1. Update on National Archives and NHPRC's FY'96 Budgets
2. Senate Appropriations Committee Considers NEH
3. A National Search for Head of Presidential Libraries
4. Legislation Introduced to Merge NEA and NEH
5. Senate Provides Funding for Declassification Oversight Office
6. JFK Assassination Review Board Retains Funding
1. Update on National Archives and NHPRC's FY'96 Budgets --
On July 27 the Senate Appropriations Committee met and
endorsed the recommendations for the Treasury Subcommittee
concerning the FY'96 budgets of the National Archives and the
NHPRC. The amount for the National Archives is $199.63 million,
an increase of approximately $6 million over the House amount,
with much of the increase going to special electronic records and
finding aid projects. The Senate increased the NHPRC grants
program by $1 million over the House amount, bringing the Senate
figure to $5 million.
2. Senate Appropriations Committee Considers NEH -
The Senate Appropriations Committee approved $114.5 million
for NEH in FY'96. As the committee began consideration on July
28 of NEH funding, the prospects seemed somewhat slim for
retaining the $15 million transferred by the Interior
Subcommittee from the Energy Information Office to NEH. The
morning's Washington Post had carried an editorial titled "No
More Energy Crises?" which stated: "The NEH does some valuable
things, but the work of the energy statisticians involves the
government's central responsibility to stabilize the economy."
However, the $15 million addition for NEH held when it came time
to vote. Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced an amendment,
which failed to pass, which would have funded both NEH and NEA at
the level of $119 million. An amendment by Senator Daniel Inouye
(D-HI) to move the added $15 for NEH to the Indian Museum also
failed.
3. A National Search for Head of Presidential Libraries --
There is considerable interest in the historical and archival
communities about the selections that John Carlin, the new U.S.
Archivist, will make in filling key senior positions. Many have
applauded the national search that is currently underway for a
new head of Presidential Libraries. An ad for the position
appeared in the July 28 issue of the Chronicle of Higher
Education . The closing date for applications is August 25.
Those wishing information about this position should call the
National Archives Human Resources Services Division (301) 713-
6760.
4. Legislation Introduced to Merge NEA and NEH --
On July 25 Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Bob
Bennett (R-UT) introduced S. 1071 which would merge NEA, NEH, and
the Institute of Museum Services. Spending, however, would
remain at the current level of about $370 million and would be
frozen at that level through 2000. Both Senators are strongly
committed to preserving federal funding for the arts and
humanities. The proposed reorganization calls for 40% funding
for grants of national significance and 60% allocated for grants
to the states. The reauthorization bill developed by Senators
Kassebaum (R-KS), Jeffords (R-VT), Kennedy (D-MA), and Pell (D-
RI), S.856, and recommended on July 19 by the Senate Labor and
Human Resources Committee appears to have more support than S.
1071.
5. Senate Provides Funding for Declassification Oversight Office -
On July 27 the Senate Appropriations Committee provided $1.4
million for the Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO)
which oversees the government's classification and declassification
programs as well as the implementation of the new executive order
on declassification. The House zeroed ISOO out of the House
Treasury Appropriations bill, and its future seemed in doubt.
There have been discussions about whether it would remain in OMB,
or whether the National Archives would assume its functions, or
whether it would return to its earlier status as an independent
office. Yesterday the Senate Appropriations Committee reinstated
it as a separate office. It will be located in the Executive
Office of the President.
6. JFK Assassination Review Retains Funding -
On July 27 the Senate Appropriations Committee considered
funding for the continuation of the JFK Assassination Review
Board. The Board, an independent federal panel overseeing the
review and release of rec ords related to the assassination of
President Kennedy, has been responsible for the recent release of
significant CIA documents. Senator Bob Bennett (R-UT) introduced
an amendment to eliminate funding for the Board; however, he
withdrew his proposal after learning that the Senate Intelligence
Committee is interested in the Board being continued.
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