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(FWD) NCC Washington Update, Voll. 7, #21; May 24, 2001



NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE, Vol. 7, #21, May 24, 2001
by Bruce Craig <rbcraig3@juno.com> of  the National Coordinating Committee
for the Promotion of History
*****************

1.   $50 Million History Grant Applications Now Available
2.   Jeffords Defection Gives Democrats Control of the Senate
3.   Congress Votes to Approve Mall Memorial
4.   Legislation Introduced: Cultural Assistance Partnership Act
5.   House Passes Great Falls Study Act
6.   Supreme Court Ruling Immunizes Press
7.   News Bits and Bytes: Courage Award Presented to Ford; The Nation
Digital Archive

1.   $50 MILLION HISTORY GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE
On May 23, 2001, official notification inviting applications for the
"Teaching American History Grant Program" was published in the Federal
Register (Vol. 66, #100, pages 28429-28449). The notification along with all
applicable instructions and forms is accessible electronically through the
Department of Education's (DOE) website. Go to <www.ed.gov> then click on
"Funding Opportunities" then click on "Federal Register" then click on
"Announcements"- there readers will find the applicable grant announcement
and all related materials necessary in order to apply for funding from the
FY 2001 $50 million history initiative. The closing date for applications is
July 23, 2001.

In addition, the DOE is planning a series of outreach meetings designed to
familiarize prospective applicants with the grant program, explain the
application procedures, and answer questions. So far, meetings have been
arranged for Seattle (June 4; for information, contact Steve Nelson,
Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory - phone (503) 275-9500),
Albuquerque (June 7; for information, contact: Paul Martinez, Southwest
Comprehensive Regional Assistance Center - (505) 891-6111), College Park,
Maryland (June 11 - in conjunction with the National History Day
competition; for information, contact Cathy Gorn, National History Day (301)
314-9739), and in Charleston, West Virginia (June 12; for information,
contact Billie Hauser, Appalachia Educational Laboratory; (304) 347-0400).
Efforts are also underway to conduct meetings in mid to late June in
Chicago, Atlanta, and Providence, Rhode Island. Additional information on
these meetings will be posted in this newsletter when more information is
made available by the DOE.

2.  JEFFORDS DEFECTION GIVES DEMOCRATS CONTROL OF THE SENATE
On May 24, 2001, Republican Senator James M. Jeffords (R-VT) announced that
he was leaving the Republican Party and was becoming an Independent, thus
effectively throwing control of the Senate to the Democrats for the first
time since 1994. Over the last few months, Jeffords, a third-term senator,
has voiced significant disagreements with the Bush White House and been
something of a thorn in the side of the Senate Republican leadership.  For
example, he held out against the President's tax cut plan and demanded more
money be spent on education.

Jeffords' decision is expected to seriously impair President Bush's
legislative agenda. As the new majority party, the Democrats will control
the flow of legislation in committee and on the Senate floor. South Dakota
Senator Tom Daschle (D-SD) is expected to become majority leader, displacing
Senator Trent Lott (R-MISS).  Virtually every current Republican committee
chair is expected to be replaced.  Chairmanships expected to change hands
include: Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) who will, in all likelihood, once again
become Chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee, Jeff Bingaman
(D-NM) who may become Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee,
and Ted Kennedy (D-MASS) who may become Chair of the Health, Education and
Labor Committee.  Subcommittee chairs are also expected to change once the
Democrats take control.

An enthusiastic supporter of history, education (Jeffords is a firm
supporter of Senator Robert Byrd' (D-WV) "Teaching American History" grants
initiative), and Civil War battlefield protection, the 67 year-old Jeffords
does not face re-election until 2006. He represents a liberal-leaning state
and most Hill political analysts believe he will suffer no political
repercussions for leaving the Republican Party.  The states only member of
the House of Representatives, Bernard Sanders (I-VT), was elected as an
Independent and, as will Jeffords, caucuses with the Democrats.

3.  CONGRESS VOTES TO APPROVE MALL MEMORIAL
Following up on last week's NCC report on recent House action relating to
the proposed $160 million World War II Memorial planned for construction on
the National Mall in Washington D.C. (see NCC WASHINGTON UPDATE, Vol. 7,
#20, May 18, 2001), on May 21, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a
slightly different version of the legislation (H.R. 1696 as amended) that
the House passed a week earlier.  On May 22, the House in turn approved the
Senate passed version of the bill, thus virtually guaranteeing that
construction of the controversial project will proceed without further
review.  In addition, once signed into law, the legislation will nullify a
lawsuit filed against the project in federal court.  President Bush has
endorsed the legislation and once he signs off, his action will thereby make
the current plans, "final and conclusive."  According to a White House
spokesman, "The President looks forward to signing the bill" which is
expected to occur on Memorial Day.

Judy Scott Feldman, co-chairman of the National Coalition to Save Our Mall,
stated that Congressional action was sending the message: that "the laws be
damned, the public be damned and just get the thing built." Beth Soloman, a
spokesperson for the Save the Mall coalition was even harsher in her words:
Her group is "profoundly disappointed that the U.S. Congress has chosen to
overturn federal laws and eviscerate citizen's rights in order to built a
World War II memorial that is an embarrassment to World War II veterans."
Memorial supporters, however, including Senator Tim Hutchinson (R-ARK)
viewed Congressional action as "an important step toward permanently
honoring the tremendous sacrifices that were made" during World War II.
Construction is expected to begin in late July; a dedication ceremony is
scheduled for 2004.

4.  LEGISLATION INTRODUCED: CULTURAL HERITAGE ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP ACT
On May 16, 2001, Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) introduced legislation (H.R. 1882)
authorizing the establishment of a Cultural Heritage Assistance Partnership
Program to be housed in the Department of the Interior and administered by
the National Park Service. The purpose of the legislation is to foster and
support cooperative partnerships among governmental entities, Indian tribes,
non-governmental organizations and individuals to preserve and enhance the
cultural heritage of the United States.

Under the proposed legislation, the Secretary of the Interior would have
broad coordination powers, is empowered to gather information on cultural
heritage resources, can provide technical assistance to agencies and
organizations, conduct workshops, conferences and training and may
coordinate among Federal and non-Federal entities. An 11-member Citizens
Advisory Committee would advise the Secretary and an 11-member Federal
Coordinating Council (a body consisting of the Secretaries of virtually
every Federal Department as well as the heads of the Arts and Humanities
endowments and the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library
Services).  The Coordinating Council is designed to facilitate
implementation of the Partnership Program and reduce bureaucratic
inefficiency.

Grant-making powers are at the center of the legislative proposal. The
Secretary may award 50% cost-share grants (not to exceed $50,000 per grant)
to develop plans, programs, training and information materials, to help
create innovative projects and carry out cultural heritage programs in
conjunction with libraries, museums, and schools.  Grant funds may also be
used to implement innovative ways to combine historic property restoration
with community development, to develop alliances within and between states,
and share information.  The legislation as currently drafted seeks to
authorize $10 million annually for the program. The bill has been referred
to the House Committee on Resources for action.

5.  HOUSE PASSES GREAT FALLS HISTORIC DISTRICT ACT:
On May 9, 2001, the House of Representatives passed legislation (H.R.146)
introduced by Rep. William Pascrell (D-NJ) authorizing the Secretary of the
Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the Great
Falls Historic District in Paterson, New Jersey, as a unit of the National
Park System.  The study area was designed by Alexander Hamilton and Pierre
L'Enfant in 1791.  It is one of the earliest industrial centers of America
and, in the early national period, was considered the manufacturing center
of the United States.

The Great Falls Historic District was declared a National Landmark in 1976.
The proposed National Park study area encompasses 10 blocks and incorporates
about 87 acres. Legislative action is pending in the Senate.

6.  SUPREME COURT RULING IMMUNIZES PRESS
In a groundbreaking 6 to 3 decision, the United States Supreme Court decided
an information-age controversy over privacy rights in favor of media
disclosure.  In the case Bartnicki v. Vopper (No. 99-1687) the high court
found that journalists may not be prevented from reporting newsworthy
material even if they have reason to know that the information was obtained
illegally by someone else.

The case centered on a Pennsylvania radio commentator who broadcast an
illegally intercepted tape-recording of a cell phone conversation in which
labor leaders were discussing strike strategies by public school teachers.
The Court decided in this case that the privacy interests of the individuals
concerned were outweighed by the public's interest in obtaining the
information - but only so long as the broadcaster did nothing illegal.  Some
legal authorities believe one of the implications of the case is that media
use of written documents as well as electronic communications may be covered
by the ruling.  The decision appears to reinforce the high court's 1971
decision in the Pentagon Papers Case in which several major newspapers
published a secret Pentagon study of the Vietnam War even though it had been
stolen by Daniel Ellsberg.

7.  BITS AND BYTES:
Item #1 - Courage Award: On May 21, 2001, at a presentation at the Kennedy
Presidential Library, former President Gerald Ford was honored with the
"John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award" for his action in pardoning
former President Richard M. Nixon in 1974.  In his acceptance speech, Ford
said that he took the action to "heal the wounds" of Watergate and Vietnam.
The Profile in Courage Award is an annual award presented by the library to
an elected official who has withstood strong opposition to do what he or she
believed was right. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MASS), who criticized Ford at
the time, said that Ford's pardon of Nixon "was an extraordinary act of
courage that historians recognize was truly in the national interest." Two
years after pardoning Nixon, Ford lost in a close election to Jimmy Carter,
according to some historians and political scientists, in part because of
the pardon.

Item #2 - The Nation Digital Archive: For 135 years, The Nation magazine has
provided a forum for some of the most thought provoking writers, activists,
artists, and political commentators of the time. Now, over 6,500 issues of
the magazine - a cover to cover reproduction of the entire publication run
beginning July 6, 1865 -  is now available through the Nation Digital
Archive.  The archives promises to be an invaluable research tools for
librarians, historians, political scientists and other researchers. There is
an easy to use searchable database that can be browsed by issue, index, or
author, and searched by author, title, topic, or date range.  For further
information, tap into: <http://www.archive.thenation.com or call (800)
350-6944.

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