----- Original Message ----- From: "Valerie" <vnhsnh@yahoo.com> To: <BOONE-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, October 08, 2004 10:21 AM Subject: [BOONE-L] Fwd: [MOSTFRAN-L] Proposed Legislation to Restrict Access to Birth Records > > > "B. Warner" <bkwofc@i1.net> wrote:Date: Fri, 8 Oct 2004 09:07:35 -0500 > (CDT) > From: "B. Warner" > To: MOSTFRAN-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: [MOSTFRAN-L] Proposed Legislation to Restrict Access to Birth > Records > > Dear Listers: > The following is not intended to make a political statement. It is only > intended to inform you of proposed legislation which, if passed, could > significantly impact and hinder our research efforts. If you disagree > with this proposed legislation, you might want to send an e-mail or letter > to your representative in Congress immediately and suggest that > legislation at least be be amended as proposed below. And, in the > meantime, if you need any birth records you'd best be ordering them now! > Thanks! > > Bettye > > > > 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." > > > > > > ==== MOSTFRAN Mailing List ==== > ***St. Francois County MoGenWeb Page: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~mostfran/ > ***St. Francois County Message Board: > http://tinyurl.com/4esjr > ***St. Francois County Surname Registry: > http://www.rootsweb.com/~mostfran/surnames/surnames.htm > ***To Unsubscribe: > http://lists.rootsweb.com/index/usa/MO/st._francois.html > ***List Administrator: > B.Warner --- bkwofc@i1.net > > > > > > Valerie Holifield > www.holifieldweb.net > www.stegenevieve.net > > > > > >