[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 171 (Saturday, November 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE NATIONAL FILM PRESERVATION ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. HOWARD L. BERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 21, 2003

  Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, today, the distinguished gentleman from 
Michigan, Representative John Conyers, and I introduce ``the National 
Film Preservation Act of 2003.'' Senator Patrick Leahy joins us by 
introducing identical legislation in the Senate.
  This legislation reauthorizes the National Film Preservation Board 
(NFPB) and the National Film Preservation Foundation (NFPF) for ten 
years. The NFPF is an independent, nonprofit organization established 
in 1996 with bipartisan Congresssional support to help save America's 
film heritage. The NFPF is the charitable affiliate of the NFPB of the 
Library of Congress, which was also established in 1996.
  This legislation also increases the authorized appropriations for the 
NFPF from $500,000 in fiscal year 2004 and 2005 up to $1,000,000 in 
fiscal years 2006 through 2013. It authorizes additional appropriations 
not to exceed $1,000,000 for cooperative film preservation and access 
initiatives by the NFPF for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2013. 
All authorized appropriations are only to be made available to match 
private contributions to the NFPF.
  The excellent work and strong track record of the NFPB and NFPF 
justify both the reauthorization and increased authorization of 
appropriations provided by this bill. Working with archives and others 
in the film preservation community, the NFPF supports activities that 
save films for future generations, improve film access for education 
and exhibition, and increase public commitment to preserving film as a 
cultural resource, art form, and historical record. In essence, its 
mission is to save America's ``orphan films''--newsreels, silent films, 
documentaries, avant-garde works, and other independent films that are 
not preserved by commercial interests.
  Over the past seven years, the NFPF has done great work in 
furtherance of this goal. Working with more than 80 organizations, it 
has helped preserve approximately 600 films and collections. Through 
its preservation efforts, the NFPF has made it possible for 
organizations in 34 states and the District of Columbia to use these 
films in education and research. Many of the films preserved provide 
unique windows into American history and culture. For instance, films 
preserved through NFPF efforts include social dramas from Thomas 
Edison's studio, the earliest ``talkie'' of an American president, and 
home movies clandestinely shot by Japanese Americans in World War II 
detention camps.
  As authorization for the NFPB and NFPF expired on September 30, 2003, 
Congress must act quickly on this legislation. We cannot allow the 
important work of these organizations to lapse. Over 50% of the films 
made before 1950 have disintegrated, and only 10% of the movies 
produced in the United States before 1929 still exist. We must act to 
stem further losses of this rich cultural heritage. No art form is more 
uniquely American than film, but unfortunately, few art forms are more 
susceptible to degradation through passage of time and poor 
preservation.
  All parties interested in preservation and expansion of the public 
domain, whether for research, education, or further commercial 
exploitation, must join Representative Conyers, Senator Leahy, and 
myself in securing passage of this legislation. While it may be 
intellectually stimulating to debate radical copyright revisions as 
mechanisms to expand the public domain, these debates should not 
detract from the pursuit of proven methods, like NFPF projects, to 
preserve and expand the public domain. The tight fiscal picture for the 
U.S. government indicates that this legislation will be very difficult 
to pass, thus all public domain advocates should focus their full 
attention on this effort.

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