Skip Navigation
Home > Advocacy > Federal Funding Priorities > NHPRC
Skip Navigation

NHPRC

Program Description
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), commonly referred to as the ‘grant-making’ arm of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), was established by Congress in 1934, along with NARA, to promote the preservation and use of the American documentary record.  NHPRC grants support a wide range of activities to preserve and increase access to historical records and to publish, in print and/or electronically, the papers of significant figures and themes relating to the history of the United States.

Action Needed
We urge Congress to provide no less than $5.0 million in FY 2012 funding for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the level requested by the Administration and approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.  With this funding, the NHPRC would be able to support continuing projects and SOME new competitive grants, but at significantly reduced levels.

FY 2011 Funding Status: $7.0 million [Enacted October 25, 2011]
The FY 2011 Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act (H.R. 1473) was signed into law on April 15, 2011.  The bill provided $7.0 million in funding for the NHPRC.  This amount was then reduced by a government-wide rescission of 0.2%, resulting in a final budget level for NHPRC of $6.986 million.  The FY 2011 enacted level represents an overall decrease of $6.0 million (or 46.2%), and a cut of approximately $1.5 million (17.6%) for NHPRC’s regular grant programs.

    Note: The NHPRC was funded at a level of $13.0 million in FY 2010, including $8.5 million for grants, and $4.5 million for a one-time set-aside for digitization of the Founding Fathers papers. In FY 2011, all NHPRC funds are directed to regular programs.

FY 2012 Funding Status: Pending

President’s Budget Proposal: $5.0 million  [OMB Release- February 14, 2011]
For FY 2012, President Obama has requested a budget of $5.0 million for NHPRC, represents a $2.0 million, or 28.4% reduction from the FY 2011 enacted level.  For FY 2012, all funds in the Administration's request are directed entirely to regular programs.  

Latest House Action: $1.0 million  [House Committee Vote- June 23, 2011]
The FY 2012 Financial Services spending bill (HR 2434), as approved by the Full House Appropriations Committee on June 23, 2011, would provide funding of only $1.0 million for NHPRC – a $6.0 million (or 85.7%) decreased from the current level. The House bill would all but eliminate FY 2012 funding for the NHRPC. The full House of Representatives has not yet voted on H.R. 2434, and is not expected to hold further votes on individual appropriations bills before the end of the session.

Senate Action: $5.0 million  [Committee Vote- September 15, 2011]
On September 15, 2011, the Full Senate Appropriations Committee approved funding of $5.0 million for the NHPRC in its version of the FY 2012 Financial Services spending bill (S. 1573).  The Senate mark is the same level recommended in the President’s FY 2012 Budget Proposal. The full Senate has not yet voted on S. 1573, and is not expected to hold further votes on individual appropriations bills before the end of the session.

NHPRC Annual Appropriations, FY 2010 to Present (in millions of dollars)

Fiscal Year  2010  2011  2012
Budget Request  10.0 (1)  7.0  5.0
Appropriations  13.0 (2)  10.0  pending 
    (1) The Administration’s FY 2010 Budget recommended $10.0 overall funding for NHRPC, including $4.5 million for a one-time set-aside for digitization of the Founding Fathers Papers (no-year funds), and $5.5 million for regular grants.
    (2) For the final FY 2010 (enacted) appropriation, Congress approved a higher, overall level of $13.0 for NHPRC, which included $4.5 million for the Administration’s set-aside, and $8.5 million for regular grants.

Committee Jurisdiction
Appropriations:

Authorization:

Talking points

  • This small grants program within the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) enables NARA to provide-
    • National leadership through grants that support exploration of major archival issues, such as electronic records, coordination and communication among state archivists nationwide, and
    • Grants to documentary editions (book and electronic) of the papers of individuals and institutions that have been identified as nationally significant. 
  • NHPRC supports publications projects of national significance, such as the Ratification of the U.S. Constitution project, the Papers of Abraham Lincoln, and the Papers of George Washington and is committed to promoting increased public access to these publications through digitization.
  • NHPRC grants provide the Archivist of the United States with his primary tool for providing national leadership and promoting national and regional cooperation among the state archivists to address common issues such as electronic records.
  • NHPRC grants leverage state, local, institutional, foundation, and other private funding by requiring 50% cost sharing—i.e. for every federal dollar invested, another dollar is spent. NHPRC funding is the linchpin of most projects’ funding structures.

Additional Resources