June 4, 2010 - Chairman Clay (D-MO) of the House Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives will hold a hearing titled "Strengthening the National Historical Publications and Records Commission" on Wednesday, June 9 at 2 pm in the Rayburn House Office Building (Room 2154) in Washington, DC.

 

Members of the public are encouraged to attend this special hearing.  Audience attendance provides a strong indicator of public support for the program.  Several panels of individuals will testify, including Ira Berlin (American Historical Association), Pete Daniel (Organization of American Historians), and Sue Perdue (Association for Documentary Editing). 

 

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. 

 

The National Humanities Alliance supports FY 2011 grants funding of at least $10 million, the figure requested in the President's budget, for NHPRC.  The Alliance also supports and seeks Congressional approval of a five-year reauthorization of the NHPRC's grants program at the $20 million level.  This would allow NHPRC to accommodate growing demand for project support, particularly to increase electronic access and to promote state/federal partnerships.  

 

Rep. Clay has introduced a five year reauthorization bill that proposes a doubling of the authorization level for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), which has not been increased in more than a decade.

 

Letters of support for the NHPRC are currently being accepted by Chairman Clay though the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform - Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives.

 

The NHA issue brief on FY 2011 funding and reauthorization for NHPRC is available here.