NHPRC Funding Zeroed Out for FY2008; Take Action Now to Save NHPRC!

Dear Colleagues:

As has been the case for the past two years, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) has been zeroed out in President Bush’s FY 2008 proposed budget. This means no funds for the grants program and no funds for staffing to support NHPRC programs.

We need your help to make sure that NHPRC’s case is heard. On Wednesday, March 14, the House Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government will hold a hearing on the National Archives and Records Administration’s FY 08 budget appropriation request. The issue of NHPRC funding can be raised at this hearing.

Here’s how you can help:

• Although there will be no public testimony at the hearing itself, the Subcommittee will accept written testimony via email before the hearing. We understand that testimony is most effective when submitted by an organization speaking on behalf of a constituency. Organizations may include regional archives and records management organizations, repositories, genealogical societies, historical societies, teacher organizations, and other groups of users who support NHPRC’s mission and goals. If you are able to, please submit written testimony via e-mail before Wednesday, March 14.  See Providing Public Testimony on NHPRC for details on how to do that. 

Your written testimony should be submitted via email to nadine.berg@mail.house.gov no later than March 14.

Read SAA's testimony.

• If you as an individual wish to write a letter to the Subcommittee or one of its members (particularly a member of the Subcommittee who represents your district), please submit a letter via fax (preferred) or email before Wednesday, March 14. See Guidelines for Preparing a Letter to Congress on the NHPRC Issue for details.

If your representative is not on the Subcommittee but may be a “friend” of one of the appropriators, please ask your representative to encourage his or her colleagues on Appropriations to support the funding.

Other resources:

• Fact Sheet:  The National Historical Publications and Records Commission
• NHPRC Talking Points

For the past few years SAA, CoSA, and NAGARA have coordinated our efforts to inform and mobilize the archives and records community to ensure that NHPRC is fully funded – and we’re committed to doing whatever we can again this year.  As we all understand, our professional community – and its users – benefit from NHPRC’s good work.

We hope that we can count on your help.  If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact any of us at the email addresses or phone numbers below. 

We would also appreciate receiving copies of testimony and letters submitted on behalf of NHPRC.  Please email or fax them to SAA Executive Director Nancy Beaumont at nbeaumont@archivists.org or 312-347-1452.

Thanks for any help you may be able to give on behalf of NHPRC.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Adkins, President
Society of American Archivists
312-922-0140
president@archivists.org

Karl J Niederer, President
Council of State Archivists
609-984-3299
pres@statearchivists.org

Mary Beth Herkert, President
National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators
503-378-5196
mary.e.herkert@state.or.us