[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 144 (Thursday, September 11, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE PRESIDENTIAL HISTORICAL RECORDS PRESERVATION ACT

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                           HON. BOB GOODLATTE

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 11, 2008

  Mr. GOODLATTE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the 
Presidential Historical Records Preservation Act of 2008. I introduce 
this as a companion bill to legislation being introduced today by my 
colleagues in the Senate, Senators John Warner and Jim Webb.
  Mr. Speaker, the National Historical Publications and Records 
Commission, NHPRC, is a statutory body affiliated with the National 
Archives and Records Administration, NARA. NHPRC was established by 
Congress in 1934 to promote the preservation and use of America's 
documentary heritage essential to understanding our democracy, history, 
and culture.
  Currently, NHPRC is authorized to administer grants to promote 
preservation and use of America's documentary heritage. The NHPRC 
supports projects that preserve and make accessible records and 
archives, and research and develop means to preserve authentic 
electronic records.
  The Presidential Historical Records Preservation Act of 2008 would 
allow NHPRC to make grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible 
entities to promote the historical preservation of, and public access 
to, historical records and documents relating to any President who does 
not have a Presidential archival depository currently managed and 
maintained by the Federal Government, pursuant to the Presidential 
Libraries Act of 1955.
  Mr. Speaker, in order to be eligible to receive these grants, an 
entity must qualify as a 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and be 
exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code, or be a State 
or local government. In order to maintain the integrity of the grant 
program, NHPRC shall only approve grants to those entities that possess 
historical works and collections of historical sources that the 
Commission considers appropriate for preserving, publishing, or 
otherwise recording at the public expense. The entity must also have 
appropriate facilities and space for preservation of such historical 
works and ensure public access to these collections.
  Finally, to maintain the fiscal integrity of this Act, the receiving 
entity must have raised funds from non-Federal sources in support of 
the grant efforts. In addition, grants may not be used for the 
maintenance, operating costs, or construction of any facility to house 
the historical records to any President who does not have a 
Presidential archival depository currently managed by the Federal 
Government. Mr. Speaker, as you can see, the focus of the bill is 
preservation and access to documents, not constructing new buildings or 
monuments.
  This is important legislation that will preserve our Nation's 
documentary heritage, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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