ij days after the advisory panel is established1 the panel shall submit to the ,chairperson a report with recommended guidelines for the ,program1 including criteria for evaluating applications and ensuring that projects collectively cover the geographic and cultural breadth of the ,american experience4 7#d7 ,termination ,the advisory panel shall terminate not later than #ij days after the submission of the report under paragraph 7#c74 7c7 ,grant administration 7#a7 ,grant parameters ,the ,chairperson shall determine-- 7,a7 the parameters and scope of the ,program2 and 7,b7 the amount and duration of grant awards1 except that no individual grant awarded for a fiscal year shall exceed an amount equal to #aj percent of the amounts appropriated under subsection 7l7 for such fiscal year4 7#b7 ,limitation ,notwithstanding section #e7;e7 of the ,national ,foundation on the ,arts and the ,humanities ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ied7;e771 the matching requirement shall not apply to grants made under this section4 7#c7 ,editorial and curatorial role ,in administering the ,program1 the ,chairperson shall-- 7,a7 publish1 prior to the first solicitation of grant applications1 an editorial framework for the ,program that-- 7i7 identifies the thematic and subject-matter scope of the ,program as a whole2 7ii7 establishes standards for factual accuracy1 editorial consistency1 fair and balanced geographic and demographic coverage1 and attribution of individual works2 and 7iii7 identifies the intended forms of publication and distribution for works produced under the ,program1 which includes not only books1 but periodicals1 digital media1 audio recordings1 documentary film1 and other formats2 7,b7 enter into a contract or cooperative agreement with a qualified organization to serve as the editor-in-chief and executive editor for the ,program4 ,such organization shall be responsible for-- 7i7 providing editorial guidance to grant recipients consistent with the editorial framework established under subparagraph 7,a72 7ii7 reviewing and approving works prior to public release to ensure compliance with ,program standards2 and 7iii7 reporting to the ,chairperson on the progress and geographic and thematic coverage of the ,program2 7,c7 coordinate with grant recipients to ensure that the subject matter of individual projects collectively covers the full range of topics and regions contemplated by the ,program1 avoiding duplication and gaps in geographic or thematic coverage2 7,d7 facilitate the production and publication of works developed under the ,program1 including by entering into agreements with publishers1 distributors1 or other entities to make such works available to the public in print and digital formats2 and 7,e7 ensure that the ,program as a whole replicates1 to the greatest extent practicable1 the scope1 editorial standards1 and public-facing mission of the original ,federal ,writers' ,project of the #aicjs and #aidjs4 7d7 ,eligible entities ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section1 an entity shall-- 7#a7 submit an application to the ,chair at such time1 in such form1 and in such manner as the ,chair may require2 and 7#b7 be one of the following3 7,a7 ,a nonprofit1 tax-exempt organization with experience in literary arts1 documentary arts1 journalism1 oral history1 or the collection and dissemination of cultural or educational content4 7,b7 ,the fiscally sponsored projects of organizations under subparagraph 7,a74 7,c7 ,a ,state arts agency established pursuant to section #e7;g7 of the ,national ,foundation on the ,arts and the ,humanities ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ied7;g771 or a regional arts organization designated by the ,national ,endowment for the ,arts4 7,d7 ,a ,state or territorial commission established by ,state legislation or executive order for the purpose of commemorating the #bejth anniversary of the founding of the ,united ,states4 7e7 ,use of grant funds ,an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use grant funds to engage individuals to produce written1 photographic1 audio1 or other documentary works capturing the history1 culture1 customs1 folklore1 and lived experience of the ,american people1 and may use grant funds for related administrative1 training1 and editorial activities directly supporting such work4 7f7 ,preference for certain individuals ,in selecting individuals to receive funds1 a eligible entity shall give preference to individuals with education or experience in-- 7#a7 literary arts1 journalism1 documentary arts1 or oral history2 or 7#b7 occupations described in the ,standard ,occupational ,classification for categories #be-jjjj 7,education1 ,training1 and ,library ,occupations7 and #bg-jjjj 7,arts1 ,design1 ,entertainment1 ,sports1 and ,media ,occupations74 7g7 ,geographic and thematic scope ,in selecting the recipients and evaluating applications under this section for a grant1 the ,chair shall ensure that the projects funded under the ,program1 taken as a whole1 collectively document communities and subjects from all regions of the ,united ,states1 including-- 7#a7 urban1 suburban1 and rural communities2 7#b7 ,tribal communities2 7#c7 each of the major geographic regions of the ,united ,states2 and 7#d7 the full range of subjects that defined the original ,federal ,writers' ,project1 including history1 culture1 customs1 and folklore4 7h7 ,repository1 archive1 and publication 7#a7 ,repository ,the ,chairperson shall establish a publicly accessible repository of works developed through the ,program4 ,grant recipients shall submit completed works to the repository and each such work shall include attribution to the individual writer1 photographer1 or artist who created it4 7#b7 ,archive ,the ,chairperson shall transmit works received under paragraph 7#a7 to the ,librarian of ,congress not later than #ij days after their receipt4 ,the ,librarian of ,congress shall establish an archive program within the ,american ,folklife ,center at the ,library of ,congress to collect and make publicly available1 in both digital and print formats1 the written and visual drafts and finished works produced under the ,program1 with attribution given to each work's ,creator4 7#c7 ,publication ,the ,chairperson shall facilitate the publication and public distribution of written works produced under the ,program4 ,in carrying out this paragraph1 the ,chairperson may-- 7,a7 enter into agreements with commercial1 nonprofit1 or government publishers for the publication of books1 anthologies1 periodicals1 or other print or digital works derived from the ,program2 7,b7 use revenues derived from any such publication agreements1 to the extent permitted by law1 to support the ongoing activities of the ,program2 and 7,c7 ensure that any published works include attribution to individual creators and to the ,program4 7i7 ,reporting requirements 7#a7 ,grant recipient reporting ,the ,chair shall develop reporting guidelines for grant recipients under this section to include1 at a minimum1 information regarding-- 7,a7 the amount of funds received and expended2 7,b7 the number of individuals engaged and works completed under the grant2 7,c7 the geographic location and subject matter of works completed under the grant2 7,d7 the number of public requests to access or review completed works1 where available2 7,e7 the number of copies of published works distributed or sold1 where applicable1 including through any agreements entered into under subsection 7h77#c72 7,f7 such other data as the ,chairperson considers important to assess ,program efficacy2 and 7,g7 such other data as the ,chairperson considers important to assess ,program efficacy4 7#b7 ,reporting to ,congress ,not less than once each year while the program under this section is in operation1 the ,chair shall submit a report to the ,committees on ,appropriations and ,education and ,workforce of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committees on ,appropriations and ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions of the ,senate summarizing-- 7,a7 the data collected under paragraph 7#a72 7,b7 the geographic and thematic distribution of projects funded under the ,program2 and 7,c7 the ,chairperson's assessment of ,program efficacy and recommendations for improvement4 7j7 ,administrative costs ,the ,chair may reserve not more than #bj percent of the funds made available to carry out the ,program for administrative costs of the ,national ,endowment for the ,arts4 7k7 ,coordination with other ,federal agencies ,the ,chairperson may enter into interagency agreements with other ,federal agencies to fund the ,program and support the purposes1 consistent with section #e7o7 of the ,national ,foundation on the ,arts and the ,humanities ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ied7o774