> [Original Message] > From: Jim Sorrell <jsorrell@cinci.rr.com> > To: <KYBATH-L@rootsweb.com> > Date: 10/6/2004 8:24:19 PM > Subject: [KYBATH] FW: Legislation in Congress Seeks to Restrict Access to Birth Records >> > > Subject: Legislation in Congress Seeks to Restrict > Access to Birth Records > > > Please pass this along to your lists. We need to get > this information out to the public. > > This was posted on Ancestry Daily News. You can > find it online at www.ancestry.com/dailynews > Issue: October 7, 2004 > > Thanks, > Sharon Pike > Sharon@MeriwetherSociety.org > > Immediate Action Requested > > Legislation in Congress Seeks to Restrict Access to Birth Records; > FGS Recommends Writing to Your Congressional Representatives > > The U.S. House of Representatives is considering a bill, House Resolution 10 > (H.R. 10), which seeks to restrict access to birth certificates. This bill, > which purpose is to respond to the threat of terrorism, is on a fast track > to passage and has been voted on by several committees already. Your help is > needed now. > > David Rencher, Chairman of the Record Access and Preservation Committee, a > joint committee of the National Genealogical Society and Federation of > Genealogical Societies, has sent a letter to the bill's sponsor, Congressman > Dennis Hastert, recommending an amendment to the bill as follows: > > "However, nothing in this Chapter 2 shall be construed to require a State to > change its law with respect to public access to (A) non-certified copies of > birth certificates, or to (B) birth certificates or birth records once a > period of 100 years has elapsed from the date of creation of the certificate > or record." > > A copy of the letter is available on the FGS site at > www.fgs.org/rpa/formalactions.htm. > > To view this bill, go to http://thomas.loc.gov. > Enter HR 10 in the search box for "Bill Number." > > Action Is Needed Now > Because this bill is moving toward passage so quickly, it is urged that the > genealogical community take action immediately and let their representatives > know that they are in support of David Rencher's amendment and the FGS > position in this important matter. To find your state representative's > contact information, go to www.house.gov/writerep/. > > How Should I Word My Letter? > While you should word the letter in any way that is comfortable for you, it > is recommended that you include the following as a portion of the letter: > > "While I support the intention to increase security to protect the U.S. from > terrorists and those who wish to improperly take U.S. identities, I am > concerned that those researching their family's history continue to have > access to non-certified birth records. > > Therefore, in order to support HR-10 I ask that you amend HR-10 Section > 3063(d)(2) by adding the following wording to the existing paragraph: > > 'However, nothing in this Chapter 2 shall be construed to require a State to > change its law with respect to public access to (A) non-certified copies of > birth certificates or to (B) birth certificates or birth records once a > period of 100 years has elapsed from the date of creation of the certificate > or record.' > > I believe that this additional language is imperative so that the states do > not react by restricting all certificates to comply with the law, rather > than dealing with certified as opposed to non-certified birth certificates. > This proposed amendatory language would remind them that they can and should > be treated differently." > > > >