Boston, Massachusetts - In late June 2025, the Council of State Archivists submitted testimony to the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government addressing the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Grants Program.

The NHPRC provides funding to state and territory archives to support the work of federally mandated State Historical Records Advisory Boards (SHRABs), which represent stakeholder communities. In turn, SHRABs develop and implement a variety of educational programming to local archival institutions in their respective states, including historical societies, libraries, and arts and grass-roots community organizations. Many SHRABs regrant NHPRC funds to these groups to pursue best practices within their archives; a few SHRABs fund roving archivists who provide hands-on assistance to statewide organizations.

For more information on the importance of government archives, download and share CoSA's Government Archives are Essential brochure. Find the full statement from CoSA below.

June 26, 2025

The Hon. Bill Hagerty                                                     The Hon. Jack Reed
Chairman                                                                        Ranking Member
Senate Subcommittee on Financial Services                 Senate Subcommittee on Financial Services
and General Government                                              and General Government         
United States Senate                                                     United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510                                                  Washington, DC 20510

RE: Restoration of funding in the NARA FY2026 Budget for NHPRC grants programs

Chairman Hagerty, Ranking Member Reed, and Members of the Subcommittee:

The Council of State Archivists (CoSA) registers our deep concern and strong opposition to the proposed elimination of funding for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) Grants Program in the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) FY2026 Congressional Justification. As representative of the government archives of the 50 states, 5 territories, and the District of Columbia and dedicated to the preservation of historical records, CoSA recognizes the NHPRC’s statutory obligations and essential role in supporting U.S. archives, libraries, and historical organizations.

For decades, the NHPRC has provided critical funding that enables institutions to safeguard and provide access to our nation’s documentary heritage. The NHPRC also stewards the only federal dollars dedicated to state and territorial government archives. These grants ensure that government records, personal papers, and community histories are preserved, digitized, and made available to scholars, educators, and the public. Without NHPRC support, many state and local archives—especially those with limited resources—would struggle to maintain their collections and fulfill their missions.

NHPRC funding is not just an investment in preserving the past—it is a vital tool for elevating national commemoration efforts, particularly as we approach America250. The upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States presents a unique opportunity to engage communities in historical reflection, education, and civic engagement. NHPRC grants enable institutions to preserve, digitize, and share important documents that tell the full story of our nation’s founding and evolution.

The elimination of NHPRC grant funding would be a profound loss, not just to the archival community but also to all Americans who rely on these records to understand our history and strengthen civic engagement. We urge you to recognize the importance of this program and to ensure continued federal investment in preserving the nation’s historical legacy by maintaining FY2024 Funding Levels for the NHPRC grants programs.

Thank you for your consideration. We welcome the opportunity to discuss further and provide any additional information you may need.

With respect,

Joy M. Banks
Executive Director
Council of State Archivists

About CoSA

The Council of State Archivists (CoSA) is a nonprofit membership organization of the state and territorial government archives in the fifty states, five territories, and District of Columbia. Through collaborative research, education, and advocacy, CoSA provides leadership that strengthens and supports state and territorial archives in their work to preserve and provide access to government records. CoSA facilitates networking, information sharing, and project collaboration among its member organizations to help state and territorial government archives with their responsibilities for protecting the rights and historical documents of the American people.