To amend title 44, United States Code, to authorize grants for Presidential Centers of Historical Excellence.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Presidential Historical Records 
Preservation Act of 2008''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM.

    Section 2504 of title 44, United States Code, is amended by--
            (1) redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g);
            (2) amending subsection (g)(1) (as so redesignated by 
        paragraph (1))--
                    (A) in subparagraph (R), by striking ``and'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (S), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(T) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.''; and
            (3) inserting after subsection (e), the following:
    ``(f) Grants for Presidential Centers of Historical Excellence.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Commission shall make grants, on a 
        competitive basis and in accordance with this subsection, to 
        eligible entities to promote the historical preservation of, 
        and public access to, historical records and documents relating 
        to any President who does not have a Presidential archival 
        depository currently managed and maintained by the Federal 
        Government pursuant to section 2112 (commonly known as the 
        `Presidential Libraries Act of 1955').
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--For purposes of this subsection, an 
        eligible entity is--
                    ``(A) an organization described under section 
                501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and 
                exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of that Code; 
                or
                    ``(B) a State or local government of the United 
                States.
            ``(3) Use of funds.--Amounts received by an eligible entity 
        under paragraph (1) shall be used to promote the historical 
        preservation of, and public access to, historical records or 
        historical documents relating to any President covered under 
        paragraph (1).
            ``(4) Prohibition on use of funds.--Amounts received by an 
        eligible entity under paragraph (1) may not be used for the 
        maintenance, operating costs, or construction of any facility 
        to house the historical records or historical documents 
        relating to any President covered under paragraph (1).
            ``(5) Application.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An eligible entity seeking a 
                grant under this subsection shall submit to the 
                Commission an application at such time, in such manner, 
                and containing or accompanied by such information as 
                the Commission may require, including a description of 
                the activities for which a grant under this subsection 
                is sought.
                    ``(B) Approval of application.--The Commission 
                shall not approve a grant application submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) unless an eligible entity establishes 
                that such entity--
                            ``(i) possesses, with respect to any 
                        President covered under paragraph (1), 
                        historical works and collections of historical 
                        sources that the Commission considers 
                        appropriate for preserving, publishing, or 
                        otherwise recording at the public expense;
                            ``(ii) has appropriate facilities and space 
                        for preservation of, and public access to, the 
                        historical works and collections of historical 
                        sources;
                            ``(iii) shall ensure preservation of, and 
                        public access to, such historical works and 
                        collections of historical sources at no charge 
                        to the public;
                            ``(iv) has educational programs that make 
                        the use of such documents part of the mission 
                        of such entity;
                            ``(v) has raised funds from non-Federal 
                        sources in support of the efforts of the entity 
                        to promote the historical preservation of, and 
                        public access to, such historical works and 
                        collections of historical sources in an amount 
                        equal to the amount of the grant the entity 
                        seeks under this subsection;
                            ``(vi) shall coordinate with any relevant 
                        Federal program or activity, including programs 
                        and activities relating to Presidential 
                        archival depositories;
                            ``(vii) shall coordinate with any relevant 
                        non-Federal program or activity, including 
                        programs and activities conducted by State and 
                        local governments and private educational 
                        historical entities; and
                            ``(viii) has a workable plan for preserving 
                        and providing public access to such historical 
                        works and collections of historical sources.''.

Summary: Presidential Historical Records Preservation Act of 2008 - Authorizes appropriations for the National Historical Publications and Records Commission for FY2010.

Requires the Commission to make grants to eligible entities on a competitive basis to promote the historical preservation of, and public access to, historical records and documents relating to any President who does not have a presidential archival depository currently managed and maintained by the federal government pursuant to the Presidential Libraries Act of 1955. Defines eligible entities as specified tax-exempt organizations or state or local governments.

Prohibits the use of grants for the maintenance, operating costs, or construction of any facility to house the historical records or documents.

Prohibits the Commission from approving a grant application unless an entity establishes that it meets certain requirements, including that it: (1) ensures the preservation of, and access to, such historical works and collections of historical sources at no charge to the public; (2) has educational programs that make the use of such documents part of the entity's mission; and (3) has raised funds from nonfederal sources in support of the entity's efforts to promote such preservation and access.