PAHR

Preserving the American Historical Record

A bill to provide federal formula grants to every state for projects
that preserve historical records and make them more accessible.

 


CURRENT STATUS

Representatives Maurice Hinchey (D-NY-22) and John McHugh (R-NY-23) reintroduced the PAHR bill (HR 2256) in the House of Representatives on May 5, 2009.


ACTION ALERT

(1) Ask YOUR representative to sign on as a co-sponsor of HR 2256. Ask him/her to contact either Mike Iger in Congressman Hinchey's office (202-225-6335 or michael.iger@mail.house.gov) or Jason Miller in Congressman McHugh's office (202-225-4611 or jason.miller@mail.house.gov).

(2) If you have any contacts in the Senate, please let the Advocacy Task Force know right away. We are still looking for a lead sponsor in the Senate.

THE BILL

  • PAHR - A copy of the bill.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

  • Background Information – A 1-page document that makes the case for supporting the legislation.
  • How Much to Each State? – A PDF document that details the specific amount of funding to your state if the bill is authorized and appropriated at the proposed level of $50 million.
  • Brochure – Use some or all of the ideas presented here when advocating for co-sponsorship or passage of the proposed legislation.

RESOURCES

  • Draft Letter – Take the opportunity to thank your Representative for co-sponsoring the 2008 PAHR bill and ask for support for the 2009 bill.
  • Draft Letter to Prospective Co-sponsors for 2009 – A letter that you can customize and then fax (preferred), email, or send to your members of Congress. During recesses, you could send the letter to the district office.
  • Draft Resolution - Language your organization can use and adapt to endorse PAHR.
  • Sponsors –A list of Members of the House who have agreed to lead and so-sponsor the PAHR bill. 
  • Key Members – A list of Members of the House and Senate who serve on the committees and subcommittees that will be taking up the legislation.
  • Your Representative – Follow these easy steps to find your U.S. Representative, then send a message today:
    1. Go to https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
    2. Under "To contact your Representative," select your state and enter your zip code in the boxes provided, then click the "Contact My Representative" button.
    3. Follow the instructions on your Representative’s personal page about how to send an email or fax.
    4. Be sure to include the following in your appeal:
      • Ask him/her to support the Preserving the American Historical Record bill
      • Tell your Representative how you will benefit from better preservation of and access to historical records in your community, your state, and the nation.

MORE INFORMATION

Kathleen Roe, Chair
Joint Task Force on PAHR
Phone: 518-473-4254
Email: kroe [@] mail.nysed.gov

PARTNERS

SPONSORS:

    Head Sponsors:
  • Maurice Hinchey (D-NY)
  • John McHugh (R-NY)
    Co-sponsors:
  • Gary Ackerman (D-NY)
  • Michael Arcuri (D-NY)
  • John Barrow (D-GA)
  • Shelley Berkley (D-NV)
  • Joseph Crowley (D-NY)
  • Eliot Engel (D-NY)
  • Chaka Fattah (D-PA)
  • Jim Gerlach (R-PA)
  • Charles Gonzalez (D-TX)
  • Bart Gordon (D-TN)
  • Steve Israel (D-NY)
  • Timothy V. Johnson (R-IL)
  • David Loebsack (D-IA)
  • Nita Lowey (D-NY)
  • Carolyn Maloney (D-NY)
  • James McGovern (D-MA)
  • Jim Moran (D-VA)
  • Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)
  • Todd Platts (R-PA)
  • Ted Poe (R-TX)
  • Tim Ryan (D-OH)
  • Louise Slaughter (D-NY)
  • Paul Tonko (D-NY)
  • Charlie Wilson (D-OH)

ENDORSED BY:

  • American Association for State and Local History
  • American Historical Association
  • American Library Association
  • American Political Science Association
  • Archivists of Central Texas
  • Archivists of Religious Institutions
  • Association of Public Historians of New York State
  • Capital Area Archivists (NY)
  • Charleston Archives, Libraries and Museums Council (CALM)
  • Chief Officers of State Library Agencies
  • Consortium of Iowa Archivists
  • Delaware Valley Archives Group
  • The Generations Network
  • Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History
  • Heritage Preservation
  • History Associates
  • The History Channel
  • International Institute of Municipal Clerks
  • Kentucky Council of Archives
  • Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference
  • Midwest Archives Conference
  • National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS)
  • National Coalition for History
  • New England Archivists
  • Northwest Archivists
  • Organization of American Historians
  • Palmetto Archives, Libraries and Museums Council on Preservation (PALMCOP)
  • Society of California Archivists
  • Society of Florida Archivists
  • Society of Georgia Archivists
  • Society of Ohio Archivists
  • Society of Rocky Mountain Archivists
  • Society of Southwest Archivists
  • South Carolina Archival Association
  • Southeastern Archives and Records Conference
  • Southern Historical Association