110 HR 6056 IH: To authorize the Archivist of the United States to make U.S. House of Representatives 2008-05-14 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6056 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 14, 2008 Mr. Hinchey (for himself, Mr. Cannon, Mr. Nadler, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Towns, Mrs. Maloney of New York, Mr. McHugh, Mr. Israel, Mr. Engel, Mr. Crowley, Mr. McDermott, and Mr. McGovern) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform A BILL To authorize the Archivist of the United States to make grants to States for the preservation and dissemination of historical records.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Preserving the American Historical Record Act”.
2.
Findings
Congress finds the following: (1)Much of the American historical record, such as evidence of births, education, marriage, divorce, property owned, obligations satisfied, and criminal conduct, is held at the State and local level by organizations that preserve the records that protect the rights of the Nation. (2)The United States has recognized the importance of history by its support of national institutions such as the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian Institution. Yet, this support is not adequate to reach the rest of the Nation’s archives being held in State and local historical societies, archives, and library history collections. (3)More resources need to be directed to State and local organizations to ensure essential care of documents and archival records in their many forms so that they can be readily used by the people of this Nation. (4)History connects people to community—whether the community is a family, a neighborhood, a city, a State, or a nation. Connections to the past are essential to sustaining democracy, educating students, creating a sense of place in family and community, supporting information needs in business and legal affairs, and making reasoned decisions about the Nation’s future direction.
3.
Purposes
The purposes of this Act are— (1)to protect historical records from harm, to prolong their life, and to preserve them for public use, through the use of electronic records initiatives and plans for disaster preparedness, recovery and other preservation activities; (2)to use historical records in new and creative ways to convey the importance of State, territorial, and community history, including the development of teaching materials for elementary, secondary, and post-secondary teachers, active participation in National History Day, and support for life-long learning opportunities; (3)to provide education and training to archivists and others who care for historical records, ensuring that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to fulfill their important responsibilities; and (4)to create a wide variety of access tools, including archival finding aids, documentary editions, indexes, and images of key records maintained on Internet websites of State and local organizations.
4.
Authority to make grants
The Archivist may make grants under this Act to States to carry out programs consistent with the purposes of this Act.
5.
Use of grant amounts
(a)
Requirements
The Archivist may not award grants to any State under this Act unless— (1)the State agrees to use grant amounts only to carry programs consistent with the purposes of this Act; (2)the State certifies the availability of State or private funds, or an in-kind equivalent, equal to half the amount of the grant to be awarded; and (3)the State ensures that grant amounts are used to supplement, and not supplant, non-Federal funds that would otherwise be available for those purposes. (b)
Additional Conditions
The Archivist may require additional terms and conditions in connection with the use of grant amounts provided under this Act as the Archivist considers appropriate.
6.
Selection criteria
(a)
Awarding of grants
The Archivist shall award grant amounts under this Act in accordance with criteria to be established by the Archivist consistent with the purposes of this Act. (b)
Consultation with State Archivists and Secretaries of State
In establishing the criteria under subsection (a), the Archivist shall consult with appropriate State and local officials.
7.
Application
The Archivist may award grant amounts under this Act only to a State that has submitted an application to the Archivist at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Archivist may require.
8.
Review and sanctions
(a)
Annual report by State
Each State receiving funds under this Act during a calender year shall provide to the Archivist, no later than January 31 of the following year, a report on activities supported by such funds during the previous calendar year. (b)
Annual review
The Archivist shall review annually the report provided by each State under subsection (a) to determine the extent to which the State has complied with the provisions of this Act. (c)
Imposition of sanctions
The Archivist may impose sanctions on any State for any failure to comply substantially with the provisions of this Act. The Archivist shall establish the sanctions to be imposed for a failure to comply substantially with the provisions of this Act.
9.
Annual report
Not later than March 1 of each year, the Archivist shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives a report describing the activities carried out under this Act and containing any related information that the Archivist considers appropriate.
10.
Definitions
In this Act: (1)
State
The term State includes the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. (2)
Archivist
The term Archivist means the Archivist of the United States appointed under section 2103 of title 44, United States Code. (3)
Historical Records
The term Historical Record means unpublished materials created or received by a person, family, or organization, public or private, in the conduct of their affairs that are preserved because of the enduring value contained in the information they contain or as evidence of the functions and responsibilities of their creator. (4)
State Archivist
The term “State Archivist” means the individual mandated by law within each State with responsibility for managing the archival records of State government.
11.
Regulations
The Archivist shall prescribe any regulations necessary to carry out this Act.
12.
Authorization of appropriations
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Archivist $50,000,000 each fiscal year for five fiscal years, beginning with the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, to make grants under this Act.