Paper Genocide Reversal and Documentation Integrity Act
Paper Genocide Reversal and Documentation Integrity Act
The Issue
Paper Genocide Reversal and Documentation Integrity Act
A Bill to Enable Descendants of Enslaved Americans and Misclassified Indigenous Peoples to Restore Their Ancestry and Correct Misclassified Records, Preserving Cultural and Historical Integrity
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Paper Genocide Reversal and Documentation Integrity Act.”
SECTION 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that:
Historical Misclassification: Many individuals, including descendants of enslaved Americans and Indigenous peoples, were subjected to systemic reclassification practices that obscured or erased their cultural identities.
Impact of Paper Genocide: The forced reclassification of identities has resulted in the loss of cultural heritage, difficulties in tracing ancestry, and the erasure of unique identities within official records.
Right to Accurate Representation: Individuals have a right to ensure their heritage is accurately represented in public and historical records to preserve cultural identity and honor ancestral lineage.
Government Responsibility: The federal government has a duty to support the correction of historical misclassifications and prevent further erasure of cultural identities.
SECTION 3. PURPOSE.
The purposes of this Act are:
To create a federal process for descendants of enslaved Americans and misclassified Indigenous individuals to correct historical racial misclassifications in government records.
To establish funding for genealogical verification services and records correction to support identity reclamation.
To protect individuals from future misclassification and uphold the integrity of cultural and historical documentation.
SECTION 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
Descendants of Enslaved Americans: Individuals who can trace their lineage to persons enslaved in the United States prior to the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
Misclassified Indigenous Individuals: Individuals or descendants of individuals who were historically reclassified under racial terms like “Colored” or “Negro,” erasing their Indigenous identity.
Paper Genocide: The systemic erasure or reclassification of cultural identities through legal, social, or bureaucratic measures, leading to the erasure of heritage in public records.
SECTION 5. RIGHT TO RECORD CORRECTION.
(a) Eligibility for Correction: - Any individual who can establish a credible claim of ancestral misclassification as a descendant of enslaved Americans or as a misclassified Indigenous person shall have the right to correct official records that inaccurately represent their heritage.
(b) Scope of Records Eligible for Correction: - Eligible records include but are not limited to birth certificates, death certificates, census records, school records, and military service documents held by federal or state agencies.
(c) Types of Corrective Action: - Eligible individuals shall be entitled to amend records to reflect their accurate heritage, including changes to racial and cultural designations in line with their documented ancestry.
SECTION 6. CREATION OF THE DOCUMENTATION INTEGRITY FUND.
(a) Establishment of the Fund: - There is hereby established a “Documentation Integrity Fund” to be managed by the Department of the Interior.
(b) Purpose of the Fund: - The Fund shall provide financial assistance to individuals seeking to verify and correct historical records, including costs associated with genealogy research, DNA testing, and the acquisition of necessary documents.
(c) Grant Programs: - Eligible individuals and nonprofit organizations dedicated to genealogical restoration may apply for grants to support identity reclamation projects and document correction efforts.
SECTION 7. GENEALOGY VERIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Genealogy Services: - The Department of the Interior shall establish a program offering free or subsidized genealogy services to assist eligible individuals in establishing their accurate ancestry. - This program shall include access to DNA testing, ancestry databases, and professional genealogists to verify claims and document corrections.
(b) Public Access to Historical Records: - Public access to historical records shall be expanded to facilitate the verification of lineage for individuals seeking to correct their records. - Federal and state archives shall cooperate in making records accessible and affordable for the purpose of identity reclamation.
SECTION 8. NATIONAL IDENTITY RESTORATION DATABASE.
(a) Database Creation: - The Department of the Interior, in collaboration with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), shall establish a National Identity Restoration Database. - This database shall serve as a repository of corrected records and shall be accessible to federal, state, and local agencies to prevent further misclassification.
(b) Privacy and Access: - All personal information in the database shall be protected in accordance with federal privacy laws. Access to corrected records shall be restricted to authorized users, with the individual’s consent required for third-party access.
SECTION 9. RECORDS CORRECTION CENTERS.
(a) Establishment of Centers: - The Department of the Interior shall establish “Records Correction Centers” in key regions across the United States. These centers will assist individuals in accessing genealogical services, retrieving historical records, and submitting corrections.
(b) Employment and Training: - Each center shall employ trained genealogists, archivists, and records specialists to support individuals seeking documentation correction. Staff training shall include sensitivity to the cultural history and experiences of descendants of enslaved Americans and Indigenous communities.
SECTION 10. LEGAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST MISCLASSIFICATION.
(a) Protection Against Future Misclassification: - Federal and state agencies shall be prohibited from altering an individual’s designated heritage or identity without the individual’s consent.
(b) Right to Contest Misclassification: - Any individual who believes they have been subjected to inaccurate classification shall have the right to contest such classification with the appropriate federal or state agency. (c) Documentation Audits: - Federal and state agencies shall periodically audit records to identify and correct any cases of historical misclassification, with a focus on minimizing future instances.
SECTION 11. ANNUAL REPORTING TO CONGRESS.
Annual Report: The Secretary of the Interior shall submit an annual report to Congress detailing the number of individuals assisted, the types of records corrected, and the effectiveness of the Fund and associated programs.
Review and Recommendations: Every five years, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall evaluate the impact of this Act and provide recommendations for improvement.
SECTION 12. FUNDING.
Authorization of Appropriations: Such funds as may be necessary are authorized to be appropriated to implement the provisions of this Act, including the Documentation Integrity Fund, the genealogy assistance program, and the establishment of Records Correction Centers.
SECTION 13. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.
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The Issue
Paper Genocide Reversal and Documentation Integrity Act
A Bill to Enable Descendants of Enslaved Americans and Misclassified Indigenous Peoples to Restore Their Ancestry and Correct Misclassified Records, Preserving Cultural and Historical Integrity
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Paper Genocide Reversal and Documentation Integrity Act.”
SECTION 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that:
Historical Misclassification: Many individuals, including descendants of enslaved Americans and Indigenous peoples, were subjected to systemic reclassification practices that obscured or erased their cultural identities.
Impact of Paper Genocide: The forced reclassification of identities has resulted in the loss of cultural heritage, difficulties in tracing ancestry, and the erasure of unique identities within official records.
Right to Accurate Representation: Individuals have a right to ensure their heritage is accurately represented in public and historical records to preserve cultural identity and honor ancestral lineage.
Government Responsibility: The federal government has a duty to support the correction of historical misclassifications and prevent further erasure of cultural identities.
SECTION 3. PURPOSE.
The purposes of this Act are:
To create a federal process for descendants of enslaved Americans and misclassified Indigenous individuals to correct historical racial misclassifications in government records.
To establish funding for genealogical verification services and records correction to support identity reclamation.
To protect individuals from future misclassification and uphold the integrity of cultural and historical documentation.
SECTION 4. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act:
Descendants of Enslaved Americans: Individuals who can trace their lineage to persons enslaved in the United States prior to the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
Misclassified Indigenous Individuals: Individuals or descendants of individuals who were historically reclassified under racial terms like “Colored” or “Negro,” erasing their Indigenous identity.
Paper Genocide: The systemic erasure or reclassification of cultural identities through legal, social, or bureaucratic measures, leading to the erasure of heritage in public records.
SECTION 5. RIGHT TO RECORD CORRECTION.
(a) Eligibility for Correction: - Any individual who can establish a credible claim of ancestral misclassification as a descendant of enslaved Americans or as a misclassified Indigenous person shall have the right to correct official records that inaccurately represent their heritage.
(b) Scope of Records Eligible for Correction: - Eligible records include but are not limited to birth certificates, death certificates, census records, school records, and military service documents held by federal or state agencies.
(c) Types of Corrective Action: - Eligible individuals shall be entitled to amend records to reflect their accurate heritage, including changes to racial and cultural designations in line with their documented ancestry.
SECTION 6. CREATION OF THE DOCUMENTATION INTEGRITY FUND.
(a) Establishment of the Fund: - There is hereby established a “Documentation Integrity Fund” to be managed by the Department of the Interior.
(b) Purpose of the Fund: - The Fund shall provide financial assistance to individuals seeking to verify and correct historical records, including costs associated with genealogy research, DNA testing, and the acquisition of necessary documents.
(c) Grant Programs: - Eligible individuals and nonprofit organizations dedicated to genealogical restoration may apply for grants to support identity reclamation projects and document correction efforts.
SECTION 7. GENEALOGY VERIFICATION AND ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Genealogy Services: - The Department of the Interior shall establish a program offering free or subsidized genealogy services to assist eligible individuals in establishing their accurate ancestry. - This program shall include access to DNA testing, ancestry databases, and professional genealogists to verify claims and document corrections.
(b) Public Access to Historical Records: - Public access to historical records shall be expanded to facilitate the verification of lineage for individuals seeking to correct their records. - Federal and state archives shall cooperate in making records accessible and affordable for the purpose of identity reclamation.
SECTION 8. NATIONAL IDENTITY RESTORATION DATABASE.
(a) Database Creation: - The Department of the Interior, in collaboration with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), shall establish a National Identity Restoration Database. - This database shall serve as a repository of corrected records and shall be accessible to federal, state, and local agencies to prevent further misclassification.
(b) Privacy and Access: - All personal information in the database shall be protected in accordance with federal privacy laws. Access to corrected records shall be restricted to authorized users, with the individual’s consent required for third-party access.
SECTION 9. RECORDS CORRECTION CENTERS.
(a) Establishment of Centers: - The Department of the Interior shall establish “Records Correction Centers” in key regions across the United States. These centers will assist individuals in accessing genealogical services, retrieving historical records, and submitting corrections.
(b) Employment and Training: - Each center shall employ trained genealogists, archivists, and records specialists to support individuals seeking documentation correction. Staff training shall include sensitivity to the cultural history and experiences of descendants of enslaved Americans and Indigenous communities.
SECTION 10. LEGAL PROTECTIONS AGAINST MISCLASSIFICATION.
(a) Protection Against Future Misclassification: - Federal and state agencies shall be prohibited from altering an individual’s designated heritage or identity without the individual’s consent.
(b) Right to Contest Misclassification: - Any individual who believes they have been subjected to inaccurate classification shall have the right to contest such classification with the appropriate federal or state agency. (c) Documentation Audits: - Federal and state agencies shall periodically audit records to identify and correct any cases of historical misclassification, with a focus on minimizing future instances.
SECTION 11. ANNUAL REPORTING TO CONGRESS.
Annual Report: The Secretary of the Interior shall submit an annual report to Congress detailing the number of individuals assisted, the types of records corrected, and the effectiveness of the Fund and associated programs.
Review and Recommendations: Every five years, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall evaluate the impact of this Act and provide recommendations for improvement.
SECTION 12. FUNDING.
Authorization of Appropriations: Such funds as may be necessary are authorized to be appropriated to implement the provisions of this Act, including the Documentation Integrity Fund, the genealogy assistance program, and the establishment of Records Correction Centers.
SECTION 13. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.
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Petition created on November 8, 2024