Action Alert: Stop the Fiscal Disaster for Historical Records in the United States!

Tell the Senate Appropriations Committee to Fund NHPRC at $5 million

If your Senator is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee:  Please call or fax the Senator’s office – before close of business on Friday, June 8, 2012 – to ask for support of the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), the “grant-making” arm of the National Archives and Records Administration. The Senate Appropriations Committee will be acting on the bill to fund NHPRC on Tuesday, June 12; all comments must be received by Friday, June 8. (See the list of Senate Appropriations Committee members below.)

The Issue: The President’s FY13 appropriations budget request proposes only $3 million for NHPRC, a $2 million reduction from the current level of $5 million. This amount is not sufficient to support the ongoing programs and mission of the NHPRC at even a minimal level. It is up to Congress to preserve this program, which has already been cut substantially in previous fiscal years. For FY 2013 we urge the Senate to provide at least $5 million (level funding) for the NHPRC grants program. 

Take Action! Call or fax your member on the Senate Appropriations Committee to express your support for restoration of $5 million for NHPRC funding as part of the National Archives budget. In your call or fax, speak to the specific benefits of NHPRC for your state/organization/users. The more the Senator understands the benefits to his or her constituents, the more convincing your message will be. Your message need not be extensive—a brief phone call or a one-page fax that speaks directly to the positive benefits that NHPRC brings to your state or organization can have a significant impact!   Please encourage archives, libraries, and other historical organizations to call or fax on behalf of their organization and users, too. 

More detailed contact information for your Senator can be found on the Senate website at: www.senate.gov.

Members of the Senate Appropriations Committee are:

Democratic members:

Republican members: