American Folklife Preservation Act
Public Law 94-201 · H.R. 6673 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Jan 2, 1976 · Arts, Culture, Religion
Sponsor: Rep. Lucien Nedzi (D-MI-14)
Cosponsors (5): Rep. Frank Thompson, Rep. John Brademas,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
American Folklife Preservation Act - Establishes the American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress. Places the Center under a board of trustees composed as follows: four members appointed by the President, four members appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate, four members appointed by Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Librarian of Congress, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the Chairman of the Endowment for the Arts, the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Director of the Center.
Requires regional and political balance among such appointees.
Directs the Librarian of Congress to appoint a director of the Center after consultation with the board of trustees.
Authorizes the Center to develop and implement programs for the initiation, encouragement, support, and organization of research and training, performances, festivals, and exhibits related to American folklife. Authorizes the Center to maintain a national archive for American folklife, and to procure, receive, and collect creative works, objects, artifacts, and audio and visual records which illustrate some aspect of American folklife. Authorizes it to present, disseminate, and broadcast any exhibition or presentation.
Grants administrative powers to the Librarian for carrying out this Act.
Authorizes appropriation of $133,500 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1976, $295,000 for fiscal year 1977 and $349,000 for fiscal year 1978.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 13 actions.
- Jan 2, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-201.
- Dec 22, 1975PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Dec 19, 1975Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Dec 11, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Dec 10, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Rules and Administration Committee
- Sep 9, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Rules and Administration Committee
- Sep 8, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #500 (272-117).House roll call 500
- Jun 28, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Committee on House Administration
- May 5, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Committee on House Administration
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.