To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat certain employee-funded pensions created before June 25, 1959, in the same manner as qualified trusts for purposes of unrelated debt-financed income derived from real property, and to increase the limitation on elective deferrals to such employee-funded pensions.

Madam Speaker, I rise today as a proud cosponsor of the Preserving the American Historical Record (PAHR) Act. I appreciate the work my friend, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Hinchey), has done to develop this important legislation, which would greatly enhance efforts to preserve and disseminate our Nation's rich historical records.

Americans have long recognized the importance of preserving history through the support of such institutions as the Library of Congress, National Archives, and the Smithsonian Institution. However, efforts to preserve records held by State and local historical societies, archives, and libraries are currently hindered due to a lack of resources necessary to ensure adequate preservation.

The PAHR Act, which I also cosponsored during the 110th Congress (H.R. 6056), would authorize $50 million annually for grants to States, local governments, and other entities to preserve these important records. In addition to preservation assistance, the PAHR Act will enhance safe access to those records for public use. Of note, the Act could result in the expanded use of a wide variety of access tools, including archival finding aids, documentary editions, indexes and images of key records online.

This measure will also support initiatives to use records in ways that highlight the importance of state, territorial, and community history. For instance, in New York's 23rd Congressional District, which I am proud to represent, there are some 300 non-profit organizations and more than 650 local governments that hold numerous records documenting both the people and history of central and northern New York. A few examples of these records include:

The Adirondack Museum Library has the largest collection documenting that unique region, with records ranging from architectural drawings of ``Great Camps,'' catalogs for J.H. Rushton canoes, early maps of the Adirondack Park, and recordings of Adirondack folk musicians.

The Essex County Historical Society holds records from Republic Steel that document not only the mining industry but the employment of hundreds of miners from Peru who lived and worked in Port Henry, New York in the 1920s.

The Lewis County Historical Society is home to the papers of Dr. Franklin Hough, the father of American forestry.

The Sackets Harbor Battlefield Historic Site Library houses manuscripts, documents, maps, archeological reports, and records related to the Sackets Harbor Battlefield, the War of 1812, and the Sackets Harbor Naval Station.

St. Lawrence University retains manuscripts which document the economic, social, political, religious, and cultural activities of Adirondack communities; environmental issues; the Lake Placid Winter Olympics; and the development of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

These are just a few citations outlining the wealth of historical records that could benefit through the enactment of the PAHR. Many other worthy examples exist throughout the nation. Accordingly, I look forward to working with the gentleman from New York to enact this legislation and thereby preserve additional aspects of America's rich history.