On January 8, 2018 – H.R.1242 – 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act 115th Congress, sponsored by Rep. Scott, Robert C. “Bobby”, became Public Law No: 115-102 – 400 Years of African-American History Commission Act.

This bill establishes the 400 Years of African-American History Commission to develop and carry out activities throughout the United States to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619.

The commission is charged to:

1. Plan programs to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States;
2. Encourage civic, patriotic, historical, educational, artistic, religious, and economic organizations to organize and participate in anniversary activities;
3. Assist states, localities, and nonprofit organizations to further the commemoration; and
4. Coordinate for the public, scholarly research on the arrival of Africans in the United States and their contributions to this country.

The complete details of the bill can be viewed on the National Park Service at this link.