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Mr. Becerra. The legislation speaks about, with regard to the foundation, creation of the foundation, about providing for a diversity of points of view from the film community, and it does mention the different players within the film community.
I am wondering what your opinion would be about extending that beyond diversity of the film community. Because I know for the longest time there were few people who spoke up for black filmmaking or for the growth of Latino artists within the film industry. How do we make sure that there is a voice that reflects that portion of the American community?
Mr. Richmond. I think including historians and educators in the process would be a very good thing.
Mr. Becerra. We currently do include them. And I know that the preservation board has a membership of about 20, and it is fairly specific in the law as to who sits on the board, from which associations and which sectors of the industry. And I believe there are two or three members who are appointed at large.
Do you know what the membership is of the current preservation board? For example, how many African-Americans or minority members might sit?
Mr. Richmond. I am sorry. I am not a member of the board, and I am not familiar with the current membership.
Mr. Becerra. Do you think it would be worthwhile to have language in the legislation that reauthorizes not only the preservation board but also the foundation, that considers not only the diversity points of view of the film industry but the diversity of the points of view of the American community?
Mr. Richmond. I think the intention of the foundation is to include that kind of diversity of input, and anjiihing that can be done to ensure that I would be very much in favor of
Mr. Becerra. And I am happy to hear you say that.
I see nothing in the legislation, as it is currently drafted, which would urge in the formation of the foundation's board, or even in the current preservation board, that we move toward ensuring that type of diversity to the degree — as the language is — to the degree practicable.
Do I hear you saying that that is something that you think might be worthwhile considering, including diversity beyond that within the film industry?
Mr. Richmond. I would be very much in favor of that, yes. Input from the broadest range of the American public is necessary in making decisions on what does get preserved with the limited funding that is available. Even with the foundation in place, realistically, not everything gets saved. It is impossible. Not everything in any area of life gets saved. So, hard decisions have to be made; and those decisions should be as informed as possible.
Mr. Becerra. I agree. And I think these days we are recognizing more and more that there are works out there that are culturally and historically significant which maybe 10 or 30 or 40, 50 years ago we would never have considered them as such. And I think you are right, and I hope we head in that direction with this legislation as well.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the time.