Archives, Public Policy & You: Advocacy Guide

SAA collaborates with the Council of State Archivists, the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators, and the Regional Archival Associations Consortium on an ongoing basis via our Joint Working Group on Issues and Awareness. Together, we sponsored “Archives on the Hill” Day on August 14 during the 2018 Joint Annual Meeting in Washington, DC.  Archives on the Hill brought together more than 70 enthusiastic archivists and records managers who visited their Members of Congress to advocate on behalf of archives and archivists.

Now it’s your turn to advocate for archives!  Throughout the year we need your help in reaching out to Congress—on Capitol Hill and in your home district—to tell the important story of how archives make a difference. Whether it's advocating for archives funding during budget season or using American Archives Month in October as an opportunity to establish a relationship, we encourage you to get started!  For tips on making a district visit (or a Hill visit, if you’ll be in Washington, DC) or inviting your Representative or Senators to an event, see our Advocacy Guide.

It's spring, and that means that Congress will be debating the President's proposed budget—a budget that cuts many federal programs that are vital to archives, including the National Archives and Records Administration and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Now—before July 4, 2021—is the time for us to raise our voices in support of federal funding for archives!

To contact your Member of Congress, use this handy site.

As you prepare to speak with your Member of Congress or congressional staff person during a district visit this spring, take advantage of the following resources: 

Please give us feedback about your visit or event by completing https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ArchivalAdvocacyatHome. If you let us know about your visit, we'll send you an "I'm an Archives Advocate" button