APG’s advocacy efforts support equitable access to and preservation of historical records on behalf of our members, the genealogy community, and the public. Read more about our Advocacy Committee activities below.

APG members can join the Advocacy Special Interest Group, which provides support and discussion to those who have an interest in advocacy issues (login required). 

Questions or concerns about advocacy? Contact advocacy@apgen.org

Recent Advocacy Activities

• Letter to Washington, DC mayor on proposed elimination of funding for the District of Columbia State Archives building - 3 June 2025

• Memorandum of Support for New York State Bill S4713A/A3733A – Access to Historic Records - 3 June 2025

• Memorandum of Support for New York State Bill S7782/A8314 Vital Records Digitization - 17 May 2025

• Letter to New York State legislators on proposed changes to vital records access - January 2025

• Support for "Bring Our Heroes Home Act" bill - December 2024

• Letter of opposition to NJ Open Public Records Act law - March 2024

• Comment on UK Ministry of Justice proposal for destruction of English and Welsh original wills - February 2024

Current Advocacy Issues

• Indiana House Bill 1148 proposes expanding restriction on birth certificate access from 75 years to 99 years 
  
• New York State proposed legislation impacting vital records access
  
• The need to maintain funding for the US National Archives (NARA)
• Administration cuts threaten payments to genealogists working on military repatriation efforts
  • "DOGE’s $1 spending card limit touches everything from military research to trash pickup," The Washington Post, 9 March 2025

Coalitions

APG is a supporter of the Records Preservation and Access Coalition (RPAC), sponsored by the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies and the National Genealogical Society, the Board for Certification of Genealogists, the American Society of Genealogists, and the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists.

For more information, visit https://www.recordsadvocate.org/.

Coalitions

APG is a supporter of the Records Preservation and Access Coalition (RPAC), sponsored by the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies and the National Genealogical Society, the Board for Certification of Genealogists, the American Society of Genealogists, and the International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists. For more information, visit https://www.recordsadvocate.org/.