National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Modernization Act

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 8665) ``to amend title 44, United States Code, to remove pronouns from such title that reference the Archivist, and for other purposes.''

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on this measure.

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

Madam Speaker, H.R. 8665, the National Archives and Records Modernization Act would make a small, yet important update to the U.S. Code. This bipartisan bill would remove references to the pronoun ``he'' when referring to the Archivist and other senior officials of the National Archives and Records Administration, or NARA.

I thank Representative Ro Khanna, chairman of the Subcommittee on the Environment on the Oversight Committee for his leadership on this incredibly important bill. I would also like to recognize Representatives Yvette Herrell, Katie Porter, Byron Donalds, and Danny Davis, who are all original cosponsors.

As the Nation's recordkeeper, NARA plays a critical role in the preservation of the government's most important documents and materials.

NARA's mission is to provide equitable public access to the records of the Federal Government because public access to records strengthens democracy and allows all Americans to understand their history so they can fully participate in government.

Currently, the NARA is being led by Debra Steidel Wall who is serving as Acting Archivist of the United States, and has been a public servant at NARA for more than 30 years.

However, the United States Code does not reflect in its text that women can hold this important position. The code is outdated in its references to the Nation's Archivist and other senior officials as men. It is long overdue that we update title 44 to remove reference to pronouns in the law that wrongly assume that only a man can hold this important role.

Madam Speaker, I strongly support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 8665, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 8665, the National Archives and Records Administration Modernization Act, offered by Mr. Khanna and myself.

The National Archives and Records Administration plays an important role in securing our Nation's history for future generations.

This simple legislation updates Archive's authoring law to ensure that the Archivist is not referred to solely as a male.

This makes sense, since our current Acting Archivist, Debra Wall, is a female.

To date, there have been three female Archivists, yet there are several instances where title 44 still refers to the Archivist as a man.

Although the code, as written, does not preclude a woman from serving as the Archivist, these changes would update outdated language in title 44 and modernize our Federal code to make it more uniform across the board.

Replacing this outdated language in our Federal code is the very least we can do to acknowledge the valuable contributions of thousands who have worked at NARA since its creation in 1934--and the thousands more who will work there in the years to come.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan, straightforward correction of the law, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to section 5 of House Resolution 1518, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bills: H.R. 1082; H.R. 5349; H.R. 6218; H.R. 6220; H.R. 6221; H.R. 6611; H.R. 6630; H.R. 6725; H.R. 7832; H.R. 8665; S. 558; and S. 789; and concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 7077.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.