Preserving the American Historical Record

Congressmen Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Chris Cannon (R-UT) have issued a “dear colleagues” letter to the members of the House of Representatives, inviting them to sign on as original sponsors to the “Preserving the American Historical Record” (PAHR) bill.

PAHR proposed to increase federal support for state and local archival records held by government agencies, historical societies, libraries, and related organizations. This initiative would establish a program of formula-based grants to states for re-grants and statewide services to support preservations and use of historical records. The program, to be administered by the National Archives, will provide a total of $50 million per year nationwide. Each state would receive a portion of these funds for redistribution to organizations within its borders. This program would be in addition to the existing national grants program within the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Your help is needed. You can read more at http://www.fgs.org/rpac/2008/05/07/action-needed-for-the-preserving-the-american-historical-record-act/
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Time is of the essence, as the deadline is this Saturday, May 10.

My thanks to Amy Johnson Crow for alerting me to this letter.

Comments

[Dae Powell]

I think Mo Hinchey and Chris Cannon should have been the presidential nominees this time. LOL Good for them . . . and good for us! I hope the Federation of Genealogy Societies will push this program full speed ahead.

Happy Dae.
http://www.ShoeStringGenealogy.com

[Ross]

I think it is great to encourage State and local governments to engage in the preservation of records pertaining to their jurisdictions. I DO NOT think it is appropriate to use Federal funds for such purposes, and will therefore encourage my congressional representatives not to support this bill. And the National Archives should also butt out and attend to their charter relating to Federal record-keeping. Where does their area of purvey end? Will they ultimately come to my house and 'help' me with my personal and family record-keeping? Sheesh!

[nhexile]

I have been in touch with the office of my California Congressman, John Campbell, R, 48th District, Newport Beach / Irvine, CA - whose legislative desk assures me he will support this (PAHR) legislation for the preservation of American Historical Documents.

[Don Michel]

I think Ross has it just right. Unfortunately, lots of very good ideas and programs are NOT the business of the federal government. Our Constitution rightly puts the government that should have the greatest influence in our lives, closest to us. That means that we have more influence over local and state governments and less over the federal. That also gives us the responsibility to make sure that the local and state government does the things it should and the federal "tends to it's knitting". Record keeping on the state and local level is NOT the federal business and should not be funded by them.

[Ann Lamb]

I agree with Don and Ross. Record keeping on the state and local level is NOT the federal business and should not be funded by them.

[Gene Veritas]

I have to say that I am shocked by the comments I am reading. Countless programs -- cultural, social, business, industry -- that are administered on a state and local basis receive federal funds!! Why not allow $50 million -- which is considered "decimal dust" -- to go to something truly worthwhile?!

[Don Michel]

$50 million here, $50 million there, is the way we got ourselves into the current financial mess we have at the federal level. Have you noticed our dollar is weaker every day against most other currencies? That is what is causing the price of oil to skyrocket, and everything to cost more. We must practice some restraint and putting the consitiution back to work is a good first step. As genealogists, we should be among the first to learn from our history.