The adjournment of Congress on November 18, 1983, brought to an end the first session of the 98th Congress. From my perspective as an advocate for the historical and archival professions, the 98th Congress acted in some very positive ways on several significant measures. Congress passed reauthorization legislation for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission’s (NHPRC) grants program, increased the appropriation for the National Endowment for the Humanities by $10 million, established a commission to coordinate plans for the bicentennial of the Constitution, appointed a professional historian for the House of Representatives, increased the 1984 appropriations for both the National Archives and Records Service and the NHPRC. And finally, major progress was made on bills to restore independence to the National Archives. This is not to say that there have not been some uphill struggles and periods of discouragement as the General Services Administration continues its practice of undermining the professional staff of the National Archives. Yet on balance, the record the first session of the 98th Congress is a good one.
When Congress reconvenes on January 23, 1984, to begin the second session of the 98th Congress, work will resume on S.905 and H.R.3987, bills to separate the National Archives from the General Services Administration. A full vote by the Senate could come by the end of February. Meanwhile the House will be planning for hearings, a necessary step before consideration of the bill by the Government Operations Committee, which has oversight responsibility for the National Archives.
If S.905 and H.R. 3987 do not pass before the adjournment of the second session of the 98th Congress (which will probably be toward the end of November), it would be necessary for the 99th Congress to introduce new bills. The work of securing cosponsors, holding hearings, and processing through the subcommittee and full committee process would have to begin all over again. This places a high premium on maximizing our resources and time during the next eleven months.
