NCH WASHINGTON UPDATE (Vol. 12, #32; 17 August 2006)

1. APPROPRIATIONS: WHERE WE STAND
2. STILL TIME TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED CHANGE IN NARA RESEARCH HOURS
3. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO GET NEW DIRECTOR
4. HISTORY COALITION ANNOUNCES SEARCH FOR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
5. BITS AND BYTES: National Heritage Area Report; Revolutionary War/ War of 1812 Study; Kennedy Library to Digitize all JFK Records
6. ARTICLES OF INTEREST: "Teacher's Radical 9/11 Views Raise Red Flags" (Christian Science Monitor)

1. APPROPRIATIONS: WHERE WE STAND Just prior to beginning Congress’s annual summer recess, the Senate Appropriations Committee completed work on all its spending bills, including the several of greatest interest to historians and archivists: the Labor/HHS/Education, Interior and Related Agencies, and Transportation/Treasury bills.

The Senate is not nearly as far along in wrapping up work on federal agency funding as is the House, which has voted on all of its appropriations bills except the Labor/HHS bill. When Congress reconvenes in early September, Hill insiders hold little hope that Congress will complete its work on the FY 2007 budget that is slotted to begin 1 October; most expect that both Houses will hold off final action until after the November elections. As a result Congress undoubtedly will need to pass one or more Continuing Resolutions (CRs) in order to keep the government operating.

The Department of Education is funded out of the Labor/Health and Human Services /Education appropriation bill. On 20 July, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a $605.6 billion bill that includes “level funding” ($9.699 million) for the Javits doctoral Fellowships.

Senator Robert C. Byrd once again delivered a recommended FY 2007 funding level for the “Teaching American History Grant” (TAH) program of $121 million ­­ an increase of $1.2 million over last year’s appropriation and a whopping 70% higher than the President’s request and what the House recommended. The funding request includes a reserve of up to 3 percent of funds appropriated for “national activities.” While the Department of Education is empowered to recommend how these national grants should be spent, this year’s legislation directs the Education Department to submit an operating plan to Congress detailing how these reserve funds would be used to support of the TAH program.

The Senate recommended a funding level of $260.1 million for the Institute of Library and Museum Services - some $20.3 million below the House mark but $12.9 million above the FY 2006 appropriated level.

The Interior bill, which funds NEH and other cultural agencies, was marked up by the Senate Appropriations Committee on 29 June. The committee approved flat funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), keeping it at the current year's level of $141 million.

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) ­­ including the National Historical Publications and Records Commission) ­­ is funded out of the Transportation/Treasury bill. On 18 July the Senate provided the National Archives with $348 million, including $5 million for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (but no funds for program administration). The House allocated $7.5 million for the NHPRC ­­ the most likely figure to be agreed on by conferees when they meet to iron out the differences between the contrasting House and Senate bills.

This year, part of NARA’s base funding provides for the new Public Interest Declassification Board (PIDB) as well as for the Electronic Records Archives (ERA) ­­ $48.810 million. According to the accompanying report, “the Committee has denied additional operating expense funds for the Nixon Presidential Library due to other higher priorities and budget constraints.” Funds are, however, provided for ongoing repairs at the LBJ and JFK Presidential libraries and for construction of the Alaska Regional Archives and Records Center.

2. STILL TIME TO COMMENT ON PROPOSED CHANGE IN NARA RESEARCH HOURS An interim final rule recently published in the Federal Register requests public comment on a proposed change in the hours for conducting research at the National Archives Building (DC) and the National Archives facility at College Park (MD) and for visiting the Rotunda and National Archives public exhibitions. NARA proposes to have research facilities open 9 a.m. to 5 p. m. Monday through Friday, but no longer would there be evening or Saturday hours. Regional archive facilities would also modify their extended hours.

If approved as drafted, the rule and the changed hours will go into effect 2 October 2006. There is still time to comment on the proposed changes. Comments must be received by 8 September 2006. A link to the rule is at: http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/ . Comments may be forwarded via www.regulations.gov .

3. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO GET NEW DIRECTOR On July 26 2006, National Park Service Director Fran Mainella, the 16th Director of the National Park Service, announced that, after nearly six years of service, she will leave her position to devote more time to her family. A departure date has not been set.

In her resignation letter to the President, Mainella wrote, "Thank you, Mr. President for allowing me to serve you and the American people as the Director of the National Park Service. Thank you for your support and confidence in my ability as the first woman to serve as Director." For the official Department of Interior announcement, go to: http://www.doi.gov/news

4. HISTORY COALITION ANNOUNCES SEARCH FOR NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR With the anticipated departure of R. Bruce Craig in January 2007, the National Coalition for History (NCH), which serves as the central educational and advocacy outreach office for the history and archival communities, is seeking applications for the position of executive director. The following announcement has been posted on the web pages of the National Coalition for History ( http://www.h-net.org/~nch/ ) the American Historical Association (www.historians.org) and other history-oriented web pages.

A consortium of over 75 organizations, the NCH concentrates on issues involving federal funding and policies that have an impact on history-related programs, research, and teaching. These include policy issues related to the support of historical research and public programming, federal historical offices, archival policies, FOIA and access to government information, copyright and intellectual property issues, and historic preservation.

Description of Position: The executive director serves as the organization’s voice on Capitol Hill. In addition, the executive director is responsible for maintaining the organization’s web pages; writing and publishing a weekly electronic newsletter ­­ the NCH Washington Update ­­ that is distributed via H-NET to professionals across the nation; and encouraging cooperation and, when appropriate, united action among member organizations.

The NCH is a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) charitable organization that is overseen by a 20-member policy board; the executive director, who is the only staff person, is a registered lobbyist. The NCH operates out of an office in the American Historical Association’s headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Candidates interested in the position are urged to visit the organization’’s web page at http://www.h-net.org/~nch/ where past annual reports and the organization’s 2000-2005 strategic plan may be consulted (an updated strategic plan will be posted in the near future).

Preferred Qualifications: The NCH seeks candidates with qualifications in a history-related field (an advanced degree in history or archives is preferred), advocacy experience, effective communication skills (particularly the ability to write concise and clear prose under the pressure of deadlines), expertise in relevant policy and legislative issues, background of working with boards and professional associations, demonstrated ability to work with a diverse constituency, administrative capabilities, and facility at performing disparate tasks. Salary is negotiable and commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Application Procedure: An application letter; resume; names, addresses, and telephone numbers of three references; and a short writing sample, should be sent to: Chair of the Search Committee National Coalition for History, 400 A St., SE, Washington, DC 20003.

Inquiries about the position should be directed to Arnita Jones at ajones@historians.org, president and chair of the NCH Policy Board. Review of applications will begin 1 October 2006, and will continue until the position is filled. Interviews will be conducted beginning in mid-October. The anticipated start date for the successful candidate is negotiable but 1 January 2007 is the target; there will be a short overlap with the current executive director.

5. BITS AND BYTES Item #1 ­­ National Heritage Area Report: On July 25, the National Park System Advisory Board released “Charting a Future for National Heritage Areas: A Report by the National Park System Advisory Board.” Almost 50 million people in 19 states live within the 27 existing congressionally designated National Heritage Areas. More than 20 proposals for new National Heritage Areas are under consideration by the 109th Congress. The report recommends that a National Heritage Areas System be established within the Department of the Interior to provide a legislative framework of specific standards and criteria. The congressionally chartered National Park System Advisory Board is made up of 12 citizens appointed to provide advice on matters related to the operation and administration of the National Park Service. For the report and related information go to: http://www.cr.nps.gov/heritageareas/ and http://www.nps.gov/policy/NHAreport.htm .

Item #2 ­­ Revolutionary War/ War of 1812 Study: The National Park Service has completed a draft of a report that identifies Revolutionary War and War of 1812 sites, provide alternatives for their preservation, interpretation, and research and proposes land preservation techniques. The report seeks to raise the profile of endangered sites and documents historical context and focuses on opportunities for preservation of the sites. The draft report is available online at http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/Rev1812Draft.pdf (Password “Rev1812Draft”) .

Item #3 ­­ Kennedy Library to Digitize all JFK Records: The Kennedy Library has announced a major new initiative ­­ to digitize all of its records pertaining to John F. Kennedy ­­ including documents, film, and audio and video recordings and make them accessible to researchers around the world via the Internet. The project is being made possible by the Kennedy Library Foundation and EMC Corporation (a Massachusetts-based information management and storage company). Total cost of the project? ­­ around $1 million.

6. ARTICLES OF INTEREST One posting this week: In "Teacher's Radical 9/11 Views Raise Red Flags" by Amanda Paulson of the Christian Science Monitor (18 August 2006) reports on the controversy focusing on a university lecturer who casts doubt in class that terrorists plotted the attacks. Is that academic freedom? For the article go to: http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0818/p03s01-legn.html?s=hns