I don't usually get involved in political battles, but this is of interest to most of us, so I am sharing the information. Pam >Thanks to Mary Smith for sharing the following with us. > >Shirley > > > > This was on the NYC site - thought you might find it interesting.... > > > > Mary Anne > > > > > > > > Below is the message that Senator Orrin Hatch has given/proposed > > to > > > the Senate, as Ancestry has on thier site. > > > Now if only he ( and we) could convince the NY State Senators and > > anyone > > > else needed to let us get the information from the archives in > > Albany or > > > in NYC, easier than it has been. Lift the ban on records to a more > > > sensible year, (say 50 years instead of what they are now) > > > In NYC you can get birth records only up to 1909-------that's 92 > > > years-ridiculous! > > > Each year could be added information for all of us if that ban on > > info > > > was lifted and so much easier for many of us. > > > Example bringing info on births to 1950-1-then next year adding > > info > > > from '52 etc. > > > Could break down a lot of brick walls for many of us. > > > How come the freedom of information act doesn't apply here? We can > > get > > > SS info on people we didn't even know-( of course they're dead) but > > > can't get the birth cert. for a relative. > > > If all the NYers and ex NYers follow thru maybe something can be > > done? > > > > > > Pat > > > > > > ==================================================================== > > > SENATOR'S LETTER AND RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT FAMILY HISTORY MONTH > > > ==================================================================== > > > Below is the text from Senator Hatch's letter that was sent to all > > of > > > the other United States Senators requesting their support for his > > > Family History Resolution to declare October Family History Month > > > every year. Below that is the text of the resolution itself: > > > > > > United States Senate > > > Washington, DC 20510-4402 > > > > > > 10 July 2001 > > > > > > Dear Colleague: > > > > > > It is with great enthusiasm that I write to ask you to co-sponsor my > > > resolution that will dedicate the Month of October of each year as > > > "Family History Month." > > > > > > Within the last month some 14,167,329 people researched their family > > > history and 24 million people have used the Web and e-mail to locate > > > or hunt for family or friends with whom they had lost touch. > > > Researching ancestry is a very important component to self-identity. > > > It can lead to long-sought-after family reunions or life saving > > > stories like that of Nancy Andjelich Margraff. Nancy's story, found > > > in the book, "In Search of Our Ancestors," by Megan Smolenyak, helps > > > to illustrate the need for public attention to the important subject > > > of family history. Nancy started showing signs of an illness that > > > afflicted her father who died suddenly at the age of 39. At the time > > > her mother was told that her father had a rare illness that caused a > > > cerebral hemorrhage that killed him. > > > > > > After Nancy learned she had this deadly illness, she began > > > corresponding with the Minister of Health in Zagreb, Croatia. He > > > kindly accepted and distributed informational packets that Nancy put > > > together regarding the diagnosis and treatment of her illness. She > > > disseminated the informational packets to her extended family > > > members, many of whom are alive today because they were identified > > > through family history research that lead to the early diagnosis and > > > treatment of their affliction. > > > > > > At present there are some two thousand five hundred genealogical > > > societies in the United States that represent approximately a > > million > > > people who belong to these groups. One such group, The Federation of > > > Genealogical Societies, represents around 560 genealogical societies > > > and ultimately at least half a million individuals. There is no > > doubt > > > that the study of family history is growing in popularity and is an > > > important tool in researching ethnic identity and genetic health > > > concerns. > > > > > > I urge you to join me in supporting the millions of American men and > > > women who have researched their family history by co-sponsoring the > > > "Family History Resolution." For more information on this resolution > > > or to add your name as co-sponsor, please contact Chris Campbell in > > > my office at (202) 224-4412. > > > > > > Sincerely, > > > > > > Orrin G. Hatch > > > United States Senator > > > ____________________________________________________________________ > > > > > > > > > 107th Congress, 1st Session. S. Res. _____ > > > > > > IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES > > > > > > Mr. Hatch submitted the following resolution; which was referred to > > > the Committee on __________________ > > > > > > RESOLUTION > > > > > > Designating the month of October each year as "Family History > > Month." > > > > > > Whereas it is the family, striving for a future of opportunity and > > > hope, that reflects our Nation's belief in community, stability, and > > > love; > > > > > > Whereas the family remains an institution of promise, reliance, and > > > encouragement; > > > > > > Whereas we look to the family as an unwavering symbol of constancy > > > that will help us discover a future of prosperity, promise, and > > > potential; > > > > > > Whereas within our Nation's libraries and archives lie the treasured > > > records that detail the history of our Nation, our States, our > > > communities, and our citizens; > > > > > > Whereas individuals from across our Nation and across the world have > > > embarked on a genealogical journey by discovering who their > > ancestors > > > were and how various forces shaped their past; > > > > > > Whereas an ever-growing number in our Nation and in other nations > > are > > > collecting, preserving, and sharing genealogies, personal documents, > > > and memorabilia that detail the life and times of families around > > the > > > world; > > > > > > Whereas 54,000,000 individuals belong to a family where someone in > > > the family has used the Internet to research their family history; > > > > > > Whereas individuals from across our Nation and across the world > > > continue to research their family heritage and its impact upon the > > > history of our Nation and the world; > > > > > > Whereas approximately 60 percent of Americans have expressed an > > > interest in tracing their family history; > > > > > > Whereas the study of family history gives individuals a sense of > > > their heritage and a sense of responsibility in carrying out a > > legacy > > > that their ancestors began; > > > > > > Whereas as individuals learn about their ancestors who worked so > > hard > > > and sacrificed so much, their commitment to honor their ancestors > > > memory by doing good is increased; > > > > > > Whereas interest in our personal family history transcends all > > > cultural and religious affiliations; > > > > > > Whereas to encourage family history research, education, and the > > > sharing of knowledge is to renew the commitment to the concept of > > > family and home; and > > > > > > Whereas the involvement of National, State, and local officials in > > > promoting genealogy and in facilitating access to family history > > > records in archives and libraries are important factors in the > > > successful perception of nationwide camaraderie, support, and > > > participation: Now, therefore, be it > > > > > > Resolved, That the Senate --- > > > > > > (1) designates the month of October each year as "Family > > > History Month"; and > > > > > > (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation calling > > > upon the people of the United States to observe the month with > > > appropriate ceremonies and activities. > > > ____________________________________________________________________ > > > > > > CONTACTING YOUR SENATOR > > > > > > If you haven't had a chance to contact your Senator, please do so. > > > This is a wonderful opportunity for the genealogical community to be > > > recognized for our hard work in preserving our heritage. Let them > > > hear from you! > > > > > > U.S. Senate > > > http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state.cfm > > > You may also phone the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) > > > 224-3121 and an operator will connect you directly with the Senate > > > office you request. > > > > > >