H.R. 2989: Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act

115th Congress · introduced 2017-06-21 · Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues · Latest: Signed by President.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2017-06-21 · official record
Who proposed it: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: Signed by President. (final step reached)
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act

Plain summary

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on October 11, 2017. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act (Sec. 3) This bill establishes the Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission to: (1) plan, develop, and carry out programs and activities to honor Frederick Douglass for the bicentennial anniversary of his birth; and (2) recommend the federal government entities appropriate to carry out such programs and activities. (Sec. 8) Not later than August 1, 2018, the commission must recommend appropriate activities to Congress. A final report detailing commission activities and expenditures must be submitted not later than June 1, 2019.

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] · 18 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 2989, Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act (2017-07-26)

Cosponsors on this site

Andy Harris (R-MD), Paul A. Gosar (R-AZ), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA), Brian K. Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Gwen Moore (D-WI)

Sponsor's campaign money: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] reported raising $53,775 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Appropriation: Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Public Law)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-115hr2989.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/115/hr>

Record fed-us-cong115-hr2989 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong115 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong115