In the Senate: 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," was introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch and Carl Levin (with five original co-sponsors) on April 19 and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Tell your senators now why PAHR is important to you! See below for all the tools and information you need to craft your message.

In the House of Representatives: Maurice Hinchey (D-NY-22) and John McHugh (R-NY-23) reintroduced the PAHR bill (HR 2256) on May 5, 2009. More than 50 Representatives have signed on as co-sponsors – but more are needed.

If authorized, the PAHR Act would create a formula-based competitive grant program that would fund archives programs in every state and at every level.

In the Senate:  Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Carl Levin (D-MI) introduced S.3227 in the Senate on April 19. It is essential that your Senators know that this bill is of concern to you and your organization as their constituents.  Please do the following as soon as you can:

• Contact your Senators and tell them how important this bill is to your state and your institution. Ask them to sign on as co-sponsors (see co-sponsor list below). If you can mobilize your organization’s members, some of your researchers, or other supporters to make contact as well, please do so.
• Ask your Senators to contact the following people to sign on:
  • In Senator Hatch’s office: Bryan Hickman, 202-224-5251, Bryan_Hickman@judiciary-rep.senate.gov
  • In Senator Levin’s office: Harold Chase, 202-224-6221, Harold_Chase@levin.senate.gov

If you have letters that you used in contacting members of the House of Representatives – recycle them!  Or you’ll find below a draft letter that you can fax or email.  We also suggest that you include the PAHR brochure as well as the fact sheet about the potential for PAHR to stimulate job growth.

And one more thing:  It would be extremely helpful if you could call your Senators’ Washington offices.  Ask for the Legislative Director and make your case.  If you can’t do that, please call or visit with the staff in the regional office.  The regional office director can take the call and will be able to move your request forward.

If we can move PAHR well in the Senate during the next month or two, the chances are VERY REAL that we could get this bill voted on in both houses of Congress this year!  Please take a few minutes this week to make a call, schedule a visit, or send a fax/email to your Senators.  It’s time to tell Congress that what archivists do matters to this country!  We need and deserve the resources to ensure access to our heritage.  We can do this – with your help!

In the House of Representatives: We need as many co-sponsors of HR 2256 as we can get, but the most important group is those Representatives who serve on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. If you live or work in the district of one of the following Members of Congress, please contact him/her NOW to make a case for PAHR. Use the “Background Information” provided below – including “How Much to Each State,” and be sure to add your own story as a constituent.

THE BILL

• PAHR: S3227 - A copy of the Senate bill (to come).
• PAHR: HR2256 - A copy of the House bill.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

• Fact Sheet – A 1-page document that makes the case for supporting the legislation.
• How Much to Each State? – A PDF document that details the specific amount of funding to your state if the bill is authorized and appropriated at the proposed level of $50 million.
• Brochure – Use some or all of the ideas presented here when advocating for co-sponsorship or passage of the proposed legislation.

RESOURCES

• Draft Letter – Take the opportunity to ask your Senator to support the Senate companion bill to HR 2256.
• Draft Resolution - Language your organization can use and adapt to endorse PAHR.
• Sponsors –A list of Members of the House who have agreed to lead and co-sponsor the PAHR bill. 
• Key Members – A list of Members of the Senate and House who serve on the committees and subcommittees that will be taking up the legislation.

• Your Members of Congress – Follow the easy steps below to find your U.S. Senator or Representative, then send a message today! Be sure to include the following in your appeal:
   

  • Ask him/her to support the Preserving the American Historical Record bill
  • Tell your Senator or Representative how you will benefit from better preservation of and access to historical records at the community, state, and national levels.

  Contact Your Senator
  Go to www.senate.gov. Click on "Find Your Senators" box in the upper right corner and select your state. The results will provide the names of your senators with a clickable link to their email.

  Contact Your Representative
  Go to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml. Under "To contact your Representative," select your state and enter your zip code in the boxes provided, then click the "Contact My Representative" button. Follow the instructions on your Representative’s personal page about how to send an email or fax.

MORE INFORMATION

Kathleen Roe, Chair
Joint Task Force on PAHR
Phone: 518-473-4254
Email: kroe [@] mail.nysed.gov

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