Tupac Amaru Shakur Records Collection Act (HR 4210)

Tupac Shakur was an outspoken music artist who was brutally murdered in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1996. His murder case has yet to be solved. Since the 1950s, the FBI and other agencies of the United States Government have engaged in illegal surveillance activities of activists, writers and artists who were not involved in any criminal activity. Black musicians have been a focal point of such surveillance, including harassment.

Tupac's mother, a member of the Black Panther Party, was the focus of intense FBI surveillance prior to his birth. From childhood he was hounded by FBI and CIA investigators seeking information on the whereabouts of his family members, most of whom were in jail, in exile or who had been murdered. Tupac himself was closely monitored by intelligence agents until his death.

There is a compelling public interest in the life of Tupac Shakur because he was and remains a well-known cultural figure. Tupac's family and his fans have a right to access the full record, and anything additional that it may disclose to aid in the solving of this case.

This bill, modeled after the MLK records Act (HR 2554), would establish an independent Citizens Advisory Committee, appointed by the Archivist based upon nominations sent by the civil rights, civil liberties, African-American and entertainment communities. The Committee would assist the Archivist in the collection, review, redaction and disclosure of records concerning Tupac Shakur. The Committee would have the authority to investigate the facts surrounding the transmission of records, and to take testimony of individuals in order to fulfill their responsibilities. The Act would terminate after 3 years. Any records pending release would be presumed available for release within 60 days of the termination of the Act. Any records that had been postponed would be released one year later.

An updated version of the bill will be introduced soon.