Whereas the historical records housed in archives around the United States protect our rights as American citizens, hold government accountable, and educate, inform, and ensure the cultural heritage of this country;  and

Whereas much of the American record—evidence of births, education, marriage, property owned, obligations satisfied, and criminal conduct—is held at the state and local level; and

Whereas the preservation, access and use of the historical records held in states, regions, and localities around the country is essential to sustaining the information needs of government officials, lawyers, scholars, teachers, students, genealogists, business people and a wide range of users; and 

Whereas our nation has recognized the importance of history by its support of national institutions—the National Archives, the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution; and

Whereas the existing federal support is not adequate to reach the rest of our nation’s archives being held in government agencies, state and local historical societies, archives and library history collections;  

Therefore the [organization name] supports the passage of the Preserving the American Historical Records bill to establish a formal program at the national level to develop programs and practices in each state and territory to ensure the historical records of this country receives the attention and use necessary to continue to document our heritage and support our democracy.