I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10383 
To authorize grants to support long-term climate resiliency for archival insti-
tutions, libraries, and museums in order to provide continuity and access 
to covered records. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 12, 2024 
Ms. ADAMS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Oversight and Accountability 
A BILL 
To authorize grants to support long-term climate resiliency 
for archival institutions, libraries, and museums in order 
to provide continuity and access to covered records. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Public Archives Resil-
iency Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) 
Climate 
change 
affects 
temperature, 
changes precipitation, increases sea levels, and in-
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creases the frequency and intensity of extreme 
weather events. 
(2) According to a 2018 study from Climate 
Risk Management— 
(A) more than 20 percent of archival re-
positories are likely to be affected by storm 
surges; 
(B) more than 90 percent of archives are 
estimated to have a temperature change greater 
than 1 °C, with 7.5 percent of sites likely to 
change by 10 °C by 2070; and 
(C) 69.5 percent of archives are likely to 
receive at least 6 inches more rainfall by 2100 
over current annual averages. 
(3) Extreme weather affects infrastructure and 
critical systems, such as heating, ventilation, air con-
ditioning systems, and mechanical systems. 
(4) Climate change increasingly poses a risk for 
degradation and loss of cultural heritage and ar-
chives. 
(5) There is an urgent need to protect vital 
records, like birth certificates, death certificates, and 
marriage licenses, in preparation for or following ex-
treme weather events. 
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(6) Funding for the National Archives and 
Records Administration, an independent agency that 
provides public access to high-value Federal Govern-
ment records, has not meaningfully increased in the 
last 30 years, despite an exponential growth in elec-
tronic records. 
(7) Recent events demonstrate the importance 
of investment in public record-keeping systems and 
institutions. For instance— 
(A) during the COVID–19 pandemic, 
many veterans were unable to secure adequate 
documentation to obtain veterans’ benefits and 
military burials because of insufficient staffing 
levels at the National Archives Personnel 
Records Center; and 
(B) in 2023, 8 of the Lahaina Restoration 
Foundation’s historic sites burned down or were 
critically damaged, leading to the loss of tens of 
thousands of artifacts and records in Hawaii 
due to the Lahaina fires, although the Founda-
tion was able to digitize certain collections be-
fore the fires destroyed these artifacts. 
(8) In the most recent census taken of archi-
vists in the United States, 20 percent indicated that 
they planned to leave the profession within the next 
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5 years, with burnout being cited as a leading cause. 
Robust investments in sustainable staffing in addi-
tion to resilient infrastructure is critical to the oper-
ation and maintenance of these record-keeping insti-
tutions. 
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZING GRANTS TO PROMOTE PRESERVA-
TION, CLIMATE RESILIENCE, AND ADAPTION 
FOR LIBRARIES, ARCHIVES, AND MUSEUMS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act: 
(1) COVERED
RECORDS.—The term ‘‘covered 
records’’ means— 
(A) vital records, as defined in part 1223.2 
of title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, or 
similar successor regulations; 
(B) essential and vital records, as defined 
by State, local, Tribal, or territorial law (includ-
ing regulations); and 
(C) any other records of historical or cul-
tural significance, as determined by the Archi-
vist of the United States and the Director of 
the Institute of Museum and Library Services 
in consultation with— 
(i) the head of the agency in each 
State that is responsible for the State ar-
chives; and 
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(ii) the State historical records advi-
sory board in each State, as defined in sec-
tion 1206.41 of title 36, Code of Federal 
Regulations, or similar successor regula-
tions. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means any of the following entities that main-
tain covered records: 
(A) State, local, Tribal, and territorial gov-
ernments. 
(B) Public archives, libraries, and muse-
ums. 
(C) Institutions of higher education, as de-
fined in section 101 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(D) Nonprofit community-based organiza-
tions. 
(b) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Archivist of the United 
States, acting jointly with the Director of the Insti-
tute of Museum and Library Services, shall award 
grants through the National Historical Publications 
and Records Commission and the Institute of Mu-
seum and Library Services, on a competitive basis, 
to eligible entities for the purpose of supporting 
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long-term climate resiliency in order to provide con-
tinuity and access to covered records, as described in 
subsection (d). 
(2) VITAL RECORDS.—From the amounts made 
available to carry out this section, not less than 50 
percent shall be for grants to eligible entities that in-
tend to use the grant funds to support activities de-
scribed in subsection (d) with respect to vital 
records, as described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of 
subsection (a)(1). 
(3) RESERVATION
OF
FUNDS.—From the 
amounts made available to carry out this section, 
not less than 3 percent shall be reserved for Indian 
Tribes (as defined in section 2 of the Tribally Con-
trolled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 
1978 (25 U.S.C. 1801)) and non-profit organiza-
tions that primarily serve and represent Native Ha-
waiians. 
(c) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity that desires a 
grant under this section shall submit an application at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the National Historical Publications and Records 
Commission and the Institute of Museum and Library 
Services may require. 
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(d) ELIGIBLE USES OF GRANT FUNDS.—An eligible 
entity receiving a grant under this section shall use grant 
funds to support one or more of the following: 
(1) Staffing necessary to— 
(A) support continuity of covered records, 
including the digitization or digital cloud stor-
age of covered records; and 
(B) mitigate the possibility of disruptions 
to accessing covered records. 
(2) Facility infrastructure upgrades to— 
(A) protect facilities that house covered 
records from extreme temperatures, humidity, 
storms, winds, hurricanes, tornadoes, heavy 
snow, blizzards, flooding, erosion, wildfires, and 
sea level rise; and 
(B) prevent water damage caused by heavy 
rain, poor grading, snow melt, ice melt, water 
pipes, drain pipes, and undersized stormwater 
controls. 
(3) Relocating covered records and infrastruc-
ture outside of hazardous areas, where necessary. 
(4) The provision of internet and broadband 
connectivity equipment, as well as other techno-
logical equipment and resources necessary to digitize 
and store multiple distributed copies of covered 
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records that are at risk of damage or loss due to ex-
treme weather or other conditions, and to provide 
online training and materials related to conservation 
planning and education. 
(5) Language preservation, including through 
direct outreach, digital and physical record-keeping, 
and other activities. 
(6) Developing and implementing a climate 
adaption plan. 
(7) Developing an emergency preparedness and 
disaster response plan coordination network. 
(8) Accessing conservation and climate risk 
training and education materials. 
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION AND OVERSIGHT. 
(a) NO PROHIBITION AGAINST CONSTRUCTION.— 
Funds awarded under this Act may be used for construc-
tion expenses. 
(b) NO MATCHING REQUIREMENT OR NON-FEDERAL 
SHARE.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an 
eligible entity that receives funds under this Act shall not 
be required to provide matching funds or a non-Federal 
share toward the cost of the activities carried out with 
funds under this Act. 
(c) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—From the amount ap-
propriated to carry out this Act, the Archivist of the 
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United States and the Director of the Institute of Museum 
and Library Services may allocate not more than 3 percent 
of such amount for program administration, oversight ac-
tivities, research, analysis, and data collection. 
SEC. 5. STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Comptroller General shall 
conduct a study— 
(1) of covered records to identify eligible enti-
ties and covered records vulnerable to sea level rise, 
surface water flooding, increased rainfall, extreme 
temperature, fire risks, natural disasters (including 
tornados, blizzards, and ice storms), grid resilience, 
or labor shortages that could cause a disruption in 
the continuity of covered records; and 
(2) to identify potential safe harbor institutions 
that may be designated as receiving repositories for 
covered records that may need to be relocated, and 
any potential legal barriers to such relocation. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall 
submit a report to Congress containing the results of the 
study carried out under subsection (a). 
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SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this Act $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2025. 
Æ 
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