H.R. 6872 – Reading Mode

110th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 6872

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

September 11, 2008

Mr. Goodlatte (for himself and Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

A BILL

To amend title 44, United States Code, to authorize grants for Presidential Centers of Historical Excellence.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Presidential Historical Records Preservation Act of 2008.

Grant program

Section 2504 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by—

(1)

redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);

(2)

amending subsection (g)(1) (as so redesignated by paragraph (1))—

(A)

in subparagraph (R), by striking and;

(B)

in subparagraph (S), by striking the period and inserting ; and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(T)

$15,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.

; and

(3)

inserting after subsection (e), the following:

(f)

Grants for Presidential Centers of Historical Excellence

(1)

In general

The Commission shall make grants, on a competitive basis and in accordance with this subsection, to eligible entities to promote the historical preservation of, and public access to, historical records and documents relating to any President who does not have a Presidential archival depository currently managed and maintained by the Federal Government pursuant to section 2112 (commonly known as the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955).

(2)

Eligible entity

For purposes of this subsection, an eligible entity is—

(A)

an organization described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code; or

(B)

a State or local government of the United States.

(3)

Use of funds

Amounts received by an eligible entity under paragraph (1) shall be used to promote the historical preservation of, and public access to, historical records or historical documents relating to any President covered under paragraph (1).

(4)

Prohibition on use of funds

Amounts received by an eligible entity under paragraph (1) may not be used for the maintenance, operating costs, or construction of any facility to house the historical records or historical documents relating to any President covered under paragraph (1).

(5)

Application

(A)

In general

An eligible entity seeking a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Commission an application at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such information as the Commission may require, including a description of the activities for which a grant under this subsection is sought.

(B)

Approval of application

The Commission shall not approve a grant application submitted under subparagraph (A) unless an eligible entity establishes that such entity—

(i)

possesses, with respect to any President covered under paragraph (1), historical works and collections of historical sources that the Commission considers appropriate for preserving, publishing, or otherwise recording at the public expense;

(ii)

has appropriate facilities and space for preservation of, and public access to, the historical works and collections of historical sources;

(iii)

shall ensure preservation of, and public access to, such historical works and collections of historical sources at no charge to the public;

(iv)

has educational programs that make the use of such documents part of the mission of such entity;

(v)

has raised funds from non-Federal sources in support of the efforts of the entity to promote the historical preservation of, and public access to, such historical works and collections of historical sources in an amount equal to the amount of the grant the entity seeks under this subsection;

(vi)

shall coordinate with any relevant Federal program or activity, including programs and activities relating to Presidential archival depositories;

(vii)

shall coordinate with any relevant non-Federal program or activity, including programs and activities conducted by State and local governments and private educational historical entities; and

(viii)

has a workable plan for preserving and providing public access to such historical works and collections of historical sources.