The most recent newsletter from the National Coalition for History (NCH) reports on a number of bills recently passed by the House. Including:

• H.R. 1255, the “Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007”
• H.R. 1309, the “Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007”
• H.R. 1254, the “Presidential Donation Reform Act of 2007”

In more news from the House, Archivist of the United States Allen Weinstein testifies on NARA’s budget for 2008. See all the numbers, and a synopsis of the debate, in the NCH newsletter.

Also, Oliver North butts heads with the Smithsonian again over filming in front of the Enola Gay for his FOX “War Stories” series. In a well-publicized feud (see the AHA Today coverage), the Smithsonian first denied North’s request to film in front of the Enola Gay, then agreed to allow him access. But NCH reports that the Smithsonian has again changed its mind and denied North access to the Udvar-Hazy Center, where the B-29 bomber is housed. In his online column North compared his experience with the Smithsonian to the time he spent filming in Vietnam last summer, “As it turns out, it was easier to deal with Ho Chi Minh’s proteges than our own Smithsonian Institution. At least the commies kept their word. Not so with the Smithsonian.”

For all of this, as well as the Bits & Bytes section, and some articles of interest, see the latest NCH newsletter online.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.