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PRESERVATION ACTION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
VOLUME 23, NUMBER 38 DECEMBER 04, 2020
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Congressional Leaders Move Closer to Reaching Deal on COVID-19 Relief and Spending Legislation
This week a bipartisan group of centrist lawmakers proposed a $908 billion compromise COVID-19 relief bill. While legislative text was not released, the framework calls for $160 billion for state, local and tribal governments, $180 in additional unemployment insurance, $288 billion in support for small businesses through programs like the Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loans, and additional funding for other priorities like education and vaccine distribution. Democratic leaders and some Senate Republicans expressed support for the framework, putting pressure on congressional leaders to reach a deal by the end of the year. Lawmakers could combine COVID-19 relief legislation with a year-end spending bill, but would need to reach a deal before the current continuing resolution (CR) expires on Dec. 11th, or pass another short term CR. The House is also aiming to adjourn by Dec. 11th.
Congressional leaders have reached an agreement on an overall spending level of $1.4 trillion and are currently working to resolve difference between the 12 individual spending bills. This is includes the House and Senate FY21 Interior Appropriations bills, which funds several historic preservation priorities like the Historic Preservation Fund. This year, both bills included significant increases for the HPF.
Preservation Action continues to advocate for the inclusion of historic preservation priorities in future COVID-19 relief and recovery legislation and urges robust funding for the HPF as the appropriation process continues.
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National Park Service Accepting Applications for the Save America's Treasures Grants
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The Historic Hall of Waters in Excelsior Springs, MO received a Save America's Treasures grant earlier this year. Photo Credit: National Trust for Historic Preservation.
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The National Park Service is currently accepting applications for $16 million in grants for the Save America's Treasures program. These grants are available to help preserve nationally significant historic properties and collections. Grants can be used for preservation and/or conservation work on historic districts, buildings, sites, and objects as well as collections, including artifacts, museum collections, documents, and works of art. The Save America's Treasures program was established in 1998 and since inception has awarded more than $315.7 million in grants to over 1,300 projects across the country. Funded through the Historic Preservation Fund, SAT grants are divided in to two separate applications, one for preservation grants and one for projects involving collections. Applications for the SAT preservation grants and SAT collections grants are due Jan. 26th. Apply today!
The National Park Service is also currently accepting applications for $15.5 million in grants the African American Civil Rights grant program, which documents, interprets, and preserves sites and stories related to the African American struggle to gain equal rights, and the new History of Equal Rights program, which preserves sites related to the struggle of all people to achieve equal rights in America. Applications for both of these programs are due by Dec. 15th.
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Legislation to Reestablish a State Historic Tax Credit in Michigan Passes Senate
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Downtown and Midtown Detroit, MI
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This week, Senate Bill 54, which would reinstate a historic tax credit program in Michigan, passed the state Senate, 32-5. This bill would establish a 25% historic tax credit, with a 10 year sunset provision. Michigan has been without a state historic tax credit program since the program was zeroed out in 2011. In October Michigan's Governor, Gretchen Whitmer, included $5 million for the program in the state budget, but that's contingent upon passage by the state legislature. The bill now moves to the Michigan House of Representatives.
Lawmakers in Michigan will be dealing with a short time frame to get this important legislation across the finish line, as the current session ends on Dec. 31st. The bill will need to be heard in the House Tax Policy Committee and on the House floor. Michiganders, now is the time to reach out to your state Representative and tell them to support SB 54 to reinstate Michigan's historic tax credit.
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Save the Date! National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week Returns Virtually March 8-11, 2021
Preservation Action, along with our partners at the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, is excited to announce National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week 2021 will be held virtually for the first time from March 8-11, 2021. Virtual Advocacy Week will feature in-depth virtual trainings, policy briefings, networking opportunities, virtual meetings with elected officials, and of course virtual hill visits, providing the opportunity to meet with your members of Congress and their staff directly. Save the Date!
While we'll miss being able to storm the Hill in-person with all of you, we're excited to have an even bigger impact with the potential of reaching more members of Congress and allowing more advocates to bring our message of preservation-positive legislation directly to lawmakers.
Preservation advocates we're fortunate to be one of the last groups on Capitol Hill last year, just before the pandemic brought everything to a halt. This year, will be a critical time for advocates to make their voices heard. A new Congress will be sworn-in in January, including dozens of new members, new committee leadership and membership, and new policy goals that could impact critical historic preservation protections and programs.
Stay tuned for registration information to be announced in the coming weeks. We'll also be reaching out to state coordinators to help schedule visits and organize your team. If you are interested in serving as a state coordinator, reach out to [email protected]. Help us spread the word by sharing the Save the Date with your networks!
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National News
Stories From the States
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