S. 728 authorizes the establishment of a national memorial museum and educational center at the African Burial Ground National Monument in Lower Manhattan, which holds the remains of up to 20,000 enslaved Africans and early-generation African Americans from the colonial era. The museum will serve as a permanent memorial to those enslaved individuals, examine the history and cultural traditions of slavery in the United States and beyond, and partner with the National Museum of African American History and Culture and other institutions to develop exhibits, educational programs, and research initiatives. The federal government will cover two-thirds of the costs for acquiring property (potentially including 22 Reade Street adjacent to the monument) and constructing the museum, with the remaining costs shared by New York State, New York City, and private partners. The bill establishes a 14-member advisory council to guide the museum's development and operation and authorizes $15 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2025, with additional funding available as needed for ongoing operations and program expansion.
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