On June 20, the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its FY 2013 spending bill that includes funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The bill proposes $132 million for the agency in FY 2013. This represents a decrease of $14 million, or 9.6%, from the FY 2012 level of $146 million.
As Congress heads toward its 4th of July recess, action on fiscal year (FY) 2013 budget bills has quickened. A number of bills of interest to the historical and archival communities have been passed by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in the past two weeks.
According to an article published on the website Salon.com, the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has refused a request by historical researchers to expedite the release of CIA records relating to its involvement in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, has appointed Robert Dizard Jr. as the Deputy Librarian of Congress. Dizard most recently served as the Library’s Chief of Staff. His appointment was effective June 17.
The Office of the Historian at the U.S. Department of State recently announced the release of its third set of public beta Foreign Relations of the United States (FRUS) series e-books at https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/ebooks. The 151 year-old FRUS series presents the official documentary historical record of major foreign policy decisions and significant diplomatic activity of the more >
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) recently announced 32 Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian (LB21) grants totaling $10,356,498. Recipients are matching these awards with $6,650,021in non-federal funds. IMLS received 106 LB21 applications this year, requesting a total of $37,815,498.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) recently announced a new contest to encourage middle and high school students to use Chronicling America, the NEH and Library of Congress-supported digital archive of historic newspapers, in their projects for National History Day.
On May 9, the U.S. House of Representatives approved an amendment to the FY 2013 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (H.R.5326) that prohibits the funding of political science programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF). The amendment, offered by Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ-6), passed by a roll call vote of 218 to more >
Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero recently awarded 31 grants totaling $2.9 million for historical records projects in 18 states and the District of Columbia. The National Archives grants program is carried out through the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
The Information Security Oversight Office (ISOO) recently released its Report to the President for Fiscal Year (FY) 2011. The Report is online at [www.archives.gov/isoo/reports]. The Report profiles data on the Government-wide security classification program during Fiscal Year 2011.
