Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 89.djvu/1189

 PUBLIC LAW 94-201—JAN. 2, 1976

89 STAT. 1129

Public Law 94-201 94th Congress An Act To provide for the establishment of an American Folklife Center in the Library of Congress, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senxite and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may be cited as the "American Folklife Preservation Act". DECLARATION OF FINDIXGS AND PURPOSE

SEC. 2. (a) The Congress hereby finds and declares— (1) that the diversity inherent in American folklife has contributed greatly to the cultural richness of the Nation and has fostered a sense of individuality and identity among the American people; (2) that the history of the United States effectively demonstrates that building a strong nation does not require the sacrifice of cultural differences; (3) that American folklife has a fundamental influence on the desires, beliefs, values, and character of the American people; (4) that it is appropriate and necessary for the Federal Government to support research and scholarship in American folklife in order to contribute to an understanding of the complex problems of the basic desires, beliefs, and values of the American people in both rural and urban areas; (5) that the encouragement and support of American folklife, while primarily a matter for private and local initiative, is also an appropriate matter of concern to the Federal Government; and (6) that it is in the interest of the general welfare of the Nation to preserve, support, revitalize, and disseminate American folklife traditions and arts. (b) It is therefore the purpose of this Act to establish in the Library of Congress an American Folklife Center to preserve and present American folklife.

Jan. 2, 1976 [H.R. 6673]

American Folklife Preservation Act. 20 USC 2101 note. 20 USC 2101.

DEFINITIONS

SEC. 3. As used in this Act— (1) the term "American folklife" means the traditional expressive culture shared within the various groups in the United States: familial, ethnic, occupational, religious, regional; expressive culture includes a wide range of creative and symbolic forms such as custom, belief, technical skill, language, literature, art, architecture, music, play, dance, drama, ritual, pageantry, handicraft; these expressions are mainly learned orally, by imitation, or in performance, and are generally maintained without benefit of formal instruction or institutional direction; (2) the term "Board" means the Board of Trustees of the Center; (3) the term "Center" means the American Folklife Center established under this Act;

20 USC 2102.

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