§ 2101. — Congressional declaration of findings and purpose.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 20USC2101]
TITLE 20--EDUCATION
CHAPTER 43--AMERICAN FOLKLIFE PRESERVATION
SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 2101. Congressional declaration of findings and purpose
(a) The Congress hereby finds and declares--
(1) that the diversity inherent in American folklife has
contributed greatly to the cultural richness of the Nation and has
fostered a sense of individuality and identity among the American
people;
(2) that the history of the United States effectively
demonstrates that building a strong nation does not require the
sacrifice of cultural differences;
(3) that American folklife has a fundamental influence on the
desires, beliefs, values, and character of the American people;
(4) that it is appropriate and necessary for the Federal
Government to support research and scholarship in American folklife
in order to contribute to an understanding of the complex problems
of the basic desires, beliefs, and values of the American people in
both rural and urban areas;
(5) that the encouragement and support of American folklife,
while primarily a matter for private and local initiative, is also
an appropriate matter of concern to the Federal Government; and
(6) that it is in the interest of the general welfare of the
Nation to preserve, support, revitalize, and disseminate American
folklife traditions and arts.
(b) It is therefore the purpose of this subchapter to establish in
the Library of Congress an American Folklife Center to preserve and
present American folklife.
(Pub. L. 94-201, Sec. 2, Jan. 2, 1976, 89 Stat. 1129.)
Short Title
Pub. L. 94-201, Sec. 1, Jan. 2, 1976, 89 Stat. 1129, provided:
``That this Act [enacting this subchapter] may be cited as the `American
Folklife Preservation Act'.''
Pub. L. 106-380, Sec. 1, Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1447, provided
that: ``This Act [enacting subchapter II of this chapter] may be cited
as the `Veterans' Oral History Project Act'.''
Findings and Purpose of 1998 Amendment
Pub. L. 105-275, title III, Sec. 312(a), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat.
2457, provided that:
``(1) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
``(A) The American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress
was created by Congress in 1976, building on the vast expertise and
archival material existing at the Library since 1928.
``(B) As an instrumentality of the Congress, it is fitting that
the American Folklife Center should have a direct and close
relationship with the representatives of the people, who are best
able to oversee the ongoing activities of the Center to preserve and
promote the cultural traditions of the people, and to ensure that
the resources of the Center be readily available to all Americans.
``(C) In over 20 years since its creation, the American Folklife
Center in the Library of Congress has--
``(i) increased the size of the Archive of Folk Culture from
500,000 to 1,500,000 multi-format ethnographic items;
``(ii) engaged in 15 cultural surveys and field
documentation projects in all regions of the country;
``(iii) provided publications, documentary equipment on
loan, and advisory and reference service to persons and
institutions in all 50 States;
``(iv) produced exhibitions and other educational programs
on American Folklife at the Library and around the country;
``(v) begun sharing its unique collections in digital form
via the Internet; and
``(vi) served as a national center for the professions of
folklore, ethnomusicology, and cultural studies.
``(D) Congress has consistently provided encouragement and
support of American Folklife as an appropriate matter of concern to
the Federal Government, passing legislation to reauthorize the
Center eight times since its creation in 1976.
``(E) The American Folklife Center is the only unit in the
Library of Congress which is not permanently authorized. Since its
establishment in 1976, the Center's collections and activities have
been fully and successfully integrated into the Library of Congress.
It is useful to statutorily conform the American Folklife Center
with the rest of the Library of Congress.
``(2) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section [amending sections
2103, 2106, and 2107 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a
note under section 2103 of this title] to authorize permanently the
American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress to preserve and
present American Folklife.''
