September 10, 2026
Mr. Kean introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on House Administration
To establish a program in the Library of Congress for the collection of oral histories related to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the 9/11 Legacy Preservation Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1)
The September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City, New York, Arlington, Virginia, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania remain the deadliest terrorist attacks in history.
(2)
Targeting the World Trade Center in New York, hijacked Flight 11 struck the North Tower and hijacked Flight 175 struck the South Tower, ultimately causing the collapse of both towers.
(3)
Targeting the Pentagon in Arlington, hijacked Flight 77 struck the western facade of the Pentagon, decimating that portion of the building.
(4)
After passengers and crew aboard hijacked Flight 93 learned of the other two attacks, they fought to regain control of the cockpit, crash-landing in a grassy field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It is widely believed the final target of Flight 93 was the United States Capitol or the White House in Washington, DC.
(5)
The 9/11 attacks killed 2,753 people in New York, 184 people in Virginia, and 40 people in Pennsylvania.
(6)
Oral histories are of immeasurable value to historians, researchers, authors, journalists, filmmakers, scholars, students, and citizens of all walks of life.
(7)
Survivors of 9/11 are an invaluable resource in their memories of the tragic events of that day, and can provide a rich history of our Nation and its people through the retelling of those memories.
(8)
It is in the Nation’s best interest to collect and catalog oral histories of 9/11 survivors so that future generations will have original sources of information regarding the lives and times of those who survived this tragic day, and so that Americans will never forget the events of September 11th, 2001.
Sec. 3. Establishment of program at american folklife center to collect video and audio recordings of histories from survivors of september 11, 2001
(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 personal histories and testimonials from survivors of September 11, 2001;
(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 survivors of September 11, 2001, and to catalog such materials in a manner the Director considers appropriate, consistent with and complimentary 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 Act.
(c) Timing
As soon as practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, 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 survivors.
Sec. 4. 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 3.
(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 3.
(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 3 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 3; 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 3.
Sec. 5. Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act—
(1)
$250,000 for fiscal year 2026; and
(2)
such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.