[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 162 (Tuesday, November 16, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H12077-H12078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL RECORDING PRESERVATION ACT OF 1999

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, since the development of audio-recording 
technology in the 19th Century, composers, musicians, and others have 
joined to create thousands of sound recordings which have amused, 
entertained, and enriched us individually and as a Nation. Sadly, as 
the 21st Century approaches, many of America's most previous sound 
recordings, recorded on perishable media, may be lost forever unless we 
act to preserve them for the use and enjoyment of future generations.
  Today I am introducing, along with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Davis), the gentlemen from Tennessee 
(Messrs. Clement, Gordon, Wamp, Tanner, Ford, Duncan, and Jenkins), the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Serrano), and the gentlewoman from 
Missouri (Ms. McCarthy), an important measure designed to help preserve 
this irreplaceable aspect of America's cultural heritage. I hope all 
Members will join us in support of this effort.
  In 1988, Congress wisely enacted the National Film Preservation Act, 
which established a program in the Library of Congress to support the 
work of actors, archivists and the motion-picture industry to preserve 
America's disappearing film heritage. The bill we introduce today, the 
National Recording Preservation Act, follows the trail blazed by the 
Library's successful film program.
  The measure would create a National Recording Registry at the Library 
to identify, maintain and preserve sound recordings of cultural, 
aesthetic, or historic significance. Each year the Librarian of 
Congress will be able to select up to 25 recordings or groups of 
recordings for placement on the Registry, upon nominations made by the 
public, industry or archive representatives; recordings will be 
eligible for selection ten years after their creation.
  A National Recording Preservation Board will assist the Librarian in 
implementing a comprehensive recording preservation program, working 
with artists, archivists, educators and historians, copyright owners, 
recording-industry representatives, and others. A National Recording 
Preservation Foundation, chartered by the bill, will encourage, accept 
and administer private contributions to promote preservation of 
recordings, and public accessibility to the Nation's recording 
heritage, held at the Library and at other archives throughout the 
United States.
  The bill authorizes appropriations of up to $500,000 per year for 
seven years to fund the Library's preservation program, and up to 
$500,000 yearly for the same period to match the non-federal funds 
raised by the Foundation for preservation purposes.
  I include for the Record a letter received from Dr. James H. 
Billington, the Librarian of Congress, expressing his strong support 
for this measure, which will be introduced in the Senate by the senior 
senator from Louisiana (Mr. Breaux):
  Madam Speaker, my co-sponsors and I fervently hope that by enacting 
this modest bill, the Congress, working with the private sector to 
leverage the available resources, can spark creation of a 
comprehensive, sensible and effective program to preserve our Nation's 
sound-recording heritage for our children and grandchildren. We look 
forward to its quick enactment.

                                               Library of Congress


                                       Bicentennial 1800-2000,

                                 Washington, DC, November 9, 1999.
     Hon. Steny H. Hoyer,
     Committee on House Administration, House of Representatives, 
         Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Hoyer: Thank you for seeking comments from the 
     Library of Congress on your draft legislation to create a 
     National Sound Recording Board and Foundation. We have had 
     great success with a similar program to preserve the nation's 
     film heritage, and I believe your legislation will allow the 
     Library to build on that success in developing a national 
     program for sound recordings.
       The key components of the legislation--a national recording 
     registry, an advisory

[[Page H12078]]

     board bringing together experts in the field, and a 
     fundraising foundation--have all been reviewed by the staffs 
     of the Library's Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded 
     Sound Division and American Folklife Center, as well as our 
     legal staff, and appear to provide the necessary elements of 
     a comprehensive program to ensure the survival, conservation, 
     and increased public availability of America's sound 
     recording heritage.
       I am pleased that the legislation includes a directive for 
     a comprehensive national recording preservation study and 
     action plan, such as the one produced in 1993 under 
     Congressional directive, which laid the framework for a 
     national film preservation program. This study would serve as 
     the basis for a national preservation plan, including setting 
     standards for future private and public preservation efforts, 
     and will be conducted in conjunction with the state-of-the-
     art National Audio-Visual Conservation Center we are 
     developing in Culpeper, Virginia. The Center and the program 
     created by your legislation will each benefit from the 
     existence and work of the other.
       I support the bill in both goal and substance. I will need 
     your support, however, in assuring that any funds 
     appropriated for the Board or Foundation are new funds added 
     to the Library's base. We cannot afford to absorb these 
     costs, as happened this year with funds for the National Film 
     Preservation Foundation. Please thank your staff members, Bob 
     Bean and Michael Harrison, for their hard work and extensive 
     consultation with the Library in developing this legislation. 
     Please let me know if Congressional staff would like to visit 
     the Library's sound recording program to see what we do 
     currently and how your legislation might be implemented.
           Sincerely,
                                              James H. Billington,
     The Librarian of Congress.

                          ____________________