About the bill
H.R. 2989 establishes a 16-member commission to commemorate the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of Frederick Douglass. The Commission shall plan, develop, carry out, and recommend to Congress programs and activities that are fitting and proper to celebrate the anniversary in a manner that appropriately honors Frederick Douglass. No funds are authorized to carry out this Act, but the commission is authorized to accept private donations.
Frederick Douglass was born into slavery in 1817 and escaped by age 21. He published an autobiography documenting his life as a slave, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, while he was a fugitive slave. He spent his life advocating for the end of slavery and for equal civil rights. The bicentennial anniversary of his birth will occur in 2018
Sponsor and status
115th Congress (2017–2019)
Enacted — Signed by the President on Nov 2, 2017
This bill was enacted after being signed by the President on November 2, 2017.
18 Cosponsors (11 Republicans, 7 Democrats)
Position statements
What legislators are saying
“Norton, Harris, Van Hollen, and Cardin Announce President Trump Signs Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act into Law”
—
Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton [D-DC]
(Sponsor)
on Nov 2, 2017
“Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act Becomes Law”
—
Rep. Andy Harris [R-MD1]
(Co-sponsor)
on Nov 2, 2017
“House Passes Valadao GROW Act”
—
Rep. David Valadao [R-CA22]
on Jul 12, 2017
More statements at ProPublica Represent...
What stakeholders are saying
Incorporated legislation
This bill incorporates provisions from:
S. 1582: Frederick Douglass Bicentennial Commission Act
Introduced on Jul 19, 2017. 100% incorporated. (compare text)
History
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Feb 11, 2014
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Earlier Version —
Introduced
This activity took place on a related bill, H.R. 4055 (113th). |
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Feb 11, 2016
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Earlier Version —
Introduced
This activity took place on a related bill, H.R. 4543 (114th). |
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Jun 21, 2017
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Introduced
Bills and resolutions are referred to committees which debate the bill before possibly sending it on to the whole chamber. |
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Jul 19, 2017
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Ordered Reported
A committee has voted to issue a report to the full chamber recommending that the bill be considered further. Only about 1 in 4 bills are reported out of committee. |
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Oct 5, 2017
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Reported by House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
A committee issued a report on the bill, which often provides helpful explanatory background on the issue addressed by the bill and the bill's intentions. |
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Oct 11, 2017
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Passed House (Senate next)
The bill was passed in a vote in the House. It goes to the Senate next. The vote was by voice vote so no record of individual votes was made. |
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Oct 18, 2017
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Passed Senate
The bill was passed by both chambers in identical form. It goes to the President next who may sign or veto the bill. The vote was by Unanimous Consent so no record of individual votes was made. |
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Nov 2, 2017
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Enacted — Signed by the President
The President signed the bill and it became law.
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H.R. 2989 (115th) was a bill in the United States Congress.
A bill must be passed by both the House and Senate in identical form and then be signed by the President to become law.
Bills numbers restart every two years. That means there are other bills with the number H.R. 2989. This is the one from the 115th Congress.
This bill was introduced in the 115th Congress, which met from Jan 3, 2017 to Jan 3, 2019. Legislation not passed by the end of a Congress is cleared from the books.
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