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(FWD) NCC Washington Update, Vol. 6, #22, June 30, 2000



(Note--This is not being sent from my usual PC; apologies for any display
problems--Thanks, Holly)

NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE, Vol 6, #22, June 30, 2000
by Bruce Craig <rbcraig3@juno.com> of the National Coordinating Committee
for the Promotion of History

1.   Resolution Decries Sad State of American History Education
2.   Appropriations Update: Interior bill Awaits Senate Action: House Passes
Library of Congress FY 2001 Budget
3.   Gettysburg Tower To Be Demolished July 3rd
4.   News Bits and Bytes --  Key Library of Congress Historian Positions
Announced

1.   RESOLUTION DECRIES SAD STATE OF AMERICAN HISTORY EDUCATION
On June 27 Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), Slade Gorton (R-WA) together
with Representatives Thomas E. Petri (R-WI) and George Miller (D-CA)
unveiled a Congressional concurrent resolution (no number assigned as of
this writing) designed to draw attention to what Congressman Petri
characterized as "the troubling historical illiteracy of our next generation
of leaders."

Based on the findings contained in "Losing America's Memory: Historical
Illiteracy in the 21st Century," a report recently released by the American
Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA), the resolution expresses "the sense of
Congress regarding the importance and value of United States history." It
calls upon boards of trustees, college administrators and state officials to
strengthen American history requirements in the nation's schools, colleges
and universities.

During a press conference held June 27th in anticipation of the introduction
of the resolution, historic preservationists and several historians including
Brown University Professor of History Gordon Wood and Distinguished Professor
of History at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, John Patrick
Diggins commented on the survey findings. According to the ACTA report, at
78% of the institutions surveyed, students are not required to take any
history at all and that it is now possible for students to graduate from 100%
of the top colleges without taking a single course in American history.
During the press conference Senator Lieberman
stated that the concurrent resolution is designed to "call attention to this
national problem and hopefully begin mobilizing a national response" in order
to "rebuild our historical literacy."

2.   APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE: INTERIOR BILL AWAITS SENATE ACTION; HOUSE PASSES
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FY 2001 BUDGET
While legislators were hopeful that the Senate would be able to take up the
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriation bill recently passed by the
Senate Appropriations Committee (see NCC Washington Update, vol 6 #21 June
22, 2000) prior to the July 4th holiday Congressional recess, action on the
legislation has been delayed until sometime after the 10th of July. The
Interior bill includes recommended funding levels for the National Endowment
for the Humanities (NEH), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the
National Park Service (NPS) and several other land management and
preservation related agencies.

On June 22, the House approved a legislative branch spending bill (H.R. 4516)
that provides a net appropriation of $397.7 million plus authority to spend
$38.6 million in receipts for the Library of Congress.  This is approximately
$3.4 million more than this year's appropriation but less than the Senate
passed measure which is $399 million plus authority to spend $33.6 million in
receipts.  Under the House passed bill, the Library's digital future
initiative would receive $14.2 million; the previously passed Senate
appropriation bill provides only $6.3 million -- a difference of $7.9
million. While both the House and Senate versions provide permanent funding
for 84 positions requested by the Library for the digital futures initiative,
both also include significant cuts to the Copyright Office.  Under the House
passed measure, funding was restored for the depository libraries to receive
the 25,000 federal publications that are only available in paper and other
tangible formats. Differences between the House and Senate passed measures
will be addressed by a conference committee in the near future.

3.  GETTYSBURG TOWER TO BE DEMOLISHED JULY 3
At 5:00 p.m. on July 3, during the 137th anniversary commemoration of the
bloody Civil War battle that made Gettysburg Pennsylvania famous, the
National Park Service in coordination with Controlled Demolition Inc. and the
Friends of the National Parks At Gettysburg will demolish the Gettysburg
National Tower and thereby remove a modern intrusion that has loomed over the
historic area for 27 years.  According to Richard Moe, President of the
National Trust for Historic Preservation, which worked for years to see the
tower demolished stated, "It should have never have been built in the first
place.  It is totally inappropriate and it detracts from any appreciation of
what happened on the battlefield in 1863."   For Interior Secretary Bruce
Babbitt, who made the tower's removal one of his goals as Secretary of the
Interior, "There is no better symbol for the need to preserve the Gettysburg
battlefield than taking down this tower."

Constructed a quarter century ago over the objections of preservationists,
the 393 foot tall National Tower opened as a private tourist attraction in
1974.   In 1993, the park's Land Protection Plan targeted the tower property
as a high priority item for acquisition and in 1999, Congress and the
President approved funding for the government's purchase of it. On June 7, a
federal judge ruled that the NPS could take possession of the tower through
eminent domain thus clearing the way for demolition on the anniversary of the
battle. The government has set aside $3 million for compensation to the
owners, an issue that a judge will determine later.  In exchange for being
granted promotional video rights to the destruction, Controlled Demolition is
not charging the NPS for tearing down the tower.

Since the National Tower can be seen from almost every point on the
battlefield, its removal will dramatically restore the historic landscape.
The park's long-term goal is to return the 6.5 acre surrounding the tower to
their appearance at the time of the battle in 1863.

5.  NEWS BITS AND BYTES
The Library of Congress (LC) is soliciting applications (closing date July
17) for two important history related permanent posts that are being
advertized under the job title: Librarian (Manuscript Specialist).  One
opening is for a  20th Century American History specialist -- vacancy
announcement #000145; an identical position is also open for a 19th Century
specialist (vacancy announcement #000144). Historically these positions have
been filled by historians, however, the LC opted not to advertise these
positions in the usual historical bulletins, hence we saw the necessity to
post them  here. For more information on application procedures, call the LC
employment hotline at (202) 707-4315.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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