Letters

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February 24, 2021

David S. Ferriero
Archivist of the United States
National Archives and Records Administration
700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20408

Dear Archivist Ferriero, 

As freshmen members of Congress, we write to you to follow up on the great work done by many of our colleagues in supporting the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) and addressing the rising number of unprocessed requests for records from the NPRC. The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the world and presented unprecedented challenges for all Americans. Those affected include our service members, veterans, and federal employees such as those at the National Personnel Records Center.

Since taking our oaths of office, we have heard from constituents who have been unable to retrieve their records, with some waiting almost a year. While we understand the COVID protocols in place, there is no excuse for failing to support the men and women who have served our country in a timely manner. We need to eliminate this backlog immediately and provide our nation’s veterans with the documents that they need.

We want to be trusted partners in this effort and strongly believe that we need to address this backlog. It is imperative that we look to the future to ensure our veterans straightforward access to their records by modernizing the current system. From the previous letter that you sent to our colleagues on December 10th of last year, we understand that steps have been taken and that there is a plan in place. We look forward to working with you on these modernization efforts to provide those who have served our country with the support that they deserve.

The NPRC provides a critical service but requires a transformation into the 21st century. Please do not hesitate to let us know how we can further support you. We look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,