Our colleagues at the Council of State Archivists have brought together several recent developments involving public policy and the Institute for Museum and Library Services as well as NARA. Here is the latest news:
A few recent updates on IMLS:
Amicus brief filed in https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/69844582/state-of-rhode-island-v-trump/
Click to follow link." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rhode Island v. Trump with legal guidance of Democracy Forward by cultural heritage groups:
The groups include the
- American Library Association,
- Association of Research Libraries,
- Association for Rural & Small Libraries,
- Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums,
- Urban Libraries Council,
- American Association for State and Local History,
- American Alliance of Museums,
- Association of Art Museum Directors,
- American Public Gardens Association,
- Association of Children's Museums,
- Association of Science and Technology Centers,
- Association of Zoos & Aquariums,
- Association of Science Museum Directors, and
- the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
The draft LHHS bill was in the subcommittee on Tuesday and included the same funding level for IMLS as in the Senate version. Reports indicate that the measure passed in subcommittee. We're hearing the full committee markup could be next Tuesday, September 9.
On NARA
It looks like the House Financial Services and General Government Committee met and approved the FY2026 bill on September 3 (Subcommittee markup was on July 21). This included $400,000,000 for NARA with $30,000,000 earmarked "to enhance the Federal Government's ability to electronically preserve, manage, and store Government records."
As a reminder, the Senate Committee on Appropriations approved their FSGG Bill on August 1, and included $434,650,000 for NARA with $30,000,000 earmarked "to enhance the Federal Government's ability to electronically preserve, manage, and store Government records."
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Phillip Stone
College Archivist
Wofford College
Spartanburg SC
stonerp@wofford.edu------------------------------