Legislation Introduced: The American History and Civics Education Act
On March 4, 2003, in his maiden speech, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) introduced “The American History and Civics Education Act” (S. 504), legislation designed, according to Alexander, “to put American history and civics back in its rightful place in our schools so our children can grow up learning what it means to be an American.” A companion bill was also introduced in the House (H.R. 1078) by Rep. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
Modeled after a program Alexander initiated in 1984 when he was governor of Tennessee, the measure authorizes up to 12 “Presidential Academies for Teachers of American History and Civics” and up to 12 “Congressional Academies for Students of American History and Civics” and also authorizes the creation of what is termed “a national alliance of American history and civics teachers.”
Part of Alexander’s floor statement struck a raw nerve in the Civil Rights community. The Senator attributed a decline in emphasis on American values and principles to “so-called reforms” during the 1960s and 1970s-multiculturalism and diversity. Alexander stated, “During this time, many of our national leaders contributed to this drift toward agnostic Americanism. . . . These leaders celebrated multiculturalism and bilingualism and diversity at a time when there should have been more emphasis a common culture and learning English in unity.”
Some leaders found the Senator’s words unsettling at a time when minorities were still chafing over racially insensitive remarks by former Senator Majority leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.). Alexander bristled at the association of his comment with Lott’s remark and bluntly stated, “unity is more important than diversity.” Coming at a time when America is poised for war, the strong patriotic overtones in Alexander’s speech won the praise of several colleagues. One Republican colleague, Senator Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo.) commented that “it was an outstanding and inspiring speech. . . . I feel tremendously more patriotic now than when I came in.” Alexander’s bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions for action.
House Passes Resolution Celebrating Emancipation Proclamation Anniversary
On February 26, 2003, the House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 36) encouraging the people of the United States to honor and celebrate the 140th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation and commending President Abraham Lincoln’s efforts to end slavery.
Introduced by Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R Va.), the resolution states that Congress “recognizes the historical significance of the 140th anniversary … [and] encourages its celebration in accordance with the spirit, strength, and legacy of freedom, justice, and equality of all people of America and to provide an opportunity for all people of the United States to learn more about the past and to better understand the experiences that have shaped the Nation.” By a recorded roll call vote, the measure passed with 415 yeas, 0 nays, and 19 members not voting. The anniversary of the famous proclamation that freed the slaves in insurgent states during the American Civil War falls on September 22, 2003.
Center for Military History Targeted for “Outsourcing”
In recent weeks the NCH Washington Update has been highlighting the Bush administration’s current effort to contract out archeological research within the National Park Service and the Department of the Army’s Center for Military History (CMH).
The Department of Army has 154,910 positions held by civilian employees and some 58,727 held by soldiers who hold what are considered “non-core” positions. Because these positions are not all considered “inherently governmental” they are eligible for public-private competition. According to an Army spokesperson, in theory, outsourcing “would free up military manpower for core functions and the global war on terrorism” and thereby use manpower as efficiently as possible “before making it necessary to request additional taxpayer resources.”
In January 2003, affected Army operations chiefs were asked to submit requests to be exempted from what is being called the “Third Wave” of privatization. In a sweeping decision issued February 21, John Anderson of the Army’s Manpower and Reserve Affairs denied the Center of Military History’s request for an exemption from the contracting scheme. According to Anderson, “Military history is not a core competency, not required by statute inherently governmental, and there is no basis for military performance of the function. Therefore the function can be divested, transferred to another agency, or competed as a matter of managerial decision.”
While CMH insiders see little hope that Anderson will reverse the recommendations of his hand-picked staff (the Non-Core Competency Working Group), ultimately, the decision whether to outsource the CMH or not rests with the assistant secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs General Reginald Brown.
Because of the near autonomous nature of the Army and because the military hierarchy is rarely responsive to public or media pressure, supporters of Army history programs have been contacting members of Congress urging them to exempt the Department of Army military history program from “outsourcing” considerations.
