Government Affairs Update
Challenges for Archaeology
Donald Forsyth Craib
The discipline and practice of archaeology face several challenges with
the advent of the 104th Congress. Reduced appropriations for
archaeological programs, agency reorganizations, and proposed regulatory
changes all have the potential to drastically change the way archaeology
is conducted in the United States. SAA has already begun working on ways
to protect the gains that archaeology has made over the years by
commenting on proposed regulations, preparing to testify before
Congress, attending hearings, and working with groups in Washington with
similar interests. Information is presented below on two of the many
issues that SAA's government affairs staff and committee is currently
monitoring.
Administration's Budget Request
The fiscal year 1996 figures from the Clinton administration show $20
billion for natural resources, including cultural resources, and
environmental programsÑthe same amount approved by Congress for fiscal
1995. Specifically, the 1996 budget request for the Interior Department
is $9.66 billion, an increase of $52 million over the previous year,
including $1.55 billion for the National Park Service, a net increase of
$74.1 million over the enacted level for fiscal 1995. The Historic
Preservation Fund budget request is $43 million, up from $41.4 million
that was appropriated in fiscal 1995. The Bureau of Land Management's
fiscal 1996 request is $1.24 billion, representing a net increase of $52
million over last year.
SAA will testify before Congress this April regarding the level of
funding provided for archaeological and cultural resource programs in
the administration's proposed budget and stress the need to sustain
appropriate levels of funding that enable agencies to continue to
provide necessary functions required by law.
UNIDROIT Draft Convention on the International Protection of Cultural
Property
The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law
(UNIDROIT) is drafting a convention that would significantly improve
archaeological preservation and protection throughout the world by
requiring greater diligence on the part of purchasers of antiquities,
and by providing broader means of recovering trafficked items that have
been illegally excavated or removed from their countries of origin. A
major goal of the treaty is to reduce the illegal trafficking in
antiquities.
Bruce D. Smith, president of SAA, recently wrote a letter to the U.S.
Department of State expressing SAA's support for the department's
continuing effort to successfully negotiate the draft UNIDROIT treaty,
and commending the department's commitment to international and domestic
archaeological protection and preservation. To ensure that
archaeological concerns continue to be a focus of the negotiations,
Smith urged the department to continue its inclusion of an
archaeological expert as part of the U.S. delegation. Currently, Frank
McManamon, departmental consulting archaeologist, U.S. Department of the
Interior, is a member of the U.S. delegation.
Opponents of the draft treaty question whether the preservation of U.S.
archaeological sites would be aided by ratification of the UNIDROIT
convention, and suggest that there is no international market for U.S.
antiquities. Even if effective at reducing international trafficking in
antiquities, the opponents claim that the adoption of the treaty would
not improve the protection of U.S. sites.
In order to counter these assertions, SAA is collecting information
about international trafficking in U.S. antiquities. Any information,
data, or studies proving the existence of an international market for
U.S. antiquities would be appreciated. Materials can be sent to me at
SAA headquarters.
Government Affairs Network Survey
On page 19 you will find a copy of the Government Affairs Network (GAN)
survey, which I encourage you to fill out and return to me. As President
Smith states, "It is essential that all of us become more involved in
voicing our concerns and influencing Congress in a proactive manner."
SAA's government affairs program requires member participation to be
truly effective. If you would like to join in this effort or have any
questions or suggestions, please contact me at SAA headquarters, 900 2nd
Street, N.E., #12, Washington, D.C. 20002, (202) 789-8200, fax (202)
789-0284.
Donald Forsyth Craib is manager of government affairs and counsel of
SAA.