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Sender: H-NET Distribution List for News and Announcements <H-ANNOUNCE@H-NET.MSU.EDU> X-Sender: announce@mail.h-net.msu.edu Approved-by: H-Net Announce <announce@MAIL.H-NET.MSU.EDU> To: H-ANNOUNCE@H-NET.MSU.EDU Reply-to: H-NET Distribution List for News and Announcements <H-ANNOUNCE@H-NET.MSU.EDU> X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.1 Delivered-to: h-announce@h-net.msu.edu Original-recipient: rfc822;john.saillant@vmh.cc.wmich.edu Date: Thu, 02 May 2002 12:55:30 -0400 From: Bruce Craig -- NCCPH <rbcraig@nccph.org> Subject: NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE, Vol. 8, #17, May 2, 2002 NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE, Vol. 8, #17, May 2, 2002 by Bruce Craig <rbcraig@nccph.org> National Coordinating Committee for the Promotion of History (NCCPH) ***************** 1. NAEP Report Card on U.S. History to be Issued May 9 2. Interior Subcommittee NEH Mark-up 3. Recent Legislation Introduced: Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission; Flight 93 National Memorial Act; Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area; Utah Public Lands Artifact Preservation Act; Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial; Women's History Trail; Historic Schools Preservation Act 5. News Bits and Bytes: NARA Opens Nixon National Security Council Files; NHPRC Fellowship; NARA Request for Comment; Web Resources 6. Articles of Interest: "Family Feud Stains Efforts to Burnish Nixon's Legacy (USA Today); Special Section on Museums (New York Times) 1. NAEP REPORT CARD ON U.S. HISTORY 2001 Next week, the National Center for Education Statistics will release its National Assessment of Educational Process (NAEP) report on what the nation's fourth-, eight-, and twelfth-graders know about U.S. history. The assessment provides data on a nationally representative sample of nearly 30,000 students at over 1100 public and private schools. This is the first such national report on student knowledge of the discipline of history in seven years. This year students were asked a series of questions based on four historical themes: "Change and Continuity in American Democracy," "The Gathering and Interactions of Peoples, Cultures, and Ideas," "Economic and Technological Changes," and "The Changing Role of America in the World." A total of eight historical periods also provided a chronological structure for the many issues included in the four central themes. Test questions emphasized the ways of thinking and the kinds of knowledge that historical study requires. In addition to multiple choice questions, students had to devote more than 50% of their time to "constructed response" questions, which required at least a brief written response and sometimes several short paragraphs in order to answer a question. The NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE will carry an in-depth analysis of the report when it is released next week. 2. INTERIOR SUBCOMMITTEE NEH MARK-UP The House Interior Subcommittee is expected to mark-up the FY-2003 appropriation bill for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and other cultural agencies in early June. Letters and/or phone calls to the House Interior Subcommittee in support of higher funding levels than proposed in the President's budget for the NEH are now needed. Please note that all communications should be sent via fax, e-mail, or by telephone due to increased security measures for postal mail to government offices. The essentials of the message to be communicated are as follows: either on behalf of yourself or an organization which you are authorized to speak, request an increase for the National Endowment for the Humanities in the House Interior spending bill. The President has requested level funding of $125 million for NEH programs in FY-2003. The National Humanities Alliance (a coalition of more than 80 national organizations) and the National Coordinating Committee for the Promotion of History are supporting a FY-2003 funding level of $155 million for the NEH, an increase of $30.5 million over last year's level. Request that the Member support this higher appropriation number. Additional funding is an important step in providing NEH with the resources needed to carry out its mandate to assist the American people in preserving and understanding their heritage. Specifically, it would help address unmet needs in: -- K-12 and college education, for history, literature, language and other humanities subjects -- preservation of and access to our nation's historical and cultural resources -- scholarly research in the humanities -- state humanities councils -- public programs (including museums, libraries, historical societies, film, television, and radio) The requested increases are as follows: -- $8.4 million, Federal/State Partnership (for a total of $40 million) -- $3.4 million, Challenge Grants Division (for a total of $13.8 million) -- $3.0 million, Education Division (for a total of $15.6 million) -- $4.6 million, Preservation & Access Division (for a total of $23.5 million) -- $3.8 million, Public Programs Division (for a total of $16.9 million) -- $3.9 million, Research Division (for a total of $16.9 million) To contact the members of the House Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies, write: The Honorable *******, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington D.C. 20515. Especially if one of the following individuals is your Representative, please write or call: Joe Skeen (R-NM), Tel: 202-225-2365; Norman D. Dicks (D-WA), Tel: 202-225-5916; Maurice D. Hinchey (D-NY), Tel: 202-225-6335; Jack Kingston (R-GA), Tel: 202-225-5831; James Kolbe (R-AZ), Tel: 202-225-2542; James P. Moran Jr. (D-VA), Tel: 202-225-4376; John P. Murtha (D-PA), Tel: 202-225-2065; George R. Nethercutt Jr. (R-WA), Tel: 202-225-2006; John E. Peterson (R-PA), Tel: 202-225-512; Ralph Regula (R-OH), Tel: 202-225-3876; Martin Olav Sabo (D-MN), Tel: 202-225-4755; Charles H. Taylor (R-NC), Tel: 202-225-6401; Zach Wamp (R-TN), Tel: 202-225-3271; C. W. Bill Young (R-FL), Tel: 202-225-5961; David R. Obey (D-WI), Tel: 202-225-3365. For additional information, contact John Hammer, Director of the National Humanities Alliance at (202) 296-4994 x149 or e-mail him at:ljhammer@cni.org; the NHA's detailed request for NEH in FY-2003 is available online at: http://www.nhalliance.org/neh/2002/03request.pdf. 3. RECENT LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS: BILLS INTRODUCED With all the developments in other history news arenas, this publication has delayed reporting on the introduction of a variety of history-related bills. Here then is an update of legislative activity over the last couple of months: CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION: On April 18, 2002, Senator John B. Breaux (D-LA), along with co-sponsors Senator Mary L. Landrieu (D-LA) and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), introduced legislation, the "Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Act of 2002" (S. 2198) to commemorate the 150 anniversary of the American Civil War. The bill recognizes that the Civil War was a "defining experience in the development of the United States." To ensure a suitable national observance of the event, the bill establishes a 26-member Commission including 9 individuals appointed by the President with "experience in history." That body would plan, develop and carry out programs and activities to expand the understanding and appreciation of the significance of the Civil War. The bill specifically authorizes $80-$100,000 in special grant funding each year during the length of the project to Louisiana State University and Gettysburg College for "appropriate activities relating to the sesquicentennial of the Civil War." The bill also authorizes $500,000 a year from 2003 - 2015 to carry out the provisions of the Act. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for action. FLIGHT 93 NATIONAL MEMORIAL ACT: On April 16, 2002 Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) introduced legislation, the "Flight 93 National Memorial Act" (S. 2136), to honor the passengers and crew members of Flight 93 who "on September 11, 2001, gave their lives to prevent a planned attack on the Capitol of the United States." Like a similar bill (H.R. 3917) introduced on March 7, 2002 by Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), the legislation seeks to designate the crash site in rural Pennsylvania as a unit of the National Park System. The bill establishes a fifteen-member Flight 93 Advisory Commission. For three years the Commission would assist the Secretary of the Interior in the formulation of a report that would detail plans for the design, construction, and long-term management of a suitable memorial. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for action. Murtha's bill has been referred to the House Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation, and Public Lands. MORMON PIONEER HERITAGE AREA: On April 18, 2002 Senator Robert F. Bennett (R-UT) introduced legislation to establish the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area in the state of Utah. The bill would provide federal assistance to a 250 mile area from the town of Fairview southward to the Arizona border that reportedly includes "outstanding examples of historical, cultural, and natural resources shaped by Mormon pioneers" and "contains some of the best features of the Mormon colonization experience in the United States." The bill empowers the Utah Heritage Highway 89 Alliance to serve as the principle management entity. This entity would work in partnership with the National Park Service to develop a Heritage Area Management Plan. The Plan would present comprehensive recommendations for the conservation, funding, management and development of the Heritage Area. The bill carries a $10 million authorization with a 50% federal cost share. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. UTAH PUBLIC LANDS ARTIFACT PRESERVATION ACT: On March 12, 2002 Representative James Hansen (R-UT) introduced legislation, H.R. 3928, that is a companion measure to Senator Robert F. Bennett's bill (S. 139) and designed to assist in the preservation of archaeological, paleontological, zoological, geological, and botanical artifacts through construction of a new facility for the University of Utah Museum of Natural History, Salt Lake City, Utah. Both bills seek to authorize up to $15 million for the federal share of construction costs to house a collection of more than 1 million artifacts stored at the museum that were collected on Department of the Interior and Department of Agriculture lands. On March 12 the bill was referred to the House Committee on Resources. Through legislative maneuverings, on March 19, Hansen managed to get the bill passed in the House without benefit of hearing under a legislative procedure known as "suspension of the rules." The bill was agreed to by voice vote and then referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Action in the Senate is pending. PORT CHICAGO NAVAL MAGAZINE NATIONAL MEMORIAL: On March 15, 2002, Representative George Miller (D-CA) introduced the "Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial Study Act" (H.R. 3941) legislation designed to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a "special resource study" to determine whether it is appropriate to include the Port Chicago Naval Magazine as a unit of the National Park System. The Magazine, located in Contra Costa, California, served as a major West Coast munitions supply facility during World War II. On July 17, 1944 an explosion at the facility killed 320 officers and sailors resulting in the largest domestic loss of life during WW II; the cause of the explosion has never been determined. The area was declared a National Memorial in 1992 and is under the administration of the Secretary of the Navy. The legislation seeks to determine whether it is "suitable and feasible" to place the Magazine under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands. Comments on the measure have been requested from the Department of the Interior. WOMEN'S HISTORY TRAIL: On March 20, 2002 Representative Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY) introduced "Votes for Women History Trail Act of 2002" (H.R. 4072) designed to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a commemorative trail in connection with the Women's Rights National Historical Park. The bill recognizes that the women's rights movement is one of the three great protest traditions in United States history, sharing that status with the struggle for racial equality and the labor movement, and that there is an opportunity at Women's Rights National Historical Park to tell the story of the 72-year fight for women's suffrage. To that end, the legislation seeks to establish an auto tour route, to be known as the Votes for Women History Trail linking historically and thematically associated sites in New York that are associated with the struggle for women's suffrage in the United States. To facilitate the establishment of the Votes for Women History Trail the Secretary of the Interior is charged to produce and disseminate appropriate educational materials regarding the Trail, such as handbooks, maps, exhibits, signs, interpretive guides, and electronic information; coordinate the management, planning, and standards of the auto route in partnership with participating properties, other Federal agencies, and State and local governments; and create guidelines for the usage of a distinctive trail marker system. The Secretary is empowered to enter into cooperative agreements and memorandums of understanding with, and provide technical and financial assistance to, other Federal agencies, the State of New York, localities, regional governmental bodies, and private entities. The bill authorizes $250,000 for each of the fiscal years 2003 through 2007 to provide financial assistance to cooperating properties. The bill was referred to the House Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands for action. HISTORIC SCHOOLS PRESERVATION ACT: On March 20, 2002 Representative Baron P. Hill ( D-IN ) introduced the "Historic Schools Preservation Act" (H.R. 4045), legislation authorizing the Secretary of Education to carry out a $10 million pilot program to promote the preservation of historic school structures. The legislation empowers the Secretary to make grants to not more than 10 states to promote the preservation of historic school structures. The grants' proceeds may be used by eligible entities to conduct independent assessments of the cost of renovating historic school structures or to evaluate whether to renovate historic school structures rather than build new school structures. The legislation provides for grants to a local educational agency (LEA), a consortium of LEAs, or a partnership between a LEA, and any number of public or private nonprofit organizations or local businesses. The legislation defines an 'historic school structure' as any school building or facility that "is listed on the National Register of Historic Places" or is "eligible to be listed on such National Register, as determined by the State historic preservation officer of the State in which the school is located." The bill authorizes $10 million in FY 2003 and "such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year thereafter." The measure was referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce where it awaits action. 5. NEWS BITS AND BYTES Item #1 -- NARA Opens Nixon National Security Council Files: On May 6, 2002, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) will open approximately 107,200 pages of National Security Council file materials from the Nixon Presidential Materials Project at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland. The declassified documents are from four series: President Nixon's Trip Files (records of the President's overseas travels); Alexander Haig's Chronological Files (records relating to Haig's duties as Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs); Alexander Haig's Special Files (records dealing largely with Haig's role as Presidential envoy between 1970-73); and Harold H. Saunders' Middle East Negotiations Files (records containing a wealth of information relating to the Middle East). Other records document the U.S. Peace Initiative for the Middle East, as well as the Four Power and the US-USSR talks. Also included are the background materials prepared for Henry Kissinger's use in his "shuttle diplomacy" between Egypt and Israel and Syria and Israel. For additional information, contact NARA at 301-837-1700. Item #2 -- NHPRC Documentary Editing Fellowship Program The National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) is seeking additional candidates to apply for its Fellowship in Historical Documentary Editing for the 2002-2003 academic year. The Fellowship in Historical Documentary Editing is designed to give fellows hands-on experience in historical documentary editing including documentary collection, document selection, transcription, annotation, proofreading , and indexing. The Commission is now accepting applications from individuals who hold a Ph.D. in U. S. history or have completed all requirements for the degree except the dissertation (those who submitted applications for the March 1 deadline need not reapply). The host institution for the academic year 2002-2003 is the Lincoln Legal Papers, A Documentary History of the Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln, 1836-1861 in Springfield, Illinois. The new deadline for applications is May 20, 2002. The fellow will be selected by the host project from the pool of candidates and will begin in the late summer or early fall of 2002. There is a fellow's stipend of $35,000, with a benefit payment of $8,750. The application and related forms are available at: http://www.nara.gov/nhprc or from Michael T. Meier, Program Officer at (202) 501-5610 extension 252 (e-mail: michael.meier@nara.gov). Item #3 -- National Archives Request for Comment: The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is requesting public comment on draft Information Quality Guidelines. The guidelines contain NARA's standards of quality, utility, objectivity, and integrity for information that is disseminated to the public, and the administrative procedures for preparing, reviewing, and correcting information products. The guidelines also describe the mechanisms for the public to request correction of information and to request reconsideration of a NARA decision to deny a request for correction. NARA will consider public comments in developing the final Information Quality Guidelines. Comments are due by May 21, 2002. The report is available electronically at: <http://www.nara.gov/nara/pubcom.html>. For a paper copy of the report, contact John Martinez at 301-837-1948. Item #4 -- Web Resources: The following web resources have come to our attention and may be of interest to readers: "You Be the Conservator," a Smithsonian Institution web resource invites students to play the role of a museum conservator, discovering clues about an historical object in order to preserve or restore it. In the featured activity, the object is a "santo," a painted woodcarving of a saint in the Catholic Church. To access, tap into:<http://americanhistory.si.edu/hosc/santos/index.htm>. "History Wired A Few of Our Favorite Things," also a Smithsonian Institution resource, offers a virtual tour of selected objects not on display in the National Museum of American History. Artifacts are presented in a dozen categories, including the arts, commerce, home, leisure, medicine, military, people, politics, science, and technology. The artifacts include the portable lap desk on which Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, George Washington's camp chest and military uniform, the Star-Spangled Banner, an African-American tenant farm house, the first commercially available personal computer, and Thomas Edison's electric pen. Tap into:<http://historywired.si.edu/index.html>. "Asian-Pacific Heritage Month" this National Park Service site provides information about the historical contributions of Asian & Pacific peoples in the U.S. and territories. It includes links to Pacific Islander heritage and Asian American heritage websites. Tap into: <http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/feature/asia/ >. "You Be the Historian," is a Smithsonian Institution site that invites students to examine clues determine what life was like for a family that lived in New Castle, Delaware during the 1700s. Students also discover what historians in the next century might learn about us if they found our homes the way they are today. Tap into:<http://americanhistory.si.edu/hohr/springer/index.htm>. Finally, for those interested in a guide to history sites on the Internet, take a look at the newly revised edition of THE HISTORY HIGHWAY edited by Dennis A. Trinkle and Scott A. Merriman (New York: M.E. Sharpe, 2002; ISBN: 0-7656-0904-5). The book details over 3,000 history web sites and includes a CD-ROM that contains the entire contents of the book as PDF files with live links so that the user can install the disk, go online, and link directly into various Web sites. ARTICLES OF INTEREST: Two items this week: "Family Feud Stains Efforts to Burnish Nixon's Legacy" (USA Today) and a link to the special section on museums that appeared in the April 24 issue of the New York Times. The first, an article by Martin Kasindorf that appeared in the April 29, 2002 issue of USA Today, describes the family feud between the Nixon daughters over how the privately funded Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace should be run: <http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/202/04/30/nixon.htm>. On April 24, 2002 the Times ran a special section on museums, with a variety of articles on the nation's museums, current trends toward freelance/independent curation, and a discussion on the efficacy of presidential libraries. To access it, tap into: <http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2002/04/24/arts/artsspecial/index.html>. ************************************************************ NCC invites you to subscribe to this FREE weekly newsletter! You are also encouraged to and redistribute the NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE to colleagues, friends, teachers, students and others who are interested in history and archives issues. A complete backfile of these reports is maintained by H-Net on the NCC's web page at <http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~ncc>. To subscribe to the "NCC Washington Update," send an e-mail message to listserv@h-net.msu.edu according to the following model: SUBSCRIBE H-NCC firstname lastname, institution. To unsubscribe send an e-mail message to listserv@h-net.msu.edu according to the following model: SIGNOFF H-NCC. **************************************************************
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