Volume 14, Number 1
Feb 1990

Congress and Permanent Paper Legislation

• House Joint Resolution 226 (the House version of the Pell Resolution, the text of which is reproduced in the December 1988 issue of this newsletter) has not been passed yet. There seems to be no big obstacle. A short hearing has been scheduled for February 21 by the House Subcommittee on Government Information, Justice, and Agriculture, for information-gathering purposes. The Library of Congress, National Archives, Association of American Publishers and the bill's sponsor, Pat Williams, will testify. This is the bill that would make the use of permanent paper a national policy. Such a policy is looked upon with favor because it would save so much money that otherwise would have to go to deacidification and microfilming projects. But whether it passes this year or not may depend upon how high a priority it is given, in the context of all the other important matters Congress has to deal with; and this in turn depends partly on the interest shown by the folks back home. This is a good time to contact your local Congressman and ask him to join the 67 other members of the House of Representatives who have already become co-sponsors. For more information contact Michael Lucas of Liz Robbins Associates, Washington, DC, 202/544-6094, or the ALA Washington Office, 202/547-4440.
• The Walgren Amendment to the Solid Waste Disposal Act is given in context on p. 100 of the October issue of this newsletter. It would require that government-funded printing and writing paper used for materials of enduring value be not only recycled but permanent according to national standards, and that for other uses it should at least be alkaline as well as recycled. The Solid Waste Disposal Act is up for reauthorization, and has not yet been acted on by Rep. Thomas Luken's subcommittee. (It is reportedly very hard to find recycled paper at prices competitive with that made from virgin fiber. Perhaps the subcommittee has heard about this, and is thinking it over. The Act does not require the purchase of recycled paper if it cannot be bought at competitive prices.) There is no sponsor for a corresponding amendment or provision in the Senate yet.