Tell the Senate to Save the NHPRC!

On July 10, 2008, the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to markup the Financial Services and General Government fiscal year 2009 bill that includes funding for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC). Recently, the House Appropriations Committee approved a funding bill that provides the NHPRC with its highest funding level in five years. We want to ensure that the Senate follows suit and provides the NHPRC with $10 million for grants and $2 million for administrative expenses in FY ’09.

For the fourth consecutive year, President Bush has proposed eliminating funding for the NHPRC. The National Coalition for History strongly opposes the President’s irresponsible recommendation and is requesting Congress to appropriate FY 2009 funding at the fully authorized level – $10 million for the NHPRC national grants program and an additional $2 million for staffing and related program administration.

In fiscal year 2008, Congress saved the NHPRC from elimination, and provided $7.5 million for grants, a $2 million increase from the previous fiscal year. However, the NHPRC has not received its fully authorized amount of $10 million in grant funding since FY 2004. In the following three fiscal years the NHPRC only received only half that amount, or approximately $5 million per-fiscal year for grants.

Please go to the Humanities Advocacy Network and ask your Senators to support the fully authorized $10 million in grant funding and $2 million for administrative costs for the NHPRC. If one of your Senators is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the system will recognize your zip code and send them a specially targeted message.

You may also call your Senators through the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.

The markup will occur right after Congress returns from its 4th of July recess, so please act today!