Records Not Revenue presents the following “Comment Starters” in order to help you craft communications to your Senators and Representative. The most effective messages are custom-written, educate Congress on the issues, and ask them to help solve the problem.
After reviewing this page, click the Take Action button for the next steps. Please do not copy and paste the text without customizing it.
Issues with the USCIS Genealogy Program
In general, we suggest writing about issues you have experienced obtaining records via the USCIS Genealogy Program, and address the themes of access, transparency and efficiency. Be specific! Here are some reasons to write to your Representatives and Senators:
Have you waited more than 249 business days for an Index Search or more than 267 business days for a Records Request?
Did USCIS fail to locate the records you requested?
Did USCIS fail to provide a refund if you did not receive the records you requested?
Are you frustrated that it takes this long?
Do you wonder what is being done to address the multi-year long backlog of requests for that you paid for?
Do you wonder why you are still paying for copies and waiting for months or years for records that should already be at NARA?
Are the records copied poorly, illegible or improperly redacted?
Funding for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Tell Congress that the National Archives and Records Administration requires an annual uplift of an additional $100 million through FY2029 in order to overcome decades of near-stagnant funding, which prevents NARA from keeping pace with the exponential growth of archival holdings and the government's transition to digital records.
Comment Starters
Records Not Revenue presents the following “Comment Starters” in order to help you craft communications to your Senators and Representative. The most effective messages are custom-written, educate Congress on the issues, and ask them to help solve the problem.
After reviewing this page, click the Take Action button for the next steps. Please do not copy and paste the text without customizing it.
Issues with the USCIS Genealogy Program
In general, we suggest writing about issues you have experienced obtaining records via the USCIS Genealogy Program, and address the themes of access, transparency and efficiency. Be specific! Here are some reasons to write to your Representatives and Senators:
Funding for the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
NARA has not received adequate funding for decades. It requires robust support in order to ensure that historical records are preserved and accessible for future generations -- including immigration and naturalization records. Read Records Not Revenue's statement and review the facts about funding for NARA.
Tell Congress that the National Archives and Records Administration requires an annual uplift of an additional $100 million through FY2029 in order to overcome decades of near-stagnant funding, which prevents NARA from keeping pace with the exponential growth of archival holdings and the government's transition to digital records.
Take Action!
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