SUBCHAPTER II—VETERANS' ORAL HISTORY

§2141. Findings; purpose

(a) Findings

Congress finds as follows:

(1) Military service during a time of war is the highest sacrifice a citizen may make for his or her country.

(2) 4,700,000 Americans served in World War I, 16,500,000 Americans served in World War II, 6,800,000 Americans served in the Korean Conflict, 9,200,000 Americans served in the Vietnam Conflict, 3,800,000 Americans served in the Persian Gulf War, and countless other Americans served in military engagements overseas throughout the 20th century.

(3) The Department of Veterans Affairs reports that there are almost 19,000,000 war veterans living in this Nation today.

(4) Today there are only approximately 3,400 living veterans of World War I, and of the some 6,000,000 veterans of World War II alive today, almost 1,500 die each day.

(5) Oral histories are of immeasurable value to historians, researchers, authors, journalists, film makers, scholars, students, and citizens of all walks of life.

(6) War veterans possess an invaluable resource in their memories of the conflicts in which they served, and can provide a rich history of our Nation and its people through the retelling of those memories, yet frequently those who served during times of conflict are reticent to family and friends about their experiences.

(7) It is in the Nation's best interest to collect and catalog oral histories of American war veterans so that future generations will have original sources of information regarding the lives and times of those who served in war and the conditions under which they endured, so that Americans will always remember those who served in war and may learn first-hand of the heroics, tediousness, horrors, and triumphs of war.

(8) The Library of Congress, as the Nation's oldest Federal cultural institution and largest and most inclusive library in human history (with nearly 119,000,000 items in its multimedia collection) ¹ is an appropriate repository to collect, preserve, and make available to the public an archive of these oral histories. The Library's American Folklife Center has expertise in the management of documentation projects and experience in the development of cultural and educational programs for the public.

(b) Purpose

It is the purpose of this subchapter to create a new federally sponsored, authorized, and funded program that will coordinate at a national level the collection of video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of American war veterans, and to assist and encourage local efforts to preserve the memories of this Nation's war veterans so that Americans of all current and future generations may hear directly from veterans and better appreciate the realities of war and the sacrifices made by those who served in uniform during wartime.

(Pub. L. 106–380, §2, Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1447.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

For short title of this subchapter as the "Veterans' Oral History Project Act", see section 1 of Pub. L. 106–380, set out as a note under section 2101 of this title.

¹ So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma.

§2142. Establishment of program at American Folklife Center to collect video and audio recordings of histories of veterans

(a) In general

The Director of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress shall establish an oral history program—

(1) to collect video and audio recordings of—

(A) personal histories and testimonials of veterans of the Armed Forces who served during a period of war; and

(B) biographical histories by immediate family members of members of the Armed Forces who became missing in action or died as a result of their service during a period of war;

(2) to create a collection of the recordings obtained (including a catalog and index) which will be available for public use through the National Digital Library of the Library of Congress and such other methods as the Director considers appropriate to the extent feasible subject to available resources; and

(3) to solicit, reproduce, and collect written materials (such as letters and diaries) relevant to the personal histories of veterans of the Armed Forces who served during a period of war and to catalog such materials in a manner the Director considers appropriate, consistent with and complimentary ¹ to the efforts described in paragraphs (1) and (2).

(b) Use of and consultation with other entities

The Director may carry out the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (3) of subsection (a) through agreements and partnerships entered into with other government and private entities, and may otherwise consult with interested persons (within the limits of available resources) and develop appropriate guidelines and arrangements for soliciting, acquiring, and making available recordings under the program under this subchapter.

(c) Timing

As soon as practicable after October 27, 2000, the Director shall begin collecting video and audio recordings under subsection (a)(1), and shall attempt to collect the first such recordings from the oldest veterans.

(d) Definition of immediate family member

For purposes of subsection (a), the term "immediate family member" means a parent, spouse, sibling, or child.

(Pub. L. 106–380, §3, Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1448; Pub. L. 114–246, §2, Nov. 28, 2016, 130 Stat. 995.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2016—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–246, §2(a), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: "to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories and testimonials of veterans of the Armed Forces who served during a period of war;".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–246, §2(b), added subsec. (d).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

National Public Awareness and Participation Campaign for Veterans' History Project of American Folklife Center

Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title V, §594, Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1771, provided that:

"(a) In General.—The Director of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress shall carry out a national public awareness and participation campaign for the program required by section 3(a) of the Veterans' Oral History Project Act (20 U.S.C. 2142(a)). Such campaign shall provide for the following:

"(1) Encouraging the people of the United States, veterans organizations, community groups, and national organizations to participate in such program.

"(2) Ensuring greater awareness and participation throughout the United States in such program.

"(3) Providing meaningful opportunities for learning about the experiences of veterans.

"(4) Complementing the efforts supporting the readjustment and successful reintegration of veterans into civilian life after service in the Armed Forces.

"(b) Coordination and Cooperation.—To the degree practicable, the Director shall, in carrying out the campaign required by subsection (a), coordinate and cooperate with veterans service organizations.

"(c) Veterans Service Organization Defined.—In this section, the term 'veterans service organization' means any organization recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code."

¹ So in original. Probably should be "complementary".

§2143. Private support

(a) Acceptance of donations

The Librarian of Congress may solicit and accept donations of funds and in-kind contributions to carry out the oral history program under section 2142 of this title.

(b) Establishment of separate gift account

There is established in the Treasury (among the accounts of the Library of Congress) a gift account for the oral history program under section 2142 of this title.

(c) Dedication of funds

Notwithstanding any other provision of law—

(1) any funds donated to the Librarian of Congress to carry out the oral history program under section 2142 of this title shall be deposited entirely into the gift account established under subsection (b);

(2) the funds contained in such account shall be used solely to carry out the oral history program under section 2142 of this title; and

(3) the Librarian of Congress may not deposit into such account any funds donated to the Librarian which are not donated for the exclusive purpose of carrying out the oral history program under section 2142 of this title.

(Pub. L. 106–380, §4, Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1448.)

§2144. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subchapter—

(1) $250,000 for fiscal year 2001; and

(2) such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.

(Pub. L. 106–380, §5, Oct. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 1449.)