Mr. Speaker,

 

Today, the distinguished gentleman from Michigan, Representative John Conyers, and I introduce “the National Film Preservation Act of 2003.”  Senator Patrick Leahy joins us by introducing identical legislation in the Senate.

 

This legislation reauthorizes the National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) and the National Film Preservation Foundation (NFPF) for ten years.  The NFPF is an independent, nonprofit organization established in 1996 with bipartisan Congresssional support to help save America’s film heritage.

 

The NFPF is the charitable affiliate of the NFPB of the Library of Congress, which was also established in 1996.

 

This legislation also increases the authorized appropriations for the NFPF from $500,000 in fiscal year 2004 and 2005 up to $1,000,000 in fiscal years 2006 through 2013.   It authorizes additional appropriations not to exceed $1,000,000 for cooperative film preservation and access initiatives by the NFPF for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2013.  All authorized appropriations are only to be made available to match private contributions to the NFPF.

 

The excellent work and strong track record of the NFPB and NFPF justify both the reauthorization and increased authorization of appropriations provided by this bill.  Working with archives and others in the film preservation community, the NFPF supports activities that save films for future generations, improve film access for education and exhibition, and increase public commitment to preserving film as a cultural resource, art form, and historical record.  In essence, its mission is to save America’s “orphan films” - newsreels, silent films, documentaries, avant-garde works, and other independent films that are not preserved by commercial interests.

 

Over the past seven years, the NFPF has done great work in furtherance of this goal.  Working with more than 80 organizations, it has helped preserve approximately 600 films and collections.  Through its preservation efforts, the NFPF has made it possible for organizations in 34 states and the District of Columbia to use these films in education and research.  Many of the films preserved provide unique windows into American history and culture.  For instance, films preserved through NFPF efforts include social dramas from Thomas Edison’s studio, the earliest “talkie” of an American president, and home movies clandestinely shot by Japanese Americans in World War II detention camps.

 

As authorization for the NFPB and NFPF expired on September 30, 2003, Congress must act quickly on this legislation.  We cannot allow the important work of these organizations to lapse.  Over 50% of the films made before 1950 have disintegrated, and only 10% of the movies produced in the United States before 1929 still exist.  We must act to stem further losses of this rich cultural heritage.  No art form is more uniquely American than film, but unfortunately, few art forms are more susceptible to degradation through passage of time and poor preservation.

 

All parties interested in preservation and expansion of the public domain, whether for research, education, or further commercial exploitation, must join Representative Conyers, Senator Leahy, and myself in securing passage of this legislation.  While it may be intellectually stimulating to debate radical copyright revisions as mechanisms to expand the public domain, these debates should not detract from the pursuit of proven methods, like NFPF projects, to preserve and expand the public domain.  The tight fiscal picture for the U.S. government indicates that this legislation will be very difficult to pass, thus all public domain advocates should focus their full attention on this effort.

 

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back the balance of my time.