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(FWD) NCC Washington Update, Vol 7, #1, January 3, 2001



NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE, Vol. 7, #1, January 3, 2001
by Bruce Craig <rbcraig3@juno.com> of  the National Coordinating Committee
for the Promotion of History
*****************
1.  Bush Cabinet Selections
2.  106th Congress Update: Jamestown Commission Legislation Enacted
3.  News Bits and Bytes: Citizen's Guide for New Section 106 Regulations
Released; Agriculture Department History Grants


1.  BUSH CABINET SELECTIONS
President-elect George W. Bush has announced all of his Cabinet choices and
several are of key interest to the historical/archival community.  To head
the Department of the Interior (this agency has responsibility for a wide
range of agencies including the National Park Service and the National
Endowment for the Humanities), Bush will advance to the Senate for
confirmation, the name of former Colorado attorney general, Gale A. Norton.
To head the Department of Education, Bush's selection is Houston
Superintendent of Schools, Rod Paige. Both are largely unknown but both
appear to have solid conservative credentials.

Gale A. Norton, a former protegee of former Interior Secretary under
President Ronald Reagan, James Watt, is considered a strong advocate of
private-property rights and is a proponent of free-market environmentalism.
Her ties with Watt date back to 1978 when he hired her to join the Mountain
States Legal Foundation, a Denver-based organization that defends the rights
of property owners. From 1985-87 she worked as an attorney at the Department
of the Interior under Watt and the next Secretary of the Interior, Donald
Hodel.  From 1991-1999 she served as Colorado's attorney general.  She ran an
unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign in 1996.

During the ceremony announcing the selection, Bush hailed Norton for her
"reputation for building consensus on divisive issues." Bush's selection of
Norton received immediate across the board condemnation of conservation
groups but praise from land rights advocates. The Wilderness Society warned
of a "remake of the James Watt era" while a spokesman for the American Land
Rights Association praised Norton, pointing to her vow to "build strong
partnerships" with the states, local governments, and private citizens.

In her comments before the press, Norton chose not to speak about the
expected controversy surrounding her selection and instead spoke lyrically of
the Rocky Mountains, "a place to hike with my dog, watch an elk in a grove of
aspen trees or contemplate eternity." With the Senate split 50/50 between
Republicans and Democrats, Norton is expected to receive (to quote one
Capitol Hill Democratic source) "a rough time of it" during her confirmation
hearing.

While the selection of Norton proves controversial, Bush's choice of former
college football coach, Rod Paige, for Secretary of Education drew high marks
across the political spectrum. He was praised by Bush as "an educator who had
proven that urban schools can be excellent schools." Sandra Feldman, the
President of the American Federation of Teachers, noted that Paige's
experience in urban education "will be helpful in keeping the nation's
schools on the path to reform."  The Director of Education Policy for the
conservative Cato Institute called Paige a man who has "gotten his hands
dirty...[his selection] is a good sign."

Paige possesses a doctoral degree in physical education from Indiana
University at Bloomington.  He has held numerous university posts including
Dean of the College of Education at Texas Southern University. Since 1994 he
has been Houston's Superintendent of Schools. Dr. Paige is expected to
advocate teacher accountability as well as student accountability based on
performance on standardized tests, and can be expected to place special
emphasis on elementary and secondary education.

As for other key positions of interest to the historical/archival community,
Archivist of the United States, John Carlin is expected to continue in his
position.  Robert Stanton, Director of the National Park Service, is expected
to be replaced; several names of park and recreation agency professionals
from the states of Texas and Florida reportedly are under consideration.
William Ferris, the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities,
has a year left on his term.  Ferris has a solid relationship with Senate
Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MISS) and consequently it appears unlikely that
he will be replaced before his term is over.  Undoubtedly, once Ferris's term
is up, there will be pressure on the Bush administration to eventually
appoint a more conservative scholar to the post.

2.  106th CONGRESS UPDATE: JAMESTOWN COMMISSION LEGISLATION ENACTED
On December 23, 2000, President Clinton signed into law legislation
(P.L.106-565) creating a federal commission to raise national awareness about
the first permanent English settlement in North America.  The Jamestown
Commission is an integral part of plans being laid by the National Park
Service (NPS), the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities,
and the Jamestown Yorktown Foundation to create a unique partnership that
combines research, planning, fund raising, and construction. While the
Jamestown celebration is still seven years off, with the enactment of this
legislation, planning will move forward.

The Jamestown 400th Commemorative Commission Act of 2000 (H.R. 4904), was
first introduced by the late Representative Herbert H. Bateman (R-VA) who
died on September 11, 2000.  His bill passed the House of Representatives on
October 30 and Senate companion legislation  - S. 2885 - co-sponsored by
outgoing Virginia Senator Charles Robb and senior Senator John Warner, passed
the Senate on October 5.  The bills, however, were not identical (the Senate
version made two minor technical corrections to the House passed bill).
Ultimately, on December 15, 2000, the Senate agreed to the House passed
measure.

3.  NEWS BITS AND BYTES
Item #1 - Citizen's Guide: On January 11, 2001, new regulations regarding
Section 106 review -  "Protection of Historic Properties" (36 CFR Part 800) -
will go into effect.  The new regulations are posted at http://www.achp.gov

To help understand the new regulations, the Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation has issued a pamphlet entitled, "Protecting Historic Properties:
A Citizen's Guide to Section 106 Review." The brochure is designed to provide
the general public with the information necessary to successfully initiate
and conclude the Section 106 process, and ensure that Federal agencies take
historic properties into account when planning and executing their
undertakings. For additional information contact Sharon S. Conway at (202)
606-8503.

Item #2 - Agriculture History Grants: The Department of Agriculture (USDA)
will soon announce a competitive grants program - Initiative for Future
Agriculture and Food Systems (short named, IFAFS) - for research, teaching,
and outreach.  The program may be of interest to historians who specialize in
the area of food, agriculture, and natural resources. A Request for Proposals
(RFP) is still being prepared but interested parties may want to receive
e-mail notification when the RFP is available and news relating to other
Initiative announcements. Send an e-mail message to majordomo@reeusda.gov -
please leave the subject space blank, but in the message space write:
subscribe ifafs-pubs. Also visit the USDA website at
http://www.reeusda.gov/ifafs for additional information.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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