Government Affairs Update
Donald Forsyth Craib
As of May 22, the Senate and House budget committees' plans for
balancing the federal budget include major reductions in natural and
cultural resources programs throughout the federal government. Among the
cuts proposed by the Senate are eliminating the Advisory Council on
Historic Preservation and a 10% reduction in the operating budgets of
the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service,
and other important federal agencies. The House plan would have a
similar impact on programs important to the nation's historic
preservation system.
In addition, the House Budget Committee has recommended the complete
elimination of National Science Foundation funding for the social
sciences. SAA is preparing to launch a letter-writing campaign to
selected members of the House Budget, Appropriations, and Science
committees as well as issuing an action alert to SAA members asking them
to contact their national representatives.
Although the Senate and House budget proposals--geared to elminating the
deficit by the year 2002--serve chiefly as guidelines for future
spending, if implemented, they would have a direct and immediate effect
on archaeological programs and projects.
While both houses are busy working on bills preparing for reductions
over the next few years, a rescission bill, geared to reductions in this
current fiscal year, is also being considered. The bill, which has
passed the House and is expected to pass the Senate, includes a
provision that would permit timber to be salvaged in national forests
and suspend all environmental and other federal laws, thus eliminating
the need for companies to undergo environmental and historical impact
statements. The Clinton administration has expressed concern with this
and other provisions, and the president has stated he will veto the bill
when it reaches his desk. Even though it is still several months away
before Congress formally begins to consider the reauthorization of the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and other matters affecting
archaeology, SAA has begun to develop its message, articulate position
statements, and identify allies on the Hill in order to launch an
effective proactive campaign to safeguard the nation's archaeological
heritage.
Government Affairs Program Looking Ahead
The SAA government affairs program, working closely with the Government
Affairs Committee, seeks to develop a stronger voice for archaeology in
Congress and within the federal agencies. It encourages greater
participation by members in legislative efforts, fosters a more
proactive role at the federal level, and promotes better communication
with and among SAA members. Reorganized this year to meet the new and
pressing challenges facing archaeologists and the field in general, the
Government Affairs Committee also has a new chair: Judith Bense
(University of West Florida). Her term as chair will coincide with the
two-year term of the current 104th Congress (January 1995--December
1996). In addition, the committee intends to select several members who
will be responsible for prioritizing actions and issues, formulating
policy recommendations, and charting an overall course for SAA's
government affairs program."Issue teams" within the committee will
address specific topics, and a new communications network is planned,
incorporating email and fax, to get the word out directly to members of
the board and government affairs committee, state representatives for
the Government Affairs Network, and members at large.
Capitol Contacts
One of the goals of the government affairs program is to significantly
increase the presence of SAA on Capitol Hill, within federal agencies,
and among our colleagues in the preservation community. In February Bill
Lipe and Bruce Smith, SAA president-elect and president, and Donna
Seifert, president of the Society for Historical Archaeology, met with
Bonnie Cohen, assistant secretary for policy, budget, and
administration, Department of the Interior, to discuss how federal
restructuring will impact archaeology programs. Kate Stevenson,
associate director for cultural resources, National Park Service, and
Denise Meridith, deputy director, Bureau of Land Management, also were
present. One result of the meeting was an opportunity for dialogue with
BLM state directors when they gathered in Alexandria, Va., in April.
In April Bill Lipe also met with Bob Bush and John Fowler, executive
director and deputy director of the Advisory Council on Historic
Preservation, to discuss how archaeology can play a more active role
with the council.
In addition to making these contacts, SAA has expanded its relationships
with others in the preservation community. For example, Bill Lipe and
Donna Seifert met with Dick Moe, president, National Trust for Historic
Preservation, to explore ways that the organizations can work better
together. Ralph Johnson, SAA executive director, addressed the recent
board meeting of the National Conference of State Historic Preservation
Officers.
This May, representatives from SAA and SHA spent three days in
Washington meeting with members of Congress, committee staff, and
colleagues from the preservation community to discuss legislation being
considered by the current Congress and its impact on archaeological
heritage. These meetings mark the continuing cooperation between SAA and
SHA.
Your Voice Counts!
If SAA is to be effective and successful in its efforts to protect
archaeological resources, SAA members must become involved in the
government affairs program. Thanks to all who have sent completed
Government Affairs Network (GAN) surveys; the information provided will
benefit SAA's lobbying efforts in many ways. If you have not yet
responded but would like to become involved, please contact me at SAA,
900 Second St., NE, #12, Washington, D.C. 20002©3557, (202) 789-8200,
fax (202) 789-0284.
Donald Forsyth Craib is manager of government affairs and counsel of
SAA.