[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1927 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1927
To establish the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress
to maintain and preserve recordings that are culturally, historically,
or aesthetically significant, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 16, 1999
Mr. Breaux introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress
to maintain and preserve recordings that are culturally, historically,
or aesthetically significant, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Recording Preservation Act
of 1999''.
TITLE I--RECORDING PRESERVATION BY THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Subtitle A--National Recording Registry
SEC. 101. NATIONAL RECORDING REGISTRY OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
The Librarian of Congress shall establish the National Recording
Registry for the purpose of maintaining and preserving recordings that
are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
SEC. 102. DUTIES OF LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS.
(a) Establishment of Criteria and Procedures.--For purposes of
carrying out this subtitle, the Librarian shall--
(1) establish criteria and procedures under which
recordings may be included in the National Recording Registry,
except that no recording shall be eligible for inclusion in the
National Recording Registry until 10 years after the
recording's creation;
(2) establish procedures under which the general public may
make recommendations to the National Recording Preservation
Board established under subtitle C regarding the inclusion of
recordings in the National Recording Registry; and
(3) determine which recordings satisfy the criteria
established under paragraph (1) and select such recordings for
inclusion in the National Recording Registry, except that the
Librarian may not select more than 25 recordings or groups of
recordings each year for inclusion in the Registry.
(b) Publication of Recordings in the Registry.--The Librarian shall
publish in the Federal Register the name of each recording that is
selected for inclusion in the National Recording Registry.
SEC. 103. SEAL OF THE NATIONAL RECORDING REGISTRY.
(a) In General.--The Librarian shall provide a seal to indicate
that a recording has been included in the National Recording Registry
and is the Registry version of that recording.
(b) Use of Seal.--The Librarian shall establish guidelines for
approval of the use of the seal provided under subsection (a), and
shall include in the guidelines the following:
(1) The seal may only be used on recording copies of the
Registry version of a recording.
(2) The seal may be used only after the Librarian has given
approval to those persons seeking to apply the seal in
accordance with the guidelines.
(3) In the case of copyrighted mass distributed, broadcast,
or published works, only the copyright legal owner or an
authorized licensee of that copyright owner may place or
authorize the placement of the seal on any recording copy of
the Registry version of any recording that is maintained in the
National Recording Registry Collection in the Library of
Congress.
(4) Anyone authorized to place the seal on any recording
copy of any Registry version of a recording may accompany such
seal with the following language: ``This recording was selected
for inclusion in the National Recording Registry by the
Librarian of Congress in consultation with the National
Recording Preservation Board of the Library of Congress because
of its cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance.''.
(c) Effective Date of the Seal.--The use of the seal provided under
subsection (a) with respect to a recording shall be effective beginning
on the date the Librarian publishes in the Federal Register (in
accordance with section 102(b)) the name of the recording, as selected
for inclusion in the National Recording Registry.
(d) Prohibited Uses of the Seal.--
(1) Prohibition on distribution and exhibition.--No person
may knowingly distribute or exhibit to the public a version of
a recording or any copy of a recording which bears the seal
described in subsection (a) if such recording--
(A) is not included in the National Recording
Registry; or
(B) is included in the National Recording Registry
but has not been approved for use of the seal by the
Librarian pursuant to the guidelines established under
subsection (b).
(2) Prohibition on promotion.--No person may knowingly use
the seal described in subsection (a) to promote any version of
a recording or recording copy other than a Registry version.
(e) Remedies for Violations.--
(1) Jurisdiction.--The several district courts of the
United States shall have jurisdiction, for cause shown, to
prevent and restrain violations of subsection (d).
(2) Relief.--
(A) Removal of seal.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), relief for violation of subsection
(d) shall be limited to the removal of the seal from
the recording involved in the violation.
(B) Fine and injunctive relief.--In the case of a
pattern or practice of the willful violation of
subsection (d), the court may order a civil fine of not
more than $10,000 and appropriate injunctive relief.
(3) Limitation of remedies.--The remedies provided in this
subsection shall be the exclusive remedies under this title, or
any other Federal or State law, regarding the use of the seal
described in subsection (a).
SEC. 104. NATIONAL RECORDING REGISTRY COLLECTION OF THE LIBRARY OF
CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--All copies of recordings on the National Recording
Registry that are received by the Librarian under subsection (b), and
other materials received by the Librarian under subsection (c), shall
be maintained in the Library of Congress and be known as the ``National
Recording Registry Collection of the Library of Congress''. The
Librarian shall by regulation and in accordance with title 17, United
States Code, provide for reasonable access to the recordings and other
materials in such collection for scholarly and research purposes.
(b) Acquisition of Quality Copies.--The Librarian shall seek to
obtain, by gift from the owner, a quality copy of the Registry version
of each recording included in the National Recording Registry. Whenever
possible, the Librarian shall seek to obtain the best surviving
materials, including pre-mixed master recordings. Copyright owners, and
others possessing copies of such materials, are strongly encouraged to
provide pre-mix, master archival elements to the Library of Congress.
(c) Additional Materials.--The Librarian shall seek to obtain, for
educational and research purposes, additional materials related to each
recording included in the National Recording Registry, including
background materials, unedited multi-track original tapes, out-takes,
music or scripts used in the recording sessions, contracts, mix and cue
sheets for final mix down, metal parts, master or earliest known copy,
and other similar materials.
(d) Property of United States.--All copies of recordings on the
National Recording Registry that are received by the Librarian under
subsection (b), and other materials received by the Librarian under
subsection (c), shall become the property of the United States
Government, subject to the provisions of title 17, United States Code.
Subtitle B--National Recording Preservation Program
SEC. 111. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM BY LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS.
(a) In General.--The Librarian shall, after consultation with the
National Recording Preservation Board established under subtitle C,
implement a comprehensive national recording preservation program, in
conjunction with other recording archivists, educators and historians,
copyright owners, recording industry representatives, and others
involved in activities related to recording preservation, and taking
into account studies conducted by the Board.
(b) Contents of Program Specified.--The program established under
subsection (a) shall--
(1) coordinate activities to assure that efforts of
archivists and copyright owners, and others in the public and
private sector, are effective and complementary;
(2) generate public awareness of and support for these
activities;
(3) increase accessibility of recordings for educational
purposes; and
(4) undertake studies and investigations of recording
preservation activities as needed, including the efficacy of
new technologies, and recommend solutions to improve these
practices.
SEC. 112. PROMOTING ACCESSIBILITY AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF RECORDINGS.
The Librarian shall carry out activities to make sound recordings
more broadly accessible for research and educational purposes and to
generate public awareness and support of the National Recording
Registry and the comprehensive national recording preservation program
established under this subtitle.
Subtitle C--National Recording Preservation Board
SEC. 121. ESTABLISHMENT.
The Librarian shall establish in the Library of Congress a National
Recording Preservation Board whose members shall be selected in
accordance with the procedures described in section 122.
SEC. 122. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS.
(a) Selections From Lists Submitted by Organizations.--
(1) In general.--The Librarian shall request each
organization described in paragraph (2) to submit a list of 3
candidates qualified to serve as a member of the Board. The
Librarian shall appoint one member from each such list, and
shall designate from that list an alternate who may attend at
Board expense those meetings which the individual appointed to
the Board cannot attend.
(2) Organizations described.--The organizations described
in this paragraph are as follows:
(A) National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
(NARAS).
(B) Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA).
(C) Association for Recorded Sound Collections
(ARSC).
(D) American Society of Composers, Authors and
Publishers (ASCAP).
(E) Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).
(F) Songwriters Association (SESAC).
(G) American Federation of Musicians (AF of M).
(H) Music Library Association.
(I) American Musicological Society.
(J) National Archives and Record Administration.
(K) National Association of Recording Merchandisers
(NARM).
(L) Society for Ethnomusicology.
(M) American Folklore Society.
(N) Country Music Foundation.
(O) Rutgers University Jazz Archive.
(P) Rodgers and Hammerstein Archives.
(Q) Stanford University Archive of Recorded Sound.
(R) National Public Radio.
(S) Audio Engineering Society (AES).
(T) National Academy of Popular Music.
(b) Other Members.--
(1) Members of house of representatives and senate.--2
members of the House of Representatives (selected jointly by
the Speaker and minority leader of the House of
Representatives) and 2 members of the Senate (selected jointly
by the majority and minority leaders of the Senate) shall serve
as members of the Board.
(2) Members-at-large.--In addition to the members appointed
under subsection (a), the Librarian may appoint not more than 3
members-at-large. The Librarian shall select an alternate for
each member-at-large, who may attend at Board expense those
meetings that the member-at-large cannot attend.
(c) Chair.--The Librarian shall appoint one member of the Board to
serve as Chair.
(d) Term of Office.--
(1) Terms.--The term of each member of the Board shall be 4
years, except that there shall be no limit to the number of
terms that any individual member may serve.
(2) Removal of member of organization.--
(A) In general.--The Librarian shall have the
authority to remove any member of the Board (or, in the
case of a member appointed under subsection (a)(1), the
organization that such member represents) if the member
or organization over any consecutive 2-year period
fails to attend at least one regularly scheduled Board
meeting.
(B) Exception for members of house and senate.--
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply with respect to a
member of the Board who is a member of the House of
Representatives or Senate appointed under subsection
(b)(1).
(3) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Board shall be filled in
the manner in which the original appointment was made under
subsection (a), except that the Librarian may fill the vacancy
from a list of candidates previously submitted by the
organization or organizations involved. Any member appointed to
fill a vacancy shall be appointed for the remainder of the term
of the member's predecessor.
SEC. 123. SERVICE OF MEMBERS; MEETINGS.
(a) Reimbursement of Expenses.--Members of the Board shall serve
without pay, but may receive travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title
5, United States Code.
(b) Conflict of Interest.--The Librarian shall establish rules and
procedures to address any potential conflict of interest between a
member of the Board and responsibilities of the Board.
(c) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at least once each fiscal year.
Meetings shall be at the call of the Librarian.
(d) Quorum.--12 members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business.
SEC. 124. RESPONSIBILITIES OF BOARD.
(a) Review and Recommendation of Nominations for National Recording
Registry.--
(1) In general.--The Board shall review nominations of
recordings submitted to it for inclusion in the National
Recording Registry and advise the Librarian, as provided in
subtitle A, with respect to the inclusion of such recordings in
the Registry and the preservation of these and other recordings
that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically
significant.
(2) Source of nominations.--The Board shall consider for
inclusion in the National Recording Registry nominations
submitted by the general public as well as representatives of
recording archives and the recording industry (such as the
guilds and societies representing recording artists) and other
creative artists.
(b) Study and Report on Recording Preservation and Restoration.--
The Board shall conduct a study and issue a report on the following
issues:
(1) The current state of sound recording archiving,
preservation and restoration activities.
(2) Taking into account the research and other activities
carried out by or on behalf of the National Audio-Visual
Conservation Center at Culpeper, Virginia--
(A) the methodology and standards needed to make
the transition from analog ``open reel'' preservation
of recordings to digital preservation of recordings;
and
(B) standards for access to preserved recordings by
researchers, educators, and other interested parties.
(3) The establishment of clear standards for copying old
recordings (including equipment specifications and equalization
guidelines).
(4) Current laws and restrictions regarding the use of
archives of sound recordings, including recommendations for
changes in such laws and restrictions to enable the Library of
Congress and other nonprofit institutions in the field of sound
recording preservation to make their collections available to
researchers in a digital format.
(5) Copyright and other laws applicable to the preservation
of sound recordings.
SEC. 125. GENERAL POWERS OF BOARD.
(a) In General.--The Board may, for the purpose of carrying out its
duties, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take
such testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Librarian and the
Board consider appropriate.
(b) Service on Foundation.--Two sitting members of the Board shall
be appointed by the Librarian and shall serve as members of the board
of directors of the National Recording Preservation Foundation, in
accordance with section 152403 of title 36, United States Code.
Subtitle D--General Provisions
SEC. 131. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this title:
(1) The term ``Librarian'' means the Librarian of Congress.
(2) The term ``Board'' means the National Recording
Preservation Board.
(3) The term ``sound recording'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of title 17, United States Code.
(4) The term ``publication'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101 of title 17, United States Code.
(5) The term ``Registry version'' means, with respect to a
recording, the version of a recording first published or
offered for mass distribution whether as a publication or a
broadcast, or as complete a version as bona fide preservation
and restoration activities by the Librarian, an archivist other
than the Librarian, or the copyright legal owner can compile in
those cases where the original material has been irretrievably
lost or the recording is unpublished.
SEC. 132. STAFF; EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.
(a) Staff.--The Librarian may appoint and fix the pay of such
personnel as the Librarian considers appropriate to carry out this
title.
(b) Experts and Consultants.--The Librarian may, in carrying out
this title, procure temporary and intermittent services under section
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals
not to exceed the daily equivalent of the maximum rate of basic pay
payable for level 15 of the General Schedule. In no case may a member
of the Board (including an alternate member) be paid as an expert or
consultant under this section.
SEC. 133. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Librarian for each
of the first 7 fiscal years beginning on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act such sums as may be necessary to carry out this
title, except that the amount authorized for any fiscal year may not
exceed $500,000.
TITLE II--NATIONAL RECORDING PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
SEC. 201. NATIONAL RECORDING PRESERVATION FOUNDATION.
(a) In General.--Part B of subtitle II of title 36, United States
Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 1523 the following:
``CHAPTER 1524--NATIONAL RECORDING PRESERVATION FOUNDATION
``Sec.
``152401. Organization.
``152402. Purposes.
``152403. Board of directors.
``152404. Officers and employees.
``152405. Powers.
``152406. Principal office.
``152407. Provision and acceptance of support by Librarian of Congress.
``152408. Service of process.
``152409. Civil action by Attorney General for equitable relief.
``152410. Immunity of United States Government.
``152411. Authorization of appropriations.
``152412. Annual report.
``Sec. 152401. Organization
``(a) Federal Charter.--The National Recording Preservation
Foundation (in this chapter, the ``corporation'') is a federally
chartered corporation.
``(b) Nature of Corporation.--The corporation is a charitable and
nonprofit corporation and is not an agency or establishment of the
United States Government.
``(c) Perpetual Existence.--Except as otherwise provided, the
corporation has perpetual existence.
``Sec. 152402. Purposes
``The purposes of the corporation are to--
``(1) encourage, accept, and administer private gifts to
promote and ensure the preservation and public accessibility of
the nation's recording heritage held at the Library of Congress
and other public and nonprofit archives throughout the United
States; and
``(2) further the goals of the Library of Congress and the
National Recording Preservation Board in connection with their
activities under the National Recording Preservation Act of
1999.
``Sec. 152403. Board of directors
``(a) General.--The board of directors is the governing body of the
corporation.
``(b) Members and Appointment.--(1) The Librarian of Congress
(hereafter in this chapter referred to as the ``Librarian'') is an ex
officio nonvoting member of the board. Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this chapter, the Librarian shall appoint the
directors to the board in accordance with paragraph (2).
``(2)(A) The board consists of 9 directors.
``(B) Each director shall be a United States citizen.
``(C) At least 6 directors shall be knowledgeable or experienced in
recording production, distribution, preservation, or restoration,
including 2 who are sitting members of the National Recording
Preservation Board. These 6 directors shall, to the extent practicable,
represent diverse points of view from the recording community.
``(D) One director shall be appointed from among a list of nominees
provided by the Executive Director of the National Academy of Recording
Arts and Sciences.
``(3) A director is not an employee of the Library of Congress and
appointment to the board does not constitute appointment as an officer
or employee of the United States Government for the purpose of any law
of the United States.
``(4) The terms of office of the directors are 4 years. An
individual may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
``(5) A vacancy on the board shall be filled in the manner in which
the original appointment was made.
``(c) Chair.--The Librarian shall appoint one of the directors as
the initial chair of the board for a 2-year term. Thereafter, the chair
shall be appointed and removed in accordance with the bylaws of the
corporation.
``(d) Quorum.--The number of directors constituting a quorum of the
board shall be established under the bylaws of the corporation.
``(e) Meetings.--The board shall meet at the call of the Librarian
for regularly scheduled meetings.
``(f) Reimbursement of Expenses.--Directors shall serve without
compensation but may receive travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title
5.
``(g) Liability of Directors.--Directors are not personally liable,
except for gross negligence.
``Sec. 152404. Officers and employees
``(a) Secretary of the Board.--(1) The Librarian shall appoint a
Secretary of the Board to serve as executive director of the
corporation. The Librarian may remove the Secretary.
``(2) The Secretary shall be knowledgeable and experienced in
matters relating to--
``(A) recording preservation and restoration activities;
``(B) financial management; and
``(C) fundraising.
``(b) Appointment of Officers.--Except as provided in subsection
(a) of this section, the board of directors appoints, removes, and
replaces officers of the corporation.
``(c) Appointment of Employees.--Except as provided in subsection
(a) of this section, the Secretary appoints, removes, and replaces
employees of the corporation.
``(d) Status and Compensation of Employees.--Employees of the
corporation (including the Secretary)--
``(1) are not employees of the Library of Congress;
``(2) shall be appointed and removed without regard to the
provisions of title 5 governing appointments in the competitive
service; and
``(3) may be paid without regard to chapter 51 and
subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, except that an
employee may not be paid more than the annual rate of basic pay
for level 15 of the General Schedule under section 5107 of
title 5.
``Sec. 152405. Powers
``(a) General.--The corporation may--
``(1) adopt a constitution and bylaws;
``(2) adopt a seal which shall be judicially noticed; and
``(3) do any other act necessary to carry out this chapter.
``(b) Powers as Trustee.--To carry out its purposes, the
corporation has the usual powers of a corporation acting as a trustee
in the District of Columbia, including the power--
``(1) to accept, receive, solicit, hold, administer, and
use any gift, devise, or bequest, either absolutely or in
trust, of property or any income from or other interest in
property;
``(2) to acquire property or an interest in property by
purchase or exchange;
``(3) unless otherwise required by an instrument of
transfer, to sell, donate, lease, invest, or otherwise dispose
of any property or income from property;
``(4) to borrow money and issue instruments of
indebtedness;
``(5) to make contracts and other arrangements with public
agencies and private organizations and persons and to make
payments necessary to carry out its functions;
``(6) to sue and be sued; and
``(7) to do any other act necessary and proper to carry out
the purposes of the corporation.
``(c) Encumbered or Restricted Gifts.--A gift, devise, or bequest
may be accepted by the corporation even though it is encumbered,
restricted, or subject to beneficial interests of private persons, if
any current or future interest is for the benefit of the corporation.
``Sec. 152406. Principal office
``The principal office of the corporation shall be in the District
of Columbia. However, the corporation may conduct business throughout
the States, territories, and possessions of the United States.
``Sec. 152407. Provision and acceptance of support by Librarian of
Congress
``(a) Provision by Librarian.--(1) The Librarian may provide
personnel, facilities, and other administrative services to the
corporation. Administrative services may include reimbursement of
expenses under section 152403(f).
``(2) The corporation shall reimburse the Librarian for support
provided under paragraph (1) of this subsection. Amounts reimbursed
shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the appropriations
then current and chargeable for the cost of providing the support.
``(b) Acceptance by Librarian.--The Librarian may accept, without
regard to chapters 33 and 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title
5 and related regulations, the services of the corporation and its
directors, officers, and employees as volunteers in performing
functions authorized under this chapter, without compensation from the
Library of Congress.
``Sec. 152408. Service of process
``The corporation shall have a designated agent to receive service
of process for the corporation. Notice to or service on the agent, or
mailed to the business address of the agent, is notice to or service on
the corporation.
``Sec. 152409. Civil action by Attorney General for equitable relief
``The Attorney General may bring a civil action in the United
States District Court for the District of Columbia for appropriate
equitable relief if the corporation--
``(1) engages or threatens to engage in any act, practice,
or policy that is inconsistent with the purposes in section
152402 of this title; or
``(2) refuses, fails, or neglects to carry out its
obligations under this chapter or threatens to do so.
``Sec. 152410. Immunity of United States Government
``The United States Government is not liable for any debts,
defaults, acts, or omissions of the corporation. The full faith and
credit of the Government does not extend to any obligation of the
corporation.
``Sec. 152411. Authorization of appropriations
``(a) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the corporation for each of the first 7 fiscal years beginning on or
after the date of the enactment of this chapter an amount not to exceed
the amount of private contributions (whether in currency, services, or
property) made to the corporation by private persons and State and
local governments.
``(b) Limitation Related to Administrative Expenses.--Except as
permitted under section 152407, amounts authorized under this section
may not be used by the corporation for administrative expenses of the
corporation, including salaries, travel, transportation, and overhead
expenses.
``Sec. 152412. Annual report
``As soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, the
corporation shall submit a report to the Librarian for transmission to
Congress on the activities of the corporation during the prior fiscal
year, including a complete statement of its receipts, expenditures, and
investments.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of chapters for part B of
subtitle II of title 36, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to chapter 1523 the following new item:
``1524. National Recording Preservation Foundation.......... 152401''.
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