To provide that claims of the United States to certain documents relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt shall be treated as waived and relinquished in certain circumstances.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 692) to provide that claims of the United States to certain documents relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt shall be treated as waived and relinquished in certain circumstances.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

I yield my such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I present Senate bill 692 for consideration.

This legislation will facilitate the donation of the Grace Tully Archive to the National Archives and Records Administration. Senate bill 692 is the Senate companion to H.R. 1506, which was introduced by Representative Louise Slaughter. H.R. 1506 passed the House by voice vote on November 16, 2009, after it was approved by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform by voice vote on October 29, 2009. Senate bill 692 is identical to H.R. 1506, and was introduced by Senator Chuck Schumer on March 25, 2009. The legislation was reported out of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs without amendment on October 5, 2009, and was passed by the United States Senate on October 14, 2009, by unanimous consent.

Madam Speaker, Ms. Grace Tully served as the personal secretary of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt from June of 1941 to April of 1945. In her capacity as personal secretary to the President, Ms. Tully preserved an assortment of personal papers and other historical items related to President Roosevelt that have come to form a historically significant collection. While the private owner of the Grace Tully Collection would like to donate the materials to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library, the National Archives and Records Administration, which administers the Roosevelt Library, has asserted a claim to a portion of the collection. The claim asserted by the National Archives impacts whether the private owner may claim a tax deduction for the donation. In order to facilitate the donation of the Grace Tully Archive, Senate bill 692 waives the government's claim to the records and will thereby allow the collection to be gifted to the Roosevelt Library.

Madam Speaker, the Grace Tully Archive represents an important part of American history. Through the passage of Senate bill 692, we will ensure that this collection will be properly preserved and made publicly available through the Roosevelt Library.

I'd also like to note that this legislation enjoys the support of the National Archives. As noted by former Acting Archivist Adrienne Thomas in a letter sent to the Oversight Committee in October of 2009, ``I write to express my strong support for the ongoing legislative effort to facilitate the donation to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library of the Tully Archive.'' Ms. Thomas went on to say that, ``It is very important to the National Archives and Records Administration, and for future historians that might want to study these papers, for the Tully Archive to be kept intact and made fully accessible to the American people in a public government archives.''

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Senate bill 692.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Likewise, Madam Speaker, I urge support of Senate bill 692, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1506) to provide that claims of the United States to certain documents relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt shall be treated as waived and relinquished in certain circumstances.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and add any extraneous materials.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I present H.R. 1506 for consideration. This legislation will facilitate the donation of the Grace Tully archive to the National Archives and Records Administration. H.R. 1506 was introduced by my friend and colleague, Representative Louise Slaughter of New York, on March 12, 2009, and favorably reported out of the Oversight Committee by voice vote on October 29, 2009. In addition, the Senate companion bill to H.R. 1506, Senate bill 692, introduced by Senator Charles Schumer of New York, was passed by the United States Senate on October 14, 2009, by unanimous consent.

Mr. Speaker, Ms. Grace Tully served as the personal secretary of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt from June of 1941 to April of 1945. In her capacity as personal secretary to the President, Ms. Tully preserved an assortment of personal papers and other historical items related to President Roosevelt that have come to form a historically significant collection.

While the private owner of the Grace Tully collection would like to donate the materials to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Presidential Library, the National Archives and Records Administration, which administers the Roosevelt Library, has asserted a claim to a portion of the collection. Notably, the claim asserted by the National Archives impacts whether the private owner may claim a tax deduction for the donation.

In order to facilitate the donation of the Grace Tully archive, H.R. 1506 waives the government's claim to the records and will thereby allow the collection to be gifted to the Roosevelt Library.

Mr. Speaker, the Grace Tully archive represents an important part of American history. Through the passage of H.R. 1506, we will ensure that this collection will be properly preserved and made publicly available through the Roosevelt Library. I would also like to note that this legislation enjoys the support of the National Archives.

As noted by former Acting Archivist Adrienne Thomas in a letter sent to the Oversight Committee last month: ``I write to express my strong support for the ongoing legislative effort to facilitate the donation to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library of the Tully archive through House bill H.R. 1506 and its Senate companion, Senate 692.''

Ms. Thomas went on to say that ``it is very important to the National Archives and Records Administration, and for future historians that might want to study these papers, for the Tully archive to be kept intact and made fully accessible to the American people in a public government archive.''

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1506.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

On behalf of the sponsor here, Representative Louise Slaughter, I encourage my friends from both sides of the aisle to join us in supporting H.R. 1506.

I yield back the balance of our time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1506, which will allow for the National Archives to acquire the Grace Tully collection of documents and memorabilia pertaining to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The passage of this important legislation could not be timelier, and will allow the American people to have access to historical documents that provide unique insight into the life of one of our nation's greatest Presidents.

Grace Tully was one of the most important figures in President Roosevelt's life. She began her professional career working for Eleanor Roosevelt, and worked for FDR from his time as Governor of New York through his death in 1945. From 1941, Grace Tully served as the President's personal secretary and she frequently traveled with the President. Her collection of documents and personal correspondence from this time span one of the most challenging eras in our nation's history and provide unique insight into the thinking of our nation's longest serving President.

The collection includes a draft copy of President Roosevelt's speech to the 1936 Democratic Convention in which he famously said that ``This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny.'' Much of the collection gives a behind the scenes look at how the President fulfilled his promise to that convention. It includes personal correspondence that

discussed the creation of Social Security and other programs that were integral to the New Deal. The collection also includes draft copy of the President's 1941 address to a joint session of Congress. The handwritten notes on the draft discuss the attack on Pearl Harbor and the President's timeless statement that December 7, 1941 was a ``date which will live in infamy.''

Beyond major statements and addresses, Ms. Tully's collection helps shed light on the important relationship the President had with Winston Churchill. There is personal correspondence between Roosevelt and Churchill which discuss important topics leading up to the Yalta Conference in 1945. But there is also more lighthearted correspondence including scorecards of poker games between the two heads of state.

The passage of this legislation will allow for the public to have access to this valuable collection, which provides important insight into one of the most important and transitional eras in the country's history. I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1506 would waive certain claims of the United States to specific documents relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The papers, known as the Tully Collection, are said to be an important and valuable collection of materials relating to President Roosevelt's time in office. Grace Tully served as part of Franklin Roosevelt's secretarial staff for several decades, and in 1941 became his personal secretary. After her death her collection of personal papers passed on through her niece into the hands of private collectors and finally to the current owners, Sun Times Media, who bought the collection for $8 million in 2001.

In 2004 the National Archives asserted a claim to a portion of the documents. Sun Times Media wishes to donate the entire collection to President Roosevelt's Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York. Due to the Archives' formal claim, however, Sun Times Media is prevented from receiving a tax deduction on the donation. This bill aims to alleviate the legal claims of the United States and the Archives, thereby clearing the way for the donation and the deduction.

I understand this bill is a priority for certain Members of the New York delegation. I also understand the Archives has offered its support for this legislation in a letter to the committee. Nevertheless, I want to briefly highlight two points.

First, given the multiple ongoing instances of mismanagement at the Archives, we need to take a close look at all legislation relating to this agency. Second, the majority moved this bill without a hearing. We should have a better understanding of this legislation, particularly how it relinquishes the Federal Government's claim to certain documents while benefiting certain entities through tax breaks.

Mr. Speaker, I hope we can take a closer look at this bill as it moves through the legislative process.

I have no other speakers, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

S. 692 is identical to House Resolution 1506, which passed the House on November 16. Therefore, I want to reiterate the points made previously during debate on the House bill. This bill will waive certain claims of the United States to specific documents, known as the Tully Collection, relating to Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Grace Tully served in Franklin Roosevelt's secretarial staff for several decades, and in 1941, became his personal secretary. After her death, her collection of papers passed through a number of hands and finally to the current owners, Sun Times Media, who bought the collection for $8 million in 2001.

In 2004, the National Archives asserted a claim to a portion of the documents. Sun Times Media wishes to donate the collection to President Roosevelt's Presidential Library in Hyde Park, New York, and take a tax deduction. Due to the Archives claim, Sun Times Media is prevented from receiving a tax deduction on the donation. This bill waives the legal claims of the United States and the Archives, thereby clearing the way for the tax deduction and the donation.

I understand the Archives has offered to support this legislation in a letter to the committee. Nevertheless, I want to again highlight two points: The majority moved this bill without a hearing. We should have had a better understanding of legislation relinquishing the Federal Government's claims while benefiting certain private entities through tax breaks. Given the multiple, ongoing instances of mismanagement of the Archives, we should have the opportunity on the committee to review all legislation relating to this agency.

Madam Speaker, I urge the Members to support the passage of S. 692, and I yield back the balance of my time.