Bill Overview
Title: To reduce the amount made available to the National Archives and Records Administration unless certain backlogs of the Administration are resolved, and for other purposes.
Description: This bill reduces the amount made available to the National Archives and Records Administration unless it processes and resolves before October 1, 2022, a personnel records backlog of 600,000 requests.
Sponsors: Rep. Bentz, Cliff [R-OR-2]
Target Audience
Population: People reliant on the National Archives and Records Administration's services
Estimated Size: 35000000
- The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is responsible for maintaining and providing access to federal government records, a function that can indirectly impact all Americans who require access to historical and governmental information.
- Backlogs in personnel records, like military service records, can affect veterans and their families who need these for benefits claims, job applications, and personal record-keeping.
- Academic researchers, historians, and legal experts frequently require access to archived records for their work.
- Genealogists and individuals tracing family history also rely on accessing records maintained by NARA.
Reasoning
- This policy primarily affects people who require timely access to personnel records held by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
- Individuals such as veterans, who need military records for benefits and employment, are likely to be the most impacted by the backlog and thus by the policy aimed at resolving it.
- Academic and legal researchers rely on NARA for timely access to historical and governmental records, but the urgency in the context of personnel records may not be as critical for them.
- Genealogists and individuals tracing family histories may be somewhat impacted, although their needs are not typically urgent compared to veterans.
- The cost constraints, with $10 million for the first year, mean the policy will target high-priority requests, particularly affecting veterans and those needing records urgently for legal purposes.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Texas)
Age: 68 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope this policy pushes the Archive to finally process my requests faster. I've been waiting too long for my service records, which I need for my VA benefits.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Researcher (California)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand veterans need priority, but I hope this doesn’t mean my access to other records will be delayed even further.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Genealogist (New York)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This backlog has been a hurdle, but I understand others might have more urgent needs. I just hope it gets resolved soon.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Lawyer (Illinois)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Delays in obtaining military records have hampered my ability to effectively represent my clients. This policy should help clear those frustrations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Historian (Alabama)
Age: 53 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 1.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My work is somewhat dependent on fast access to records, but I can work around delays if it helps those with more pressing needs.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
IT Specialist (Florida)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’ve been trying to get my father’s records, which is crucial for our family's history, but it keeps getting delayed. This policy might finally help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Archivist (Ohio)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I rely on NARA for some projects, and the backlogs disrupt the workflow. Hopefully, this will mitigate long waiting periods.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Military Affairs Consultant (Washington D.C.)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- If this policy passes, it could greatly help veterans I work with access their needed records more promptly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Public Librarian (Michigan)
Age: 61 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- NARA’s services aid in supporting community research, and reducing the backlog might free up more resources for broader access.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Data Analyst (New Mexico)
Age: 24 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I’m just starting to use the archives for tracing family history, and I noticed the backlog when I started my search. Any improvements will definitely help.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $15000000)
Year 3: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $15000000)
Year 5: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $15000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $15000000)
Year 100: $10000000 (Low: $7500000, High: $15000000)
Key Considerations
- The ability of NARA to resolve the backlog on time is critical to prevent funding cuts and ensure continued operational efficiency.
- While cost savings are expected with backlog resolution, the transitional period may require re-allocated resources for backlog management.
- Economic sectors dependent on timely access to records, such as legal and historical research, could be impacted by delays or improvements in record management.