[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 55 (Monday, April 19, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2426-S2427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH (for himself, Mr. Levin, Mr. Bennett, Mrs. 
        Gillibrand, Mr. Kerry, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Schumer):
  S. 3227. A bill to authorize the Archivist of the United States to 
make grants to States for the preservation and dissemination of 
historical records; to the Committee on Homeland Security and 
Governmental Affairs.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the Preserving the 
American Historical Record Act, a bill that I introduced along with 
Senator Levin today. This is a piece of legislation designed to ensure 
the protection of important historical documents housed and preserved 
at the State and local level.
  Put simply, this legislation would require the Archivist of the 
United States to make grants to the States for a number of purposes, 
including protecting historical records, promoting the use of such 
records in new and creative ways, providing education and training to 
those who care for historical records and creating a wide variety of 
access tools of key records maintained by State and local 
organizations. The bill authorizes $50,000,000 a year--a very modest 
sum, all things considered--to be distributed among the States 
according to formulas based on both size and geographical area.

[[Page S2427]]

  We live in a time where there has been a resurgence in interest in 
family history and genealogical research. With the advancement of 
internet research tools, millions of Americans have gone online to 
learn more about their pasts. Indeed, this type of research is among 
the more prominent uses of Internet resources, as evidenced by the 
growth of websites and services like Ancestry.com and Family Search. 
Also, millions of Americans have tuned into hit television shows 
describing the experience and revelation that comes with the discovery 
of one's family history.
  I want to thank Senator Levin for working with me on this 
legislation, as well as our cosponsors Senators Bennett, Schumer, 
Kerry, Shaheen, and Gillibrand.

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