[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1353-S1354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATFIELD (for himself and Mr. Sarbanes):
  S. 1577. A bill to authorize appropriations for the National 
Historical Publications and Records Commission for fiscal years 1998, 
1999, 2000, and 2001; to the Committee on Rules and Administration.


      THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS COMMISSION 
                      REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1996

 Mr. HATFIELD. Mr. President, it is a great pleasure for me to 
today introduce a bill to reauthorize the functions of the National 
Historical Publications and Records Commission on which I serve. I am 
pleased to be joined by my good friend and colleague, Senator Sarbanes. 
Senator Sarbanes and I have a long association with the Commission.
  This important organization, closely associated with the National 
Archives and Records Administration, has been diligently performing 
some of the most vital archival preservation work in the country. 
Realizing the importance of preserving historical works and 
collections, Congress established the National Historical Publications 
and Records Commission in 1934. Its purpose was to collect, edit, and 
publish the papers of the Founding Fathers, the writings of other 
distinguished Americans, and the documentary histories of the First 
Congress, the Supreme Court, and the process of the ratification of the 
Constitution. In 1974, Congress expanded the Commission's 
responsibilities to include providing advice and assistance to public 
and private institutions in the development and administration of 
archival systems. In the same year, the NHPRC established a Historical 
Records Advisory Board in each State to help coordinate overall 
preservation strategies and to ensure that the Commission would have a 
strong Federal-State partnership for its records programs.
  Today, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission 
has not strayed from its original mission. The NHPRC continues to 
screen and determine the historical works it considers appropriate for 
preserving or publishing. The Commission administers grants to projects 
dedicated to preserving annals essential for historical research, 
publishing historical papers, and archiving nationally significant 
records. Without the preservation of these invaluable records, 
historians have little hope of accurately analyzing our Nation's 
history. Another important aspect of the Commission's objective is to 
encourage and instruct local agencies, schools, museums, and 
individuals to forge ahead in their actions to preserve and publish 
historical works; the tasks facing archival institutions, manuscript 
depositories, and scholars require more than the valiant efforts of a 
single Federal Commission. The valuable work of the Commission is a 
very good example of a healthy partnership between public and private 
institutions, Federal and State agencies. The NHPRC pays no more than 
one-third of the funds of the projects that it supports. Thus, the 
program is one of aiding and working closely with individuals and local 
institutions dedicated to preserving important facets of our history.
  The number of records that the Commission has preserved and published 
is an impressive tribute to its efficient organization. To date, the 
NHPRC has supported 1,056 archival projects in all 50 States, three 
territories, and the District of Columbia. These projects have 
published 717 documentary volumes. Recent project grants have gone to 
an agency in Illinois to preserve Abraham Lincoln's legal papers and to 
a center in Atlanta to publish the papers of Martin Luther King, Jr. In 
addition, the Commission has produced 8,280 reels of microfilm as well 
as 1,822 microfiche. Finally, the NHPRC has supported a total of 274 
documentary editing projects. As the numbers suggest, the Commission 
has been quite successful in its mission to preserve and publish the 
Nation's historical works.
  The bill I am introducing today seeks to extend authorization of 
appropriations for an additional 4 years in amounts up to $10 million 
annually. This appropriation would cover fiscal years 1998, 1999, 2000, 
and 2001. One hundred percent of the appropriations go 

[[Page S1354]]
entirely toward project grants; the National Archives bears the 
administrative costs. The American public may be assured that their 
investment is well spent by the NHPRC.
  Passage of this important legislation will reassure America's 
community of scholars, librarians, and archivists working closely with 
the NHPRC that Congress is committed to the important mission of the 
Commission. In the past, Congress has clearly supported the work of the 
NHPRC and has recognized the importance of the Commission's efforts to 
ensure that the words, thoughts, and ideas of our Nation's historic 
individuals are collected from fragile or deteriorating source material 
and placed in books or on microfilm. Passage of this bill will ensure 
that present and future generations of inquisitive minds will have 
access to our history.
  Mr. President, this bill will allow the NHPRC to continue its 
valuable work for the next 4 years--work that will be of the utmost 
benefit to scholars, researchers, libraries, and the public. Our 
Nation's history needs to be preserved, and the future generations of 
Americans deserve the right to have accurate records of their past. The 
preservation of our historical documents will protect and enrich our 
Nation's wonderful history. I am proud to be a sponsor of this 
legislation and confident in urging my colleagues to give their support 
to this important legislation.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1577

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL 
                   HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS COMMISSION.

       Section 2504(f)(1) of title 44, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (F) by striking out ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (2) in subparagraph (G) by striking out the period and 
     inserting in lieu thereof a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(H) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
       ``(I) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;
       ``(J) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; and
       ``(K) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.''

 Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I am pleased to join today with 
Senator Hatfield in introducing legislation to reauthorize the National 
Historical Publications and Records Commission for 4 years.
  It has been my privilege to alternate with Senator Hatfield in 
serving as the representative of the U.S. Senate on the National 
Historical Publications and Records Commission, Senator Hatfield 
represented the Senate from 1983 to 1988, and I succeeded him until my 
term expired last year. The Commission has had strong bipartisan 
support throughout its history, and I trust will continue to do so.
  The NHPRC's statutory mandate is to promote the preservation and use 
of America's historical legacy. The work of the NHPRC assures all 
Americans that the history of our Nation will be documented, that vital 
historical records will be kept safe, and that historians and others 
will have ready access to those records.
  Grants awarded through the National Historical Publications and 
Records Commission are producing valuable results. In my own State of 
Maryland, the Commission is helping scholars edit, and presses publish, 
editions of papers that document the emancipation of slaves and the 
careers of important historical figures.
  Other important discoveries have resulted from grants awarded to 
scholars by the Commission. For example, NHPRC grants resulted recently 
in the discovery of the longest document yet known that Abraham Lincoln 
wrote in his own hand, a group of letters written to James Madison by a 
famous jurist in the era of our revolution, an the original drawing 
made by Architect William Thornton for the ground plan of the U.S. 
Capitol.
  Although the Commission has been doing this work since it was 
established by Congress in 1934, its efforts remain relevant to today's 
concerns. We have seen States and local governments across the country, 
with advice and assistance from the Commission, establish archival 
programs. We have seen the Commission launch several projects to deal 
with the growing problem facing archivists in controlling and accessing 
valuable electronic records, and helping historians make their 
documentary editions accessible electronically on the Internet.
  Mr. President, it is important that the Commission continue its 
respected work in preserving the heritage of our Nation. The 
reauthorization legislation I am joining Senator Hatfield in 
introducing is a practical and important step in ensuring continuity of 
the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. I urge my 
colleagues to join us in ensuring its swift passage.
                                 ______