107th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 107-575
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TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS BILL,
2003
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July 15, 2002.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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Mr. Istook, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 5120]
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National Archives and Records Administration
OPERATING EXPENSES
Appropriation, fiscal year 2002 to date............... $245,847,000
Budget estimate, fiscal year 2003..................... 256,731,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 249,731,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2002................... +3,884,000
Budget Estimate, fiscal year 2003................. -7,000,000
MISSION
The National Archives and Records Administration provides
for basic operations dealing with management of the
Government's archives and records, operation of Presidential
libraries, and for the review for declassification of
classified security information.
RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $249,731,000
for the operating expenses of the National Archives and Records
Administration, an increase of $3,884,000 above the fiscal year
2002 enacted level and a decrease of $7,000,000 below the
President's request. The reduction from the President's request
is for the initiative to train state and local personnel in the
handling of classified and sensitive homeland security data.
The Committee believes that funding this effort in this account
is premature. The directive for addressing sensitive homeland
security information has not been issued, the specific state
and local needs for training have not been determined, training
options have not been fully developed, and the portion of the
initiative aimed at ensuring that Federal agencies have
appropriate authorities is unknown.
COMMITMENT TO RECORDS MANAGEMENT BY FEDERAL AGENCIES
The Committee notes that NARA recently commissioned a study
on Federal agency records management, shares NARA's concerns
that some agencies have not provided an appropriate priority to
their records management programs (especially for electronic
records), and encourages NARA to develop a strategy for raising
agency awareness of and commitment to records management
principles, functions, and programs. The Committee further
urges NARA to develop a strategy for conducting systematic
inspections of agency management programs to periodically (1)
assess agency progress in improving records management
programs, and (2) evaluate the efficacy of NARA's
governmentwide guidance.
ELECTRONIC RECORDS ARCHIVE
The Committee recommends $11,837,000 for the electronic
records archive (ERA) project and makes a portion of this
funding available for three years. To mitigate the risks
associated with the development and acquisition of an advanced
electronic archival system, the Committee directs NARA to
reassess the ERA project schedule based on estimates of the
amount of work and resources required to complete each task.
The Committee expects the ERA project schedule to allow
sufficient time for NARA to strengthen its information
technology management capabilities by implementing an
information technology investment management process,
developing an enterprise architecture, and improving
information security.
Beginning on October 1, 2002, NARA shall submit to the
Committee quarterly reports on the cost, schedule, and
performance of the ERA project. These quarterly reports should
provide information on the status of the project's schedule,
budget, and expenditures as measured against a reported
baseline; a prioritization of project risks and their
mitigation efforts; and corrective actions taken to manage
identified schedule slippages, cost overruns, or quality
problems should they occur.
erecords management
The Committee notes that NARA has been named by the
Administration as the ``proposed agency managing partner'' for
eRecords Management (ERM), one of 24 electronic government
projects selected for special emphasis in the President's
budget request for fiscal year 2003 under the quicksilver
initiative. The Committee also notes that no funds specifically
for the ERM effort have been included or identified in NARA's
Congressional budget justification for fiscal year 2003. While
the Committee does not object to NARA taking the lead for this
project, the Committee has not given blanket approval to NARA's
use of significant funds (particularly ERA funds) for the ERM
project absent the approval of a reprogramming.
Repairs and Restoration
Appropriation, fiscal year 2002 to date............... $40,143,000
Budget estimate, fiscal year 2003..................... 10,458,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 10,458,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2002................... -29,685,000
Budget Estimate, fiscal year 2003................. ................
MISSION
This appropriation provides for the repair, alteration, and
improvement of Archives facilities and Presidential libraries
nationwide. It enables the National Archives to maintain its
facilities in proper condition for visitors, researchers, and
employees, and also maintain the structural integrity of the
buildings.
RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $10,458,000
for repairs and restoration, a decrease of $29,685,000 below
the fiscal year 2002 enacted level and the same as the
President's request.
National Historical Publications and Records Commission
GRANTS PROGRAM
Appropriation, fiscal year 2002 to date............... $6,436,000
Budget estimate, fiscal year 2002..................... 5,000,000
Recommended in the bill............................... 7,000,000
Bill compared with:
Appropriation, fiscal year 2002................... +564,000
Budget Estimate, fiscal year 2003................. +2,000,000
MISSION
This program provides for grants funding that the
Commission makes, nationwide, to preserve and publish records
that document American history. Administered within the
National Archives and Records Administration, which preserves
Federal records, the NHPRC helps state, local, and private
institutions preserve non-Federal records, helps publish the
papers of major figures in American history, and helps
archivists and records managers improve their techniques,
training, and ability to serve a range of information users.
RECOMMENDATION
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $7,000,000 for
the National Historical Publications and Research Commission
grants program, an increase of $564,000 above the fiscal year
2002 enacted level and an increase of $2,000,000 above the
President's request. The Committee is aware of a grant
application being made by Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, Clerk of
Court regarding historical documents and urges that this
application be given due consideration. The Committee notes
that the National Historic Publications and Records Commission
has initiated an effort to encourage a greater inclusion of
under-documented groups, such as women and minorities, in the
grants program.
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