1619 News

 

On May 21, 2018: Historic family cemetery in Hampton gets $100,000 grant <<for more info>>


On January 10, Senate Signed by President (400 Years of African American History Act). Became Public Law No: 115-102.


On December 29, 2017:       Senate Presented to President (400 Years of African American History Act).


On December 21, 2017: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8279)


On November 16, 2017: Senate Received (400 Years of African American History Act) in the Senate, read twice.


On November 15, 2017: House On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 423 - 0 (Roll no. 634).


On November 13, 2017: House Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H9142-9143; text: CR H9142)


On November 13, 2017: House - Mr. Hice, Jody B. moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.


On November 13, 2017: House Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 300.


On November 13, 2017: House Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-406.


On August 19, 2017: In the spirit of the proposed 400 Years of African American History Act, AAHGS moved to establish the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society 400th Commemoration Committee, to honor and memorialize the significant contributions made by African Americans from Jamestown to the present day.  


On March 3, 2017: House Bill 1242 (400 Years of African American History Act) introduced, and Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.


On Thursday, Feb. 11, 2017, congressional leaders from Virginia, including Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Don Beyer (D-VA), and Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus Rep. G. K. Butterfield (D-NC) joined leaders from the NAACP to mark 400 years since the first documented arrival of Africans who came to English America by way of Point Comfort, Virginia. According to Senator Tim Kaine:

“Not only is it appropriate to establish a commission that would recognize the contributions of African Americans, but it is historically significant to acknowledge that the “20 and odd” Africans (as it was recorded) were the first recorded group of Africans to be sold as involuntary laborers or indentured servants in the English colonies.  The sponsors introduced the 400 Years of African American History Act, a bill that would establish a commission to plan programs and activities across the country to recognize the arrival and influence of Africans and their descendants in America since 1619. The commission would be charged with highlighting the resilience and contributions of African Americans, as well as acknowledging the painful impact that slavery and other atrocities have had on our nation. The 400-year history of African Americans is full of tragedies that have shaped the black experience in America and should be remembered as moral catastrophes. However, that is not the whole story of African-American history. African Americans have contributed to the economic, academic, social, cultural and moral well-being of this nation.”