Bill Summary
This legislation, passed by the House of Representatives, commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. The project was created in 2000 to preserve the stories of US military veterans from World War I to the present. It has collected over 110,000 records of veterans and made over 7,000 hours of audio and 9,000 hours of video available on its website. The project also provides resources for those looking to interview veterans and has collaborated with other organizations to gather stories from underrepresented groups. The resolution encourages veterans and their families to participate in the project and supports the Library of Congress in its efforts to preserve and provide access to these important historical narratives.
Possible Impacts
1. This legislation could affect veterans by providing them with a platform to share their personal stories and experiences while serving their country. This may help them to feel recognized and appreciated for their service.
2. This legislation could also affect educators by providing them with resources to teach about the history of the United States through the lens of military conflicts. This may help to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the country's history.
3. This legislation could also affect families of fallen soldiers, as it expanded the mission of the Veterans History Project to also include oral histories from immediate family members of those who died as a result of their service during a period of war. This may help to preserve the stories and memories of their loved ones and honor their sacrifice.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1070 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1070
Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Veterans History Project of
the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 29, 2020
Mr. Kind (for himself, Mr. Mast, Mr. Newhouse, Ms. Stefanik, and Mr.
Burgess) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on
Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Veterans History Project of
the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.
Whereas the stories of United States veterans are crucial to understanding the
history of the United States;
Whereas the Veterans' Oral History Project Act was passed unanimously by
Congress and signed into law on October 27, 2000, creating the Veterans
History Project at the Library of Congress American Folklife Center;
Whereas the Project preserves the firsthand interviews and other narratives of
United States military veterans from World War I through the present;
Whereas the Veterans History Project has collected stories from veterans in
every major United States military conflict since World War I;
Whereas the Veterans History Project has provided opportunities to thousands of
veterans to share their personal recollections while serving their
country;
Whereas the Veterans History Project has collected and preserved over 110,000
records of United States veterans;
Whereas the Veterans History Project has digitized over 7,000 hours of audio and
9,000 hours of video and made them available on its website;
Whereas the Veterans History Project provides resources to guide and assist
those looking to interview veterans, including family members, friends,
neighbors, and other veterans;
Whereas the Veterans History Project will highlight select stories to
commemorate major anniversaries, including the 75th anniversary of major
events in World War II over the last few years;
Whereas educators across the country are able to access and utilize Veterans
History Project materials when teaching about United States involvement
in military conflicts;
Whereas preserving the individual narratives of veterans helps better understand
the lives of servicemembers who currently serve the United States;
Whereas then-Librarian of Congress Dr. James Billington advocated for the
successful launch of the Veterans History Project in the early 2000s,
and his efforts have been continued and strengthened by Librarian Dr.
Carla Hayden;
Whereas the Veterans History Project utilizes valuable space in the alcoves of
the Library of Congress' reading room to provide a tranquil and
meaningful space for veterans wishing to be interviewed;
Whereas the Veterans History Project has partnered with documentarians and
authors looking to share the experiences of veterans while they served,
including Ken Burns with ``The Vietnam War'' and Liza Mundy with ``Code
Girls'';
Whereas the Veterans History Project has collaborated with other organizations,
including the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, to
gain collections in traditionally underrepresented areas;
Whereas the mission of the Veterans History Project was expanded in 2016 with
the unanimous passage of the Gold Star Families Voices Act to also
include oral histories by immediate family members of members of the
Armed Forces who died as a result of their service during a period of
war;
Whereas the Veterans History Project has partnered with the House of
Representatives Wounded Warrior Fellowship Program with districts across
the country to teach a monthly cadre of Fellows about the Project;
Whereas the Veterans History Project continues to hold strong bipartisan support
in the House of Representatives; and
Whereas the year 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the Veterans History
Project: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commemorates the work that the Veterans History Project
of the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress has
done to honor the lives of United States veterans;
(2) supports the work of the Library of Congress to
preserve stories critical to understanding the history of the
United States;
(3) encourages veterans and their families to participate
in the Veterans History Project; and
(4) encourages the Library of Congress to continue to
provide materials for educators seeking to teach the history of
the United States.
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