Lawmakers Work to Save National Archives & Historic Records

August 20 2026 Lawmakers Work to Save National Archives & Historic Records Home / Media / Uncategorized SAN BRUNO, CA – U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15) and a coalition of federal lawmakers are working to protect America’s National Archives and two facilities that are facing threats of closure. The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) recently announced it would be closing the San Francisco (San Bruno) and Chicago facilities, which are two of just 13 regional archives across America. The local facility in San Bruno houses culturally-significant archives from not only California but also Nevada, Hawaii, Pacific island territories, and Tribes. Its records hold deep value to the community including Angel Island immigration files, Chinese Exclusion Act and Japanese Internment records, Native American and indigenous history documents, and much more. Just a few of the notable records include the Wong Kim Ark files, on which the recent birthright citizenship Supreme Court Case hinged, and Alcatraz penitentiary files from cases like “Machine Gun Kelly” and Al Capone, and many more. LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS Rep. Mullin, along with Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), are leading a bipartisan, bicameral coalition of 37 lawmakers in calling upon NARA for more information and emphasizing the importance of maintaining these archives in the community. Read the full letter here . Rep. Mullin has also introduced a new federal bill, the National Archives Protection Act , that would prevent NARA from closing any of their facilities including archives, records centers or research rooms, without Congressional approval. The bill is co-authored by Reps. Chu; Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), whose district includes the Seattle archives; and Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), whose district includes the Chicago archives. Read the bill text here . COMMUNITY SUPPORT “These archives aren’t just boxes of paper — they hold the stories, memories, and history of generations of Americans. Families whose ancestors immigrated through Angel Island can track their lineage, those whose loved ones served in the Navy and were stationed in the Pacific can learn about their legacy, and Native Americans whose history is documented over generations are all able to learn more by visiting this national archive,” Rep. Mullin said. “ We have a responsibility to protect this history and ensure these tangible records are carefully preserved and accessible to the people they represent. I am leading an effort to protect the federal facility in San Bruno and archives across America, and am deeply committed to working closely with the community, my Congressional colleagues, and state as well as regional leaders to ensure this irreplaceable history remains accessible for generations to come.” “I strongly oppose the closing of the National Archives facilities in my district and around the country. The lack of transparency surrounding the closure of the Chicago facility threatens the irreplaceable collections stored there, staff expertise, and on-site, in-person research access. It would represent a loss for researchers, historians, dedicated employees and our community who visit the facility looking for census and naturalization records to prove citizenship status, examining genealogy records to identify their ancestors, or studying major historical events like the 1894 Pullman Strike and the Nuremberg War Crime Trials,” Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García said. “I’m proud to join Rep. Mullin and my colleagues in introducing legislation prohibiting NARA from unilaterally closing these important facilities without Congressional approval.” “Closing the National Archives facilities at San Francisco and San Bruno and moving their irreplaceable documents across the country is an unacceptable barrier to public access,” Rep Judy Chu said. “These documents are unique pieces of history that have defined the AANHPI community in California and across the Pacific. For decades, these institutions have allowed descendants of Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II and those impacted by the Chinese Exclusion Act to learn directly about their family members’ experiences. Closing these facilities will force families to travel great distances at significant costs to access their own American histories, and threaten the integrity of these precious records. We will not let history be pushed out of reach for the families who have lived it simply for logistical cost-savings. That is why I am proud to co-lead this bill and letter to preserve these facilities and ensure these records remain accessible to the communities whose history they hold.” “It is critical that we preserve our National Archives facilities to protect important facets of this country’s history. The NARA Seattle facility is home to Tribal archives and is a resource for the entire Pacific Northwest. I proud to be co-leading this legislation with Reps. Mullin, Chu, and Garcia to protect these important federal record centers and require