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H.R. 1394: Black History is American History Act

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H.R. 1394: Black History is American History Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-02-26 · Education · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-02-26 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. 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

Black History is American History Act

Plain summary

Black History is American History Act This bill requires entities (e.g., institutions of higher education, libraries, and museums), in order to be eligible for certain grants administered by the Department of Education (ED), to include Black history in their teaching of American history. It also requires Black history to be included in tests administered by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Specifically, the bill mandates the inclusion of Black history as a required component of American history for such entities to be eligible for American History and Civics Academies' competitive grants. These grants support the establishment of (1) Presidential Academies for Teachers of American History and Civics, which offer workshops to teachers of American history and civics to strengthen their knowledge and prepare them to teach in these subjects; and (2) Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics, which support high school students in developing an understanding of these subjects. (Currently, Black history is not a required component of American history for either academy.) In addition, ED must give priority to grant applicants that align their activities with programs and resources of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African American History and Culture. The bill also requires the inclusion of Black history in tests administered by the NAEP, which measures student academic achievement in various subjects.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), 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

Black History is American History Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Alternatives

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

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] · 67 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), André Carson (D-IN), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Grace Meng (D-NY), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Deborah K. Ross (D-NC), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Angie Craig (D-MN), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA) and 7 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] reported raising $1.5 million (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 (1)
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

Record fed-us-cong117-hr1394 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117