[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 108 (Monday, September 13, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H7011-H7013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION EFFICIENCY ACT OF 2004

  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3478) to amend title 44, United States Code, to improve the 
efficiency of operations by the National Archives and Records 
Administration, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3478

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Archives and 
     Records Administration Efficiency Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF RECORDS RETENTION PERIODS.

       (a) Extension of Records Retention Periods by Regulation.--
     Section 2909 of title 44, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking ``, upon the submission of evidence of 
     need,'';
       (2) by striking ``; and, in accordance with regulations 
     promulgated by him,'' and inserting ``, and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following: ``The Archivist 
     shall promulgate regulations in accordance with section 
     2104(a) of this title to implement this section.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Subsection (d) of section 3303a 
     of title 44, United States Code, is amended by striking the 
     second sentence.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORITY FOR RECORDS CENTER REVOLVING FUND TO BE 
                   USED FOR THE PURCHASE AND CARE OF UNIFORMS FOR 
                   RECORDS CENTERS EMPLOYEES.

       Subsection (a) under the heading ``records center revolving 
     fund'' in title IV of the Independent Agencies Appropriations 
     Act, 2000 (Public Law 106-58; 113 Stat. 460; 44 U.S.C. 2901 
     note), is amended by inserting after ``expenses'' in the 
     first sentence the following: ``(including expenses for 
     uniforms or

[[Page H7012]]

     allowances for uniforms as authorized by subchapter I of 
     chapter 59 of title 5)''.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORITY TO CHARGE FEES FOR PUBLIC USE OF FACILITIES 
                   OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS 
                   ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Presidential Archival Depositories.--Subsection (e) of 
     section 2112 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``space'' and inserting ``space, or for the 
     occasional, non-official use of rooms and spaces (and 
     services related to such use),''.
       (b) National Archives Building and Other Buildings Used for 
     Record Storage.--Section 2903 of title 44, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``(a)'' before ``The Archivist''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(b) When the Archivist considers it to be in the public 
     interest, the Archivist may charge and collect reasonable 
     fees from the public for the occasional, non-official use of 
     rooms and spaces, and services related to such use, in the 
     buildings subject to this section. Fees collected under this 
     subsection shall be paid into an account in the National 
     Archives Trust Fund and shall be held, administered, and 
     expended for the benefit and in the interest of the national 
     archival and records activities administered by the National 
     Archives and Records Administration, including educational 
     and public program purposes.''.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO USE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH STATE 
                   AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, EDUCATIONAL 
                   INSTITUTIONS, AND OTHER PUBLIC AND NONPROFIT 
                   ORGANIZATIONS TO FURTHER NARA PROGRAMS.

       (a) Authority.--Chapter 21 of title 44, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

     ``Sec. 2119. Cooperative agreements

       ``(a) Authority.--The Archivist may enter into cooperative 
     agreements pursuant to section 6305 of title 31 that involve 
     the transfer of funds from the National Archives and Records 
     Administration to State and local governments, other public 
     entities, educational institutions, or private nonprofit 
     organizations (including foundations or institutes organized 
     to support the National Archives and Records Administration 
     or the Presidential archival depositories operated by it) for 
     the public purpose of carrying out programs of the National 
     Archives and Records Administration.
       ``(b) Limitations.--Not more than $25,000 may be 
     transferred under a cooperative agreement entered into as 
     authorized by subsection (a). Not more than a total of 
     $75,000 may be transferred under such agreements in any 
     fiscal year.
       ``(c) Report.--Not later than December 31st of each year, 
     the Archivist shall submit to the Committee on Government 
     Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the 
     provisions, amount, and duration of each cooperative 
     agreement entered into as authorized by subsection (a) during 
     the preceding fiscal year.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``2119. Cooperative agreements.''.

     SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS THROUGH FISCAL YEAR 
                   2009 FOR NATIONAL HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS AND 
                   RECORDS COMMISSION.

       Section 2504(f)(1) of title 44, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (N), by striking ``and'';
       (2) in subparagraph (O), by striking the period and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end of the following new 
     subparagraphs:
       ``(P) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       ``(Q) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       ``(R) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
       ``(S) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Putnam) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam).


                             General Leave

  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 3478, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, we have witnessed over the last several weeks in Florida 
just how quickly lives and property and years of work can be taken from 
us. Many are left with only memories in the wake of these storms, and I 
would like to thank President Bush and the Members of this House for 
the outpouring of assistance that we have received.
  Our memories and the collective memory of our national life is what 
in part inspire us to move ahead and to rebuild in the face of tragedy. 
The custodian of our collective national memory is the National 
Archives, and I rise today to offer an amendment in the form of a 
substitute to H.R. 3478 to reauthorize an important part of that 
agency.
  This legislation will reauthorize appropriations through fiscal year 
2009 for the National Historic Publications to Records Commission, the 
eighth passage of this legislation since 1964. The NHPRC's mandate is 
to look outward, to provide assistance to non-Federal agencies, 
institutions and individuals committed to the preservation and use of 
American documentary resources.
  The NHPRC remains today the only grant making organization, public or 
private, in the Nation whose only focus is the preservation of and 
increased access to American historical documentation in its myriad 
forms and formats, be it the quill pen or the computer.
  Through its competitive grants, the NHPRC provides a kind of venture 
capital for the historical world, through which solutions to electronic 
records questions can be discovered and begin to be tested, and new 
initiatives and new projects in State and local government records, 
private archival institutions and documentary editions, can be launched 
and given vital support.
  American history did not all happen in Washington. It has unfolded in 
every State and every locality, through private actions as well as 
those of the government, and unless we safeguard historical records 
wisely, there will be gaping holes in our Nation's history.
  Records created and maintained within each State are important to 
individuals and institutions in a democracy, not just national 
institutions, but government institutions at every level, as well as 
organizations in the private sector that have a great impact on 
American life.
  The NHPRC safeguards holdings of the State and local archives, the 
university archival and manuscript collections and the documentary 
collections of libraries, historical societies and other cultural 
repositories, private and public.
  They have revolutionized the study of American history. One of the 
Nation's leading historians has called this work the most important and 
lasting work of the 20th century, the most important work in the 
American history of the 20th century.
  The NHPRC exists to stimulate the care and use of records that are 
beyond the NARA's jurisdiction. It does that by encouraging documentary 
work outside the Federal Government, with small grants to archival, 
historical and cultural organizations throughout our country. It is the 
only national funding agency that is directly addressing the challenges 
posed for recordkeeping and records preservation.
  Among the types of grants that the commission makes are those 
designed to assist State and local governments with disaster 
preparedness to protect the vital records that document the rights and 
privileges of citizenship. We can attest to the need for that type of 
readiness in Florida.
  Through grants, through working with State advisory boards and 
through contributing to funding partnerships, the NHPRC plays a 
critical role in promoting work to ensure that records of many kinds in 
many parts of the country will be safe and accessible for the scholars 
who need them.
  As chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, 
Intergovernmental Relations and the Census, which has jurisdiction over 
the National Archives, and as a citizen concerned about rights, 
accountability and history, I request that NHPRC be reauthorized to 
carry on its important work.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3478. This bill makes 
several changes to Title 44 of the U.S. Code that will improve the 
efficiency of the National Archives and Record Administration. My 
colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam), has done a terrific 
job of detailing those changes.
  In addition, this bill reauthorizes the National Historic 
Publications and Records Commission, NHPRC, for 4 years at the current 
level of $10 million.

[[Page H7013]]

  I strongly support the reauthorization of the NHPRC. However, I am 
disappointed that we did not increase the authorization for this 
program. It is even more tragic that the administration has not fully 
funded the commission for 2005. The failure to fund this commission 
will result in the loss of important parts of the history of every 
State and local government in our country. Much of the good work funded 
by the commission will have to be put on hold because the 
administration cut $7 million from the NHPRC budget.
  My colleague on the other side of the aisle detailed how we need to 
preserve the documents in Florida even when we have catastrophes and 
hurricanes, and so forth. Let me describe just a few of the programs 
that have been supported by NHPRC in New York over the past several 
years.
  The New York State archives in Albany was given assistance by the 
NHPRC to organize and make available materials of the effect of the 
World Trade Center disaster on the lives of New Yorkers. Channel 13, 
the local education station, was given funds to preserve shows of 
particular historical significance from the 1970s onward.

                              {time}  1530

  The American Foundation For the Blind was provided funds to archive 
the records of Helen Keller. Hunter College received funds to arrange 
15 collections of materials documenting the history and culture of 
Puerto Ricans.
  In addition, NHPRC had provided funds to assist in preserving the 
papers of Alexander Hamilton; Aaron Burr; Samuel Gompers; John Jay; the 
slave diary of Elizabeth Drinker; Florence Kelley, the letters of this 
great settlement leader; and the writer and activist Harriet Jacobs, 
just to name a few. The list goes on and on.
  NHPRC has also been at the forefront of research on preserving 
electronic documents. Long before most agencies knew they even had a 
problem, NHPRC was funding research on this important issue.
  Electronic records present historical organizations with two quite 
distinct problems. First, the technological issues of preserving our 
electronic documents across time are extremely complex. The methods for 
creating these documents multiply yearly, as does the way in which 
these documents are stored. However, very little has been done to 
assure these documents can be read 10 years later. Secondly, electronic 
records have resulted in increasing both the volume of records created 
and the volume of records that historians want to keep.
  Electronic records confront State and local archives and historical 
societies with the very same challenges as they do the Federal 
Government. The National Archives has spent millions of dollars on the 
Electronic Records Initiative, and real progress has been made in 
developing a system for preserving the electronic records of the 
Federal Government. NHPRC has been one of the few places these State 
and local organizations could go to get help confronting this complex 
technological and historical problem. It should also be noted that 
NHPRC was one of the first Federal organizations to recognize the need 
for research on preserving electronic documents.
  Mr. Speaker, absolutely every day in Washington, D.C., as we go about 
our business, we are reminded of our Nation's history. Buildings and 
documents are preserved and displayed for all to see. Every citizen 
deserves that opportunity, not just when they visit their Nation's 
Capital, but as they walk about the towns in which they live. NHPRC 
makes it possible for State and local governments to develop the tools 
and expertise to maintain their own history.
  Even if NHPRC was fully funded at $10 million, that would only be 
about $200,000 per State. That does not go very far. As I have said at 
the outset, Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the passage of this bill, 
and I hope that the chairman of the subcommittee will work with me and 
the gentleman from Florida (Chairman Putnam) to raise awareness of the 
many valuable programs sponsored by NHPRC so that we can increase the 
authorization level the next time that it comes around.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to conclude by saying that if we do not 
learn from our past, we may repeat the mistakes of those who went 
before us. If we do not preserve our past, we cannot learn from it, and 
each locality has their own unique circumstances and their own unique 
history. Maintaining our time capsule of government words and deeds is 
a fundamental responsibility of our government. This legislation is 
committed to that responsibility, and I urge my colleagues to join me 
and the chairman in supporting this.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I appreciate the support of the distinguished gentlewoman from New 
York (Mrs. Maloney) and the hard work that the ranking member of this 
subcommittee, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay), has put into this 
legislation; and I urge its passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3478, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``A bill to amend title 44, 
United States Code, to improve the efficiency of operations by the 
National Archives and Records Administration and to reauthorize the 
National Historical Publications and Records Commission.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________