* NEW * U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ORAL HISTORIES
Beginning in 2004, the Office of the Clerk authorized the first oral history program for the U.S. House of Representatives. Created to make the rich heritage of the U.S. House of Representatives more accessible to Members, staff, scholars, and the general public, the program seeks to include interviews with a wide variety of House employees such as Member aides, committee staff, support staff, technical assistants, and family of Members. Select former Representatives also are interviewed. Interviews are conducted by the Office of History and Preservation (OHP).
The collection and preservation of the stories and experiences of people who have worked on Capitol Hill greatly contributes to the historical record of the U.S. House of Representatives. Detailed descriptions of legislative processes and procedures, personal and political anecdotes, and recollections about the evolving nature of the institution, represent a vital source of information about the inner workings of Congress. Recording the memories of people who have worked in various capacities at the Capitol allows current congressional staff the opportunity to familiarize themselves with past House practices, which in turn may inform those making decisions and planning policies in the present. By providing such a resource, the Clerk’s Office also seeks to promote further interest in and study of the history of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Interviewees include a wide variety of House employees: House Officers, Member aides, committee staff, support staff, family of Members, and select former Representatives.
As an example, take a look at Cokie Roberts Audio and Video: http://oralhistory.clerk.house.gov/interviewee.html?name=roberts-cokie&view=media
Interviews are conducted by the Office of History and Preservation (OHP). New interviews will be added regularly.
For more information about OHP’s oral history program contact the Office of History and Preservation at (202) 226-1300, or via email at: history@mail.house.gov.
* NEW * COMMITTEE FOR A RESPONSIBLE FEDERAL BUDGET: BUDGET SIMULATOR
Last month The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) launched a new interactive project to underscore the long-term fiscal challenges facing the United States and promote dialogue on how best to resolve them. The Stabilize the Debt online budget simulator allows users to get a truer sense of the difficult decisions that will be required to put the U.S. on a sustainable fiscal path. Users will see how their budget choices affect the longer-term debt picture and share their results with friends in order to spark discussion.
The simulator will be particularly useful to students in gaining a better understanding of our fiscal situation and the trade-offs involved in dealing with it. It is easy to use, but also full of information. You can experience it at http://crfb.org/stabilizethedebt/. |
