Concerned Colleagues: As most of you are aware, ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION IN THE U.S. IS CHANGING. Federal involvement (funding and staffing) in our discipline, along with many others, is being questioned by the newly restructured Congress. The Society for American Archaeology (SAA) and the Society for Historical Archaeology (SHA) are becoming increasingly active on the Hill so that the new decision-makers are aware of the historic preservation process in this country and the value of archaeological resources to the public and science. From our experience with Republican Congressmen and Senators and their staffs on the Hill during the last few months, it is clear that several key issues must be clarified to them and that a new coalition of support in Congress for federal archaeology must be built. The leadership of the SAA and SHA need to hear the opinions of professionals, amateurs and students of archaeology and historic preservation on the issues under discussion on the Hill concerning historic resources and their management. In this way, we can formulate a unified response of clear and concise answers to the questions of the decision-makers. A "Position Paper" is being developed on the role of the federal government in archaeology by SAA President Bill Lipe, SHA President Donna Siefert, SAA Government Affairs Chair Judy Bense, and SHA Government Affairs Chair Bonnie McEwan. Each of us is gathering information for the position paper, and my responsibity is to ask the audience on the email Listservers and InternetDiscussion Groups for input. I will gather and analyze this information for use in the position paper. These questions are being asked by Republicans and their staffs, and we must come up with answers they can understand. It is apparent to those of us involved in federal government affairs that FEDERAL ARCHAEOLOGY AND THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROCESS IS GOING TO CHANGE. The National Historic Preservation Act is scheduled for reauthorization this fall, and it appears that the Advisory Council will be dismantled. This is a strong indicator that NHPA will be changed, especially in Section 106. We must be ready deal with this situation, and an important step in the process is to develop a unified statement about the role of federal archaeology. Please send your thoughts, opinions. and responses to my email address ([log in to unmask]) as well as post them to the Listserver on which you found this message. We would like to stimulate discussion on this topic for all our benefit. The position paper must be done by the end of July, before the August recess. I will be happy to bundle the responses and pass them around when we are done. I also will post the Position Paper on Federal Archaeology when it is completed. We thank you in advance for your time and consideration. Feel free to copy this request and pass it around your business, department, or society. If someone does not have email capabilities, they can fax of snail mail me their information: Prossor Judy Bense FAX: 904-474-3033 Department of Sociology and Anthropology Voice: 904-474-3015/3021 University of West Florida 11,000 University Parkway Pensacola, FL. 32514 QUESTIONS WE NEED TO ANSWER: 1. Why should the federal government be involved in archaeology and historic preservation? 2. Why can't the states manage all of government archaeology and historic presesrvation? 3. How can Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and/or its regulations be changed to be more acceptable to the public and new Congressional leadership? Judy Bense