NCH WASHINGTON UPDATE (Vol. 12, #46; 30 November 2006)

1. FINAL REMINDER -- ANNUAL DONATION APPEAL TO READERS
2. LAME DUCK SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERS DECLINE TO ACT ON FY 2007 FEDERAL AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
3. SMITHSONIAN SHOWTIME DEAL: HISTORIANS, FILMMAKERS, AND SCHOLARS PETITION CONGRESS
4. NEW MEMBERS CONFIRMED TO SIT ON HUMANITIES COUNCIL
5. BILLS PASSED: JAPANESE CONFINEMENT SITES PRESERVATION ACT
6. BITS AND BYTES: Correction; NARA Summer Institutes; NMAH "Object of History" website; NEH Travelling Exhibition Grants
7. ARTICLES OF INTEREST: No posting this week.

1. FINAL REMINDER -- ANNUAL DONATION APPEAL TO READERS As long-time readers of this publication are aware, the National Coalition for History (NCH) is supported largely by the voluntary contributions of over 70 institutional supporters. Collectively, they provide most of the history coalition's annual operating budget. But each year we also depend on our readers for a small percentage of our budget (about 3%). Often, it is reader contributions that determine whether the history coalition ends the fiscal year in the black.

Nearly every week throughout the year the NCH WASHINGTON UPDATE has been delivering to you -- free of charge -- vital news and information about what's going on of interest to the history and archive community on Capitol Hill and throughout the nation. Today, we appeal to you, our readers, to give something back.

As we approach the holiday giving season, the NCH Board of Directors invites you to make an end-of-the-year fully TAX DEDUCTIBLE contribution to the NATIONAL COALITION FOR HISTORY (federal tax ID #01-0688590 for federal income tax purposes). Your contribution will help insure the continuation of our important education and advocacy activities that advance the interests of the historical and archival communities. A $50 individual contribution is suggested, though we certainly are appreciative of donations in any amount.

There are several ways to make a donation: BY CHECK, contributions payable to the "National Coalition for History" can be mailed to NCH, 400 A Street SE, Washington D.C. 20003. All such contributions are acknowledged in writing.

ONLINE DONATIONS may be made by visiting our contribution webpage that can be accessed through our charity webpage at: http://www.conservenow.org/detail.asp?ORGID=2032&memflag=true FEDERAL EMPLOYEES can make a donation through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) workplace donation drive. The National Coalition for History is a member of the Conservation & Preservation Charities of America (http://www.conservenow.org) and once again this year we are participating in the CFC. If you are a federal employee and enjoy receiving your weekly posting of this electronic newsletter, please consider contributing to the National Coalition for History. Our federal agency CFC donation code is CFC # 2351. Please contribute!

2. LAME DUCK SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERS DECLINE TO ACT ON FY 2007 FEDERAL AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS BILLS With Congress set to adjourn on 8 December, one less item is now on their plate before leaving town -- completion of work on outstanding FY-2007 federal government appropriations bills. In what appears to be one of the most neglected post-midterm election news stories, the Senate Republican leadership decided last week to postpone voting on all ten remaining spending bills until January, when the new Democrat-controlled Congress takes power.

The decision was first reported in "Congress Daily," a newsletter that is read largely by Capitol Hill staff and lobbyists. Few major media outlets have picked up on the news that portends to have a dramatic impact on federal agencies once Congress passes yet another Continuing Resolution (CR). With the existing CR set to expire on 8 December, Congress will need to pass another if they are to keep federal agencies operating throughout December and January.

Some Hill insiders had predicted that the Republican leadership would act on certain appropriation bills -- especially those with a large number of so-called pork-barrel projects benefiting Republicans such as those found in the massive Transportation bill (this measure also funds the National Archives). However, the most controversial pork projects are found in the House versions of pending appropriations bills, and senators have little to lose if some projects are struck out in January when new conferees meet to reconcile conflicting versions of the pending bills.

When the 110th Congress convenes in January the Democratic leadership will face intense pressures to limit the size of any increases to the federal budget. Their primary task will be to minimize the spiraling federal deficit.

During the Bush administration, annual federal spending has mushroomed from $1.86 trillion in FY 2001 to $2.67 trillion in 2006. According to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) projections, given the proposed budgets for federal agencies in FY 2007 the deficit will increase to $2.8 trillion by the end of FY 2007. President Bush has made it clear to the incoming Democratic leadership that he will not hesitate to use his veto power if appropriation bills that reach his desk exceed his total budget or slice away at defense needs. Throughout the president's entire term of office he has never vetoed a single bill from the Republican controlled Congress. Undoubtedly, with the Democrats in control both houses, the president would not hesitate to veto a Democratic proposal early in the new Congress, if for no other reason but to send a message to the new leadership.

Given this scenario, few on Capitol Hill expect any new major funding initiatives or proposals in the FY 2007 budget. The first opportunity that Democrats will have to significantly reshape a federal budget will come when Congress considers the president's proposed FY 2008 budget. As for FY 2007, in all likelihood there may be a slight shifting and adjusting of how funds are allocated to agencies. For the history and archival communities this means Department of Education, National Archives and Records Administration, and National Endowment for the Humanities funding will probably see no dramatic changes from what is currently proposed in House and Senate appropriation measures. Nevertheless, history coalition representatives will be meeting with staff of all appropriation committees with jurisdiction over these agencies in coming weeks to make our recommendations for budget revisions known.

3. SMITHSONIAN SHOWTIME DEAL: HISTORIANS, FILMMAKERS, AND SCHOLARS PETITION CONGRESS In the wake of the recent controversy over the Smithsonian Institution's (SI) exclusive and confidential agreement with Showtime, and recognizing that a new Congress presents new opportunities to derail the controversial agreement, a group of concerned historians, scholars, filmmakers, and others recently sent a letter to Congress demanding action.

The Business Ventures unit of the Smithsonian Institution has been under scrutiny for some time now regarding accounting and management issues. However the contract entered between the SI and Showtime dramatically increased public criticism. The letter to relevant Congressional appropriations and oversight committees notes that the Smithsonian Institution has been under attack by scholars and film makers since entering into a controversial contract that grants the Showtime Network certain exclusive rights to the Institution's staff, collections, and archives. The letter states that while the details of the contract are unknown, it has been established that it includes a "30-year term, a non-competitive procurement" and that organizations such as PBS and the History Channel (to name but two), are all viewed as "competitive," and hence the contract impacts their and other independent film makers potential access to the Smithsonian for programs they wish to produce.

For months, the Smithsonian has steadfastly refused to release the terms of the contract or address the concerns and criticism to the satisfaction of critics. The letter notes that SI officials have also not responded to questions from the Senate Finance Committee, the House Appropriations Committee or the House Committee on Administration. While Congress has authorized the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study, the draft report remains confidential as well.

The letter calls on Congress to take action and shed light on the Smithsonian Showtime deal. At the very least, the contract "should be made available to the public and reforms could be instituted that would allow for increased dialogue and consultation with the public before a contract is agreed upon." With the House and Senate set to convene to discuss bills left to be conferenced, there is an opportunity to amend bills that limit public access to contracts.

To view the letter, visit http://public.resource.org/smithsonian_congress.html.

4. NEW MEMBERS CONFIRMED TO SIT ON HUMANITIES COUNCIL The Senate has confirmed eight new members nominated by President Bush to sit on the of the National Council on the Humanities, a twenty-six member advisory council to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Eight members will begin their duties immediately while two others will officially join the council in July, 2007. The terms of the new members will not expire until 2012.

Notably, a few historians will join the advisory council. They include: Mary Habeck -- an associate professor of history at Yale University and currently a professor of strategic studies at Johns Hopkins University. She is the writer and editor of a number of books focusing on international relations in the past and present;

Wilfred M. McClay -- a history professor at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a former professor at Georgetown University, Tulane University, and Johns Hopkins University. McClay is also a senior scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and the author of "The Masterless: Self and Society in Modern America" (1994), which received the Organization of American Historians' 1995 Merle Curti Award for the best book in American intellectual history;

Jay Winik -- a leading public historian who has authored numerous books and articles. His New York Times best-selling book, "1865: The Month that Saved America," is part of the "Modern Classic" series and served as the basis for an Emmy-nominated History Channel special; and

Allen Guelzo -- a professor and director of the Civil War Era Studies at Gettysburg College. He has written multiple books and essays, including "Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President" and "Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation: The End of Slavery in America," both of which won the Lincoln Prize and the Abraham Lincoln Institute Prize.

The other new members of the council are: Jean Bunting III, Jane Marie Doggett, Robert Martin, Manfredi Piccolomini, Kenneth Weinstein, and Jean Bethke Elshtain. These new members bring to the council a wide variety of experiences and knowledge in the humanities. NEH Chair Bruce Cole predicts that, "Their collective wisdom will help guide the Humanities Endowment in the years ahead."

For more detailed profiles of the members, visit http://www.neh.gov/news.

5. BILLS PASSED: JAPANESE CONFINEMENT SITES PRESERVATION ACT On 16 November 2006,the Senate amended and then passed a House bill that would provide for the preservation of historic confinement sites where Japanese Americans were interned during World War II (H.R. 1492).

Representative William Thomas (R-CA) first introduced the bill in the House in April 2005. A companion measure was introduced in the Senate a few months later by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI). Certain sections of the bills as introduced were stricken by the Senate and a few paragraphs were added to it before the bill, as amended, passed.

According to the legislation, the term "historic confinement sites" refers to ten locations where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II. They include Gila River, Granada, Heart Mountain, and Tule Lake. Other locations could be included at a later date if they are found to be historically significant. Upon approval by the House the measure empowers the Secretary of the Interior to allocate grants up to $38 million to state, local, and tribal governments or other organizations in order to preserve these sites.

The legislation now goes back to the House, where if approved prior to adjournment, the measure will become law.

6. BITS AND BYTES Item #1 -- Correction: In the story titled "Without Fanfare, President Bush Awards Humanities Medals" in the posting of 16 November (vol. 12, #44) Princeton University professor Robert Fagle's name was inadvertently reported as Robert "Eagles." Our apology for the typo and our congratulations to the recipient.

Item #2 -- NARA Summer Institutes: Educators can now register for the 2007 summer institute class offered by the National Archives, a course entitled Primarily Teaching: Original Documents and Classroom Strategies. Those who participate will learn archival research skills and how to create lesson plans based on archival documents that will instill in their students a greater interest in history and government. Participants will actually search through the archives for documents they can use in their own classrooms and then formulate teaching strategies and activities that use primary source materials. Registration is open to educators at the upper elementary, secondary, and college level. The class will be held at eight National Archives locations across the country, including the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Online applications can be found at http://www.archives.gov/education/primarily-teaching. For more information about class locations and dates, visit http://www.archives.gov.

Item #3 -- NMAH "Object of History" website: The National Museum of American History (NMAH) will add a new feature to its website that can be used by both students and teachers. Each month, a new "Object of History" will be added to the website, a physical artifact that relates to a central topic in American history. Lesson plans, additional web resources, and other curriculum materials will accompany each object. Students will be able to participate in live online discussions with Smithsonian historians and curators. The first Object of History will be an 1890 Standard Voting Machine (February 2007), followed by the Greensboro Woolworth's Lunch Counter (March 2007), and later the Gold Nugget that commenced the 1848 Gold Rush (October 2007). These objects connect to the themes of voting reform, Civil Rights, and Western Expansion, respectively. For the full schedule and additional resources visit www.objectofhistory.org/teachers .

Item #4 -- NEH Travelling Exhibition Grants: The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has announced a new category of grants that will offer up to $1 million for the implementation of major traveling exhibitions that present significant topics in the humanities. Under the current guidelines for implementation grants to museums and historical organizations, all other awards for public programming are limited to $400,000. Grants made through the "Chairman's Special Awards" will support large-scale traveling exhibitions of national visibility that have exceptional potential for attracting large numbers of visitors. Museums and historical organizations applying for an award should propose exhibitions that show unusual promise in terms of disseminating important ideas in the humanities in ways that would be broadly appealing to the public. Proposals should also include a strong companion Web site or other creative digital component that significantly enhances the humanities content of the project or broadens its dissemination to audiences. Applications for the first awards must be submitted via Grants.gov by 23 January 2007. Information on how to apply appears on the NEH Web site (www.neh.gov) with guidelines for Implementation Grants for Museums and Historical Organizations. Institutions considering applying for an award may also obtain information by calling NEH's Division of Public Programs at 202-606-8269 or by sending an e-mail to publicpgms@neh.gov.

7. ARTICLES OF INTEREST: No posting this week.