PRESERVATION ACTION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
 



LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
VOLUME 23, NUMBER 25
JULY 10, 2020

Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill Includes Increases for Historic Preservation Fund and Other Priorities

This week the House Committee on Appropriations released the FY21 Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill.  The bill passed the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee and full Committee this week and is expected to be considered by the full House by the end of the month. The appropriations process in the Senate is currently stalled as lawmakers are still working through disagreements regarding policy riders. The House bill includes $136.425 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, a nearly $18 million increase, and if enacted would be a record level of funding for the program. This includes critical increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and important grant programs. The full breakdown is below:
  • State Historic Preservation Offices: $55.675 million ($3M over FY20)
  • Tribal Historic Preservation Offices: $15 million ($1.265M over FY20)
  • Save America's Treasures: $25 million ($9M over FY20)
  • Civil Rights Movement Grants: $18 million ($2.5M over FY20)
  • Civil Rights Grants for All Americans: $4.25 million ($2M over FY20)
  • Historically Black Colleges and Universities Grants: $10 million (same as FY20)
  • Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants: $7.5 million (same as FY20)
  • Underrepresented Communities: $1 million (same as FY20)
Total: $136.425 million ($17.765 million over FY20)

Additionally, lawmakers, expecting enactment of the Great American Outdoors Act which fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), did not include discretionary spending for the LWCF, but instead provided allocations for the full $900 million. The bill also included $24.024 million for the Heritage Partnership Program, an increase of $2.08 million, which will help support existing and recently established National Heritage Areas. The bill also included report language, expressing concern that Hispanic heritage sites have not been received proper recognition and requested the National Park Service submit a study to the Committee.

While we're still early in the appropriations process, this bill is great news for historic preservation. Thanks to everyone for your sustained advocacy. Preservation Action and our partners advocated for increases to the Historic Preservation Fund during  National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week and submitted testimony to the Appropriations Committee in March. Stay tuned for more!
House Passes Infrastructure Bill, Includes Provisions to Expand and Enhance the Historic Tax Credit

Last week, the House passed the Moving Forward Act, a $1.5 trillion infrastructure bill. The bill passed 233-188 along a mostly party-line vote. Among funding for infrastructure priorities, the legislation also incorporates several community development provisions aimed at stimulating the economy, including provisions to expand and enhance the Historic Tax Credit program. The final legislation included the following measures that would help strengthen the Historic Tax Credit.
  • A temporary increase of the Historic Tax Credit from 20% to 30% for 5 years.
  • Establishes a permanent 30% Historic Tax Credit for projects $2.5 million and less
  • Eliminates the HTC Basis Adjustment, bringing more value to HTCs
  • Reduces the Historic Rehab Test to 50% of a building's basis instead of 100%
  • Makes the credit easier to use by non-profits
  • A provision for communities to rehabilitate existing public schools using the HTC
  • Temporary extension of period for completing rehabilitation
Several of these provisions were included as part of the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (S.2615/H.R. 2825) and we're part of the request that Preservation Action and many of our partners made to Congress urging them to support historic preservation as lawmakers look for ways to stimulate the economy. In addition to the provisions to strengthen the Historic Tax Credit, the bill also creates a new tax credit for the rehabilitation of dilapidated single-family homes. While the bill's future in the Senate is uncertain, inclusion of HTC provisions is great news for preservation advocates and sets up these priorities well for the future infrastructure or relief legislation.

Take Action

Congress needs to hear from you. Urge your Senators to support the enhancements to the Historic Tax Credit included in the Moving Forward Act. Join us in thanking your Representative for including measures to strengthen the HTC in the Moving Forward Act, and urge your Senators to include these HTC provisions as part of future infrastructure or relief legislation.  If you have a personal contact in your Senator's Washington D.C or District office, contact that person directly. Check out our Action Alert to learn more and fund out how you can help!


Members of Congress Send Letter in Support of Historic Preservation and Museum Funding in COVID-19 Relief Legislation

In June, Congressman Joe Neguse (D-CO), Congresswoman Dianne Degette (D-CO), Congressman Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), and Congressman Jason Crow (D-CO) sent a letter to the House Committee on Appropriations requesting $515 million in funding for historic preservation and small museums as part of future COVID-19 relief legislation. Due to devastated state budgets and revenues that are often tied to incapacitated industries, SHPOs, THPOs and small museums have been disproportionately  impacted by the pandemic.  The letter highlights the integral role these programs play in America's economic well being and how they are uniquely positioned to assist in national recovery efforts. Specifically the letter requests:
  • $150 million to support the work of State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices
  • $70 million to specifically support the ability of SHPOs and THPOs to work remotely
  • $75 million in direct funding for structures, surveys, education and planning
  • $75 million for Certified Local Governments 
  • $75 million for the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitaization Grant program
  • $70 million to support small museums. 
The letter notes that "historic preservation projects provide multiple layers of economic stimulus, creating near term jobs and spending for important projects while also creating long-term economic benefits as a result of heritage tourism."

Preservation Action greatly appreciates the work of Representatives Neguse, Degette, Perlmutter, and Crow for their leadership and support of historic preservation in future economic stimulus legislation. Read the full letter and find out how you can help!


Preservation Action
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Preservation Action is the only national  non-profit dedicated exclusively to lobbying for the best preservation policies at the federal level. We seek to make historic preservation a national priority by advocating to all branches of government through a grassroots constituency empowered with information and training.