[House Report 106-768]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
106th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 106-768
======================================================================
AMENDING TITLE 44, UNITED STATES CODE, TO AUTHORIZE APPROPRIATIONS FOR
THE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS AND RECORDS COMMISSION FOR FISCAL
YEARS 2002 THROUGH 2005
_______
July 20, 2000.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Burton of Indiana, from the Committee on Government Reform,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 4110]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Government Reform, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 4110) to amend title 44, United States Code, to
authorize appropriations for the National Historical
Publications and Records Commission for fiscal years 2002
through 2005, having considered the same, report favorably
thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
I. Background and Need for the Legislation..........................1
II. Legislative Hearings and Committee Actions.......................3
III. Committee Hearings and Written Testimony.........................3
IV. Explanation of the Bill..........................................4
V. Committee Oversight Findings.....................................4
VI. Budget Analysis and Projections..................................4
VII. Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office.................4
VIII.Statement of Constitutional Authority............................6
IX. Committee Recommendation.........................................6
X. Congressional Accountability Act; P.L. 104-1.....................6
XI. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act; P.L. 104-4, Section 423............6
XII. Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) Section 5(b)......6
XIII.Changes in Existing Law..........................................6
I. Background and Need for Legislation
The National Historical Publications and Records Commission
(NHPRC), provides grants to archivists, historians, State and
local governments, and non-Federal agencies and institutions
across the Nation to support a wide range of activities to
preserve, publish, and encourage the use of documentary sources
relating to the history of the United States. H.R. 4110 would
reauthorize the Commission to continue its important work,
setting an authorization cap at $10 million annually from
fiscal year 2002 to fiscal year 2005. The NHPRC, which is
affiliated with the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA), complements National Archives' work in
protecting vital American documents. Unlike the National
Archives, which maintains Federal records, the Commission
assists non-Federal historical societies, institutions, non-
profit organizations, universities, State and local
governments, and individuals.
In 1934, both NARA and the Commission, then called the
National Historical Publications Commission, were formed with
the latter charged to support the publication of the papers of
America's important people and events. In 1974, 40 years after
the creation of the Commission, Congress under Public Law 93-
536, expanded the Commission's focus to include archival
records, giving the Commission authority to work for the
collection, preservation of, and increased access to records,
in addition to its work with historical publications.
The Commission is composed of 15 members and is chaired by
the Archivist of the United States. Seven of the members are
appointed by the Judicial, Executive, and Legislative branches
of the Federal Government. Professional societies of
archivists, historians, documentary editors, and Government
records administrators, and the Librarian of Congress appoint
the remaining Commission members. Commission members review all
eligible project proposals, recommend to the Archivist those
grants they believe should be funded, and are instrumental in
developing the goals and programs for the Commission. The
Commission's administrative staff implements Commission
policies and recommendations, provides assistance and advice to
potential applicants, advises the Commission on proposals, and
supervises the grants they award.
The NHPRC is the only national grant-making organization in
the Nation whose sole focus is the preservation and publication
of America's documentary history. This year, the Commission
received $6.25 million of its maximum $10 million
appropriation. Sixty percent of this money was awarded to
projects addressing the Commission's three major goals, and the
remaining 40 percent helped fund other projects, which included
documentary editions, and archival preservation and cataloguing
projects (e.g., papers and photographs). The Commission
supports the professional development of archivists,
documentary editors, and record-keepers through fellowships,
institutes, conferences, workshops, and other programs. In
addition, the Commission has undertaken a number of projects
that focus on the records of under-documented groups, such as
Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific
Islanders, and other ethnic and interest groups, and social and
political movements.
The Commission's Strategic Plan has identified three major
goals over the next three years:
(1) The NHPRC will continue its work toward the timely
completion of its Founding Fathers Projects, which include
collecting, transcribing, annotating and publishing the papers
of George Washington, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas
Jefferson, James Madison. It will also continue to work on
papers that document the Ratification of the Constitution, the
First Federal Congress, and the early Supreme Court.
(2) The NHPRC will promote broad public participation in
historical documentation by collaborating with State Historical
Records Advisory Boards (SHRABs) to plan and carry out jointly
funded programs to strengthen the Nation's archival
infrastructure and expand the range of records that are
protected and accessible. Commission grants help fund these
advisory boards in the States and U.S. Territories. The
Commission also awards the States regrants, i.e., money
(matched by the State) that the State then sub-grants to small
projects within the State. Over the past five years, the NHPRC
awarded more than $3.7 million in regrants, which funded 600
projects.
(3) Finally, the Commission provides leadership in funding
research-and-development programs on appraising, preserving,
disseminating, and providing access to important documentary
sources in electronic form. The NHPRC has awarded $425,000 in
grants to support the non-Federal portion of the United States
team working on International Research on Permanent Authentic
Records in Electronic Systems, known as the InterPARES project.
The InterPARES project is an international project in which
countries, including Italy, China, and Japan, work together
with the United States on the permanent preservation of
authentic electronic records. In addition, the NHPRC awarded
$300,000 to the San Diego Supercomputer Center for a project to
continue the Center's work; and, specifically, to look at the
scalability and usefulness of the technology it is developing
to maintain and provide long-term access to electronic records
in archives smaller than NARA. The NHPRC recently launched a
major initiative to broaden the base and raise the level of
archival expertise in electronic record-keeping throughout the
Nation. Without this work, Federal, State, and local records
could be lost, due to the dynamic growth and sophistication of
new technology.
Reauthorizing the Commission will ensure the Commission's
continued work on these and other important projects.
II. Legislative Hearings and Committee Actions
On April 4, 2000, the Subcommittee on Government
Management, Information and Technology held a legislative
hearing on H.R. 4110, a bill to reauthorize the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission from fiscal year
2002 to fiscal year 2005. The subcommittee heard testimony from
archivists and historians working to preserve documents of
historical significance.
No amendments were offered at the subcommittee level.
III. Committee Hearings and Written Testimony
No hearings were held on H.R. 4110 by the Committee on
Government Reform. The committee marked up the bill May 18,
2000, without objection or amendments.
IV. Explanation of the Bill
Section 1. Short title
Section 1 authorizes funding for the National Historical
Publications and Records Commission.
It amends Section 2504(f)(1) of title 4 of the U.S. Code in
subparagraphs (J) and (K), adding ``and'' to include new
subparagraphs (L-O), which would fund the Commission for fiscal
year 2002 to fiscal year 2005.
V. Committee Oversight Findings
Pursuant to rule XIII, clause 3(c)(1) of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the results and findings of those
oversight activities are incorporated in the recommendations
found in the bill and in this report. The Subcommittee on
Government Management, Information, and Technology held a
legislative hearing on H.R. 4110 to reauthorize the Commission
on April 4, 2000, in which NHPRC grant recipients discussed the
need for the continuing work of the Commission. Archival
experts from the academic community, National Archives, and the
Commission discussed their work in electronic records
preservation, the State boards projects, and American
historical documentary publication. The bill was marked up by
the subcommittee on April 5, 2000, and marked up by the
Committee on Government Reform on May 18, 2000.
VI. Budget Analysis and Projections
H.R. 4110 would reauthorize the appropriation of $10
million--the amount authorized for fiscal year 2001--to the
National Historical Publications and Records Commission for
each of the fiscal years 2002 through 2005. The Commission
received an appropriation of $6.25 million in 2000, and the
President has requested $6 million for the Commission in fiscal
year 2001. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that
implementing H.R. 4110 would increase costs by $34 million over
the fiscal years of 2002 through 2005, assuming appropriations
of the authorized amounts. Because the bill would not affect
direct spending or receipts, pay-as-you-go procedures would not
apply.
H.R. 4110 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs to State, local or tribal
governments.
VII. Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office
The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 4110 is shown in the
following table. This estimate assumes that the amounts
authorized will be appropriated and that spending will occur at
historical rates. The costs of this legislation fall within
budget function 800 (general Government).
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, July 14, 2000.
Hon. Dan Burton,
Chairman, Committee on Government Reform,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4110, a bill to
amend title 44, United States Code, to authorize appropriations
for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission
for fiscal years 2002 through 2005.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is John R.
Righter.
Sincerely,
Barry B. Anderson
(For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
Enclosure.
congressional budget office cost estimate
H.R. 4110--A bill to amend title 44, United States Code, to authorize
appropriations for the National Historical Publications and
Records Commission for fiscal year 2002 through 2005
Summary: H.R. 4110 would authorize the appropriation of $10
million--the amount authorized for 2001--to the National
Historical Publications and Records Commission for each of
fiscal years 2002 through 2005. The Commission received an
appropriation of $4.25 million in 2000 and the President's
budget request is $6 million for 2001. CBO estimates that
implementing H.R. 4110 would increase costs by $34 million over
the fiscal year 2002-2005 period, assuming appropriations of
the authorized amounts. Because the bill would not affect
direct spending or receipts, pay-as-you-go procedures would not
apply. H.R. 4110 contains no intergovernmental or private-
sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
(UMRA) and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of H.R. 4110 is shown in the following table.
This estimate assumes that the amounts authorized will be
appropriated and that spending will occur at historical rates.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 800
(general government).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
-----------------------------------------------------------
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005
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SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Commission spending under current law:
Authorization level \1\......................... 4 10 0 0 0 0
Estimated outlays............................... 6 8 5 1 0 0
Proposed changes:
Authorization level............................. 0 0 10 10 10 10
Estimated outlays............................... 0 0 5 9 10 10
Commission spending under H.R. 4110:
Authorization level \1\......................... 4 10 10 10 10 10
Estimated outlays............................... 6 8 10 10 10 10
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 2000 level is the amount appropriated for that year.
Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: The bill
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or
tribal governments.
Estimate prepared by: John R. Righter.
Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
VIII. Statement of Constitutional Authority
Pursuant to rule XIII, clause 3(d)(1), the Committee finds
that clauses 14 and 18 of Article I, section 8 of the U.S.
Constitution authorizes Congress to enact this law.
IX. Committee Recommendation
On Thursday, May 18, 2000, a quorum being present, the
Committee on Government Reform, by voice vote, ordered the bill
favorably reported to the House for consideration.
X. Congressional Accountability Act; Public Law 104-1
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(B)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104-1).
XI. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act; Public Law 104-4, Section 423
The Committee finds that the legislation does not impose
any Federal mandates within the meaning of section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (P.L. 104-4).
XII. Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) Section 5(b)
The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish
or authorize establishment of an advisory committee within the
definition of 5 U.S.C. App., section 5(b).
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
SECTION 2504 OF TITLE 44, UNITED STATES CODE
Sec. 2504. Duties; authorization of grants for historical publications
and records programs; authorization for
appropriations
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(f)(1) For the purposes specified in this section, there is
hereby authorized to be appropriated to the National Historical
Publications and Records Commission--
(A) * * *
* * * * * * *
(J) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; [and]
(K) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2001[.]; and
(L) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
(M) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
(N) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and
(O) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
* * * * * * *