[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 113 (Wednesday, July 13, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5091-S5092]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SOUND RECORDING AND FILM PRESERVATION PROGRAMS 
                      REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2016

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Committee on Rules be discharged from further consideration of S. 2893 
and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2893) to reauthorize the sound recording and 
     film preservation programs of the Library of Congress, and 
     for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today the Senate will pass the bipartisan 
Library of Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation Programs 
Reauthorization Act of 2016, which authorizes two important cultural 
preservation programs through 2027. Senator Grassley and I worked 
together on this legislation to help ensure that the films and

[[Page S5092]]

recordings that play vital roles in shaping and recording the American 
experience are preserved for future generations.
  Advances in digital technology have opened up new avenues for 
creativity, allowing Americans to engage in artistic expression in 
innovative ways. As we embrace these new developments, we must also 
ensure that the records of our past are preserved. Films and sound 
recordings created by previous generations tell us who we are, and who 
we were, as a society; yet the passage of time has taken its toll on 
these historical works, erasing artifacts of our shared history and 
culture.
  The legislation that will be passed today by the Senate continues 
Congress's long recognition of the importance of cultural preservation, 
reauthorizing both the National Film Preservation Program, which began 
in 1988, and the National Sound Recording Preservation Program, which 
began in 2000. These programs, operated within the Library of Congress, 
help preserve historical and cultural artifacts that would otherwise 
disappear or be destroyed through the passage of time. Through the 
preservation programs, the Library of Congress has created the National 
Film and National Recording Registries, to recognize the most essential 
artistic works our Nation has produced.
  This legislation also reauthorizes the federally chartered National 
Film and National Recording Preservation Foundations. These foundations 
play a critical role in preservation efforts by providing grants to a 
wide array of educational and nonprofit organizations to preserve films 
and sound recordings. To date, the National Film Preservation 
Foundation has given grants to more than 270 organizations in all 50 
States.
  By reauthorizing these important programs, this legislation will 
allow the Library of Congress and the Foundations to continue their 
important work in preserving America's fading treasures, as well as 
providing grants that will help libraries, museums, and archives 
preserve these works and make them available for study and research. I 
look forward to prompt consideration of the bill by the House and to 
the President signing it into law.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. I ask unanimous consent that the Blunt amendment at the 
desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and 
passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon 
the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 4973) was agreed to, as follows:

(Purpose: To increase the amount of funds authorized to be appropriated 
           to the National Recording Preservation Foundation)

       On page 2, line 9, strike ``$750,000'' and insert 
     ``$1,000,000''.

  The bill (S. 2893), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 2893

       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 ``Library of Congress Sound 
     Recording and Film Preservation Programs Reauthorization Act 
     of 2016''.

     SEC. 2. SOUND RECORDING PRESERVATION PROGRAMS.

       (a) National Recording Preservation Board.--Section 133 of 
     the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000 (2 U.S.C. 
     1743) is amended by striking ``through fiscal year 2016'' and 
     inserting ``through fiscal year 2026''.
       (b) National Recording Preservation Foundation.--
       (1) Reauthorization.--Section 152411(a) of title 36, United 
     States Code, is amended by striking ``through fiscal year 
     2016 an amount not to exceed'' and inserting ``through fiscal 
     year 2026 an amount not to exceed the lesser of $1,000,000 
     or''.
       (2) Number of members of board of directors.--Section 
     152403(b)(2) of title 36, United States Code, is amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``nine directors'' and 
     inserting ``12 directors''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``six directors'' each 
     place it appears and inserting ``8 directors''.

     SEC. 3. FILM PRESERVATION PROGRAMS.

       (a) National Film Preservation Board.--Section 112 of the 
     National Film Preservation Act of 1996 (2 U.S.C. 179v) is 
     amended by striking ``through fiscal year 2016'' and 
     inserting ``through fiscal year 2026''.
       (b) National Film Preservation Foundation.--Section 
     151711(a)(1)(C) of title 36, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``through 2016'' and inserting ``through 2026''.

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