At a news conference on March 18, the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) unveiled its annual report on the status of the nation’s historic battlegrounds. The report, entitled History Under Siege: A Guide to America’s Most Endangered Civil War Battlefields, identifies the most threatened Civil War sites in the United States and what can be done to save them.
On March 11, 2009, President Obama signed into law the omnibus fiscal year (FY) 2009 budget legislation (H.R. 1105) which provides funding for federal agencies covered under the nine appropriations bills left unfinished by the last Congress. The omnibus package finalizes spending levels for the current fiscal year that began on October 1, 2008. (see related stories on budgets for individual agencies and programs of interest to the historical and archival communities).
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) will receive its highest level of funding in recent years under the fiscal year (FY) 2009 omnibus spending package (HR 1105), that was enacted into law this week. NARA’s budget would jump 12 percent from the current $411 million to $459 million.
In a major victory, the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) will receive its highest level of funding in five years under the fiscal year (FY) 2009 omnibus spending bill (HR 1105) that was enacted into law this week. The NHPRC received $9.25 million for grants (plus $2 million for administrative costs), $1.75 million more than in FY ’08.
The Teaching American History (TAH) grants program at the U.S. Department of Education will receive a modest $1 million increase under the fiscal year (FY) 2009 omnibus spending bill (HR 1105), that was enacted into law this week. The total budget for the program would grow to $118.9 million from the current $117.9 million. The Congress rejected the Bush administration’s request that the program be cut to $50 million.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) will receive nearly a $10 million increase under the fiscal year (FY) 2009 omnibus spending bill (HR 1105), enacted into law this week. The total budget for the NEH would grow to $155 million from the current $144.7 million.
The Smithsonian Institution will receive a $48.7 million increase under the fiscal year (FY) 2009 omnibus spending bill (HR 1105), enacted into law this week. The total budget for the Smithsonian would grow to $731.4 million from the current $682.6 million.
Funding for cultural and historic preservation programs at the National Park Service will receive mostly modest increases under the fiscal year (FY) 2009 omnibus spending bill (HR 1105) enacted into law this week.
On March 3, 2009, the House of Representatives passed two battlefield protection bills that authorize federal grants for the preservation of significant sites associated with the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. Similar bills passed the House last year, but were not considered by the Senate before it adjourned.
On March 9, 2009, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) announced that 197 successful applicants would receive $20 million in awards and offers for a wide-range of projects in the humanities.
