Hirono, Markey Introduce Legislation to Promote Conservation and Preservation of Government and Historic Records

WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced the Public Archives Resiliency Act, legislation that would authorize grants to promote preservation, climate resilience, adaption, and continuity of vital government records and protect other records of historical or cultural significance. The bill would provide funding for public archives, libraries, museums, institutions of higher education, or non-profits that protect these valuable records. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Alma Adams (D-NC).

"In the wake of last year's Lahaina wildfires, eight of the Lahaina Restoration Foundation's historic sites were burned down or critically damaged, leading to the loss of thousands of artifacts and records," said Senator Hirono. "Public records are essential to the preservation of our history and culture. The Public Archives Resiliency Act will help to better protect them from the effects of climate change, including natural disasters like wildfires or floods."

Government records are generated through birth, death, marriage, taxes, military service, education, immigration, property ownership, and much more. Many institutions that manage these records however, are at risk of environmental damage and lack resources to protect themselves and their communities. When these public records are destroyed or become inaccessible, it can delay an individual's ability to access key government benefits and services, as well as result in the loss of irreplaceable cultural artifacts.

"The importance of this bill cannot be overstated," said Janel Quirante, Head Archivist, at 'Ulu'ulu: The Henry Ku'ualoha Giugni Moving Image Archive of Hawai'i. "This bill provides crucial support to libraries, archives and museums that care for historic and cultural materials endangered by the impacts of climate change. Infrastructure support would allow for critical improvements to aging HVAC systems, especially in Hawai'i and other tropical climates where high temperature and humidity pose major challenges to maintaining a safe long term preservation environment for archival films. Digitization support would allow for the preservation, access and sharing of our cultural heritage documented on films and videos that are increasingly susceptible to loss from climate disasters."

"Historic records and artifacts left by our kupuna (ancestors) serve as foundational blueprints, offering invaluable guidance for addressing present-day challenges and shaping our future," said Kai Kahele, Chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board of Trustees. "The Public Archives Resiliency Act, which allocates additional funding to repositories, greatly strengthens the capacity of Hawai'i's archives to preserve and access essential historical records. This support is particularly critical as we confront the challenges of climate change, as recently underscored by the devastating wildfires on Maui in 2023."

"The Public Archives Resiliency Act will provide essential support to Hawai'i's repositories dedicated to the preservation and accessibility of historic documents and artifacts," said Kale Hannahs, Research Systems Administrator at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs. "These institutions serve as vital stewards, empowering and educating the communities they support. OHA's partnership with the Lahaina Restoration Foundation serves as a timely example of the importance of digitizing historic documents for the purpose of preserving Hawai?i's history and provides a foundational framework upon which we build our future."

Full text of the legislation is available here.

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