[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 136 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H11408-H11409]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NATIONAL HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS COMMISSION AUTHORIZATION 
               FOR FISCAL YEARS 1998, 1999, 2000 AND 2001

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
Senate bill (S. 1577) to authorize appropriations for the National 
Historical Publications and Records Commission for fiscal years 1998, 
1999, 2000 and 2001.
  The Clerk read 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.''.


[[Page H11409]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida [Mr. Mica] and the gentlewoman from Florida [Mrs. Thurman] each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Mica].
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as the sponsor of H.R. 3625, the House version of this 
bill, I want to thank the distinguished Senator Hatfield for his 
leadership on the bill before us. I would also like to thank Chairman 
Clinger of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Chairman 
Zeliff of the Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs, 
and Criminal Justice, and the gentlelady from Florida and ranking 
member of the subcommittee, Mrs. Thurman for their support of this 
bill.
  The National Historical Publications and Records Commission [NHPRC], 
established in 1934, is a Federal-State partnership program, 
administered by the national archives. The NHPRC is dedicated to 
promoting, preserving, and publishing records that document American 
history nationwide. No other Federal program has this mandate.
  In cooperation with State historical records advisory boards, the 
NHPRC generates grants to solve archival problems, preserve valuable 
historical records, and ensure accessibility to non-Federal records. 
These NHPRC grants are enabling historians to collect, edit, and 
publish papers on major figures in American history such as Thomas 
Edison, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, and Martin Luther King. 
Thanks to the NHPRC, priceless historical documents previously lost to 
sight are becoming widely accessible.
  The NHPRC's current 4-year authority expires at the end of fiscal 
year 1997, for which the appropriations ceiling is $10 million. S. 1577 
reauthorizes the commission for another 4 years at the same 
appropriations ceiling previously authorized. Because administrative 
costs for the NHPRC's staff are absorbed by the National Archives, all 
funds authorized by S. 1577 will go directly to support non-Federal 
projects in the field. Matching grants, cost-sharing requirements, and 
private-sector fundraising provide on average $3 for every $1 granted 
by the NHPRC.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join in passing 
this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. THURMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I thank the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Mica] for bringing this bill 
before the House today.
  The National Historical Publications and Records Commission is an 
important part of the efforts to preserve the documents which make up 
the history of our country for future generations. The reauthorization 
we are voting on today continues the Commission's authorization at the 
current level of $10 million for another 4 years.
  The National Historical Publications and Records Commission helps 
State, local, and private institutions preserve non-Federal records, 
helps publish the papers of major figures in American History, and 
helps archivists and records managers improve their techniques, 
training, and ability to serve a range of information users.
  This Commission is as dedicated to assuring that local and State 
records are afforded the same preservation as Federal records wherever 
possible.
  The Commission has assisted in preserving the papers of Thomas 
Jefferson, Andrew Johnson, and Andrew Jackson, as well as the 
correspondence of James K. Polk. It has been an important force in 
preserving the papers of political figures, military leaders, 
scientists, diplomats, and numerous corporate and organizational 
records.
  Nearly all of the grants provided by the National Historical 
Publications and Records Commission are matching grants. The local 
organization, be it a city library or a State archive, are required to 
pay a substantial portion of the project. This allows the Commission to 
support more projects, and it requires a strong local commitment for 
the project to go forward.
  The Commission has given grants to historical societies, libraries 
and State and local institutions for the preservation of a broad range 
of materials. Since its inception, more than 500 organizations in all 
50 States and the District of Columbia, as well as Puerto Rico, the 
Virgin Islands, and American Samoa have received grants.
  In my State, the Commission has made grants to the Florida State 
Historical Records Advisory Board, the Florida Department of State, and 
several grants to the University of Florida in Gainesville.
  The National Historical Publications and Records Commission plays a 
vital part in preserving the documents that make American history come 
alive at the national, State, and local level. This reauthorization 
allows the Commission to continue for another 4 years, and I urge my 
colleagues to vote for H.R. 3625.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is not the most monumental piece to 
pass this Congress. There have been so many significant accomplishments 
of this Congress, passing the first balanced budget for the American 
people since 1969, passing line-item veto which I read about as a 
student in high school and talked about as a candidate for office years 
ago, changing our insurance and health care coverage so that people 
with prior disabilities and people who change or lose jobs could in 
fact be secure in the knowledge of being able to receive health 
coverage. Many other significant reforms have passed this Congress, 
including cutting the budget of the legislative branch of Government by 
a quarter of a billion dollars, doing away with 2,000 positions, doing 
away with the daily delivery of ice at a cost of over $400,000 and 
requiring 14 employees in the Congress, requiring an extra majority for 
passage of tax increases on the floor, ending the proxy voting which 
took place on a regular basis in the committee process. So many reforms 
that have taken place here.
  This is not that kind of legislation, but it is a piece of 
legislation that is important to our children, to people who are 
interested in the great history of this country, of this Congress, our 
great Nation and its historic background, and it also shows what the 
Federal Government working in partnership with States and local 
governments and the private sector can do to make those documents 
available that outline the rich heritage and history of our Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to present this legislation and again 
want to thank the gentlewoman for her leadership. I have enjoyed 
working with her, I have enjoyed working with the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Clinger], the chairman of our committee who is going 
to be leaving, and the gentlewoman for Illinois [Mrs. Collins], also, 
the ranking member of the full committee, who also was supportive of 
this legislation and many other reforms that came through the Committee 
on Government Reform and Oversight.
  Mr. Speaker, again this is not a monumental piece of legislation but 
it is a significant piece of legislation and important that we pass on 
the rich heritage of this Nation to our children and do it in 
cooperation with many organizations and levels of government.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Mica] that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the Senate bill, S. 1577.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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