The following is an announcement written by AfriGeneas:
Support passage of HR 5216 -- the Preservation of Records of Servitude, Emancipation, and Post-Civil War Reconstruction Act of 2006
AfriGeneas needs you to act quickly to guarantee passage of HR 5216 -- the Preservation of Records of Servitude, Emancipation, and Post-Civil War Reconstruction Act of 2006 by calling the leaders of the House of Representatives.
The bill requires the Archivist of the United States to: (1) establish, as part of the National Archives, an electronically searchable database of historic records of servitude, emancipation, and post-Civil War reconstruction, including the Southern Claims Commission Records, Freedmen's Bureau Records, Records of the Freedmen's Bank, Slave Impressments Records, Slave Payroll Records, Slave Manifest, and others, contained within the agencies and departments of the Federal Government to assist African Americans and others in conducting genealogical and historical research; and (2) Requires the National Historical Publications and Records Commission to provide grants to states, colleges and universities, and genealogical associations to preserve records and establish databases of local records of such information.
Please call the following Congressional Leaders and ask that: (1) they lend their personal support to this very important legislation and, (2) (1) they approve bringing this bill to the House floor under suspension so that members can vote passage.
Please call:
Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL)
(202) 225-2976Majority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)
(202) 225-6205Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
(202) 225-4965Congressman Mel Watt (D-NC), Chair
Congressional Black Caucus
(202) 225-1510.Sample talking points:
Thank you for taking my call. My name is [your name] and I am calling to ask [the Congressional Leader's name] to support HR 5216 to preserve civil war and reconstruction records at the National Archives. These records are extremely important to genealogists, historians, and others interested in understanding this very critical period in American history. As an American, I have a personal interest in these records because much of the information about my ancestors are in them. Please use your leadership and bring this very important bill to the floor for a vote.
Please act now! Time is of the essence!
The AfriGeneas Staff
staff@afrigeneas.comAfriGeneas ~ African Ancestored Genealogy
www.afrigeneas.com
