PRESERVATION ACTION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
 



LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
VOLUME 23, NUMBER 13
APRIL 10, 2020

ACHP Announces Blanket Extension of Emergency Section 106 Procedure on Projects Related to the Coronavirus Response

Last week the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) issued a blanket extension of the emergency Section 106 procedure until May 29, 2020. The extension only applies to federal undertakings that respond to the COVID-19 emergency and disaster declarations. 

Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) requires federal agencies to take into account how a federal undertaking may affect historic properties. Federal agencies are required to consult with State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs/THPOs) and provide the ACHP a reasonable time to comment. Section 106 includes mechanisms that allow for an expedited review process for projects that respond to national emergencies, while still considering potential impacts to historic properties. Under this procedure federal agencies notify SHPOs, THPOs, the ACHP and others about emergency undertakings and provide a seven day time-frame for advisory comments.

To learn more about the extension and Section 106 emergency procedures, check out the news release from the ACHP.
Urge Congress to Support the Museum Community as Part of Coronavirus Relief Efforts 

The American Association of State and Local History (AASLH) along with the American Alliance of Museums is urging advocates to reach out to Congress and ask them to provide much needed, critical support to the museum community as part of additional economic and recovery relief efforts in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The CARES Act, which passed two weeks ago, included support for the museum community. The bill included $75 million each for the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts, $50 million in grants for the Museum and Library Services, as well as making sure that nonprofit organizations and museums were included in Small Business Loan program. As the economic fallout from coronavirus continues, more is needed. Legislators need to hear from the museum community and especially state and local history museums.

Take Action

Contact your Representatives and Senators and let them know what the museum community is facing and urge them to provide much needed support for museums. Learn more and reach out to your legislators today!
National Park Service Announces $14 million in HPF Grants to Preserve African American Civil Rights

16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL.
This week the National Park Service announced $14 million for the African American Civil Rights grant program. These funds were appropriated by Congress in 2019 through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and marks the 4th year of funding for the program.The grants support 51 projects across 20 states and the District of Columbia, including the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, the historic Hamtramck Stadium in Detroit, MI, one of the last remaining Negro Baseball League stadiums, and a project to increase understanding and awareness of the 1908 Springfield Race Riot in Spingfield, IL, just to name a few.

"These grants will fund important projects that document, interpret, and preserve sites that tell the stories of the African American experience in the pursuit of civil rights," said National Park Service Acting Director David Vela. "Thanks to the coordination of public and private partners, these projects will help connect Americans to historic places that preserve American history."

Preservation Action and our grassroots membership advocated for increased funding for this important program during National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week. We're urging Congress to fully fund the Historic Preservation Fund and requesting $20 million for the African American Civil Rights grant program. Check out Preservation Action's FY21 House Interior Appropriations Testimony to learn more.
Thanks for Another Successful Preservation Advocacy Week

National Park Service Acting Director David Vela speaking at Advocacy Week 2020
Preservation Action along with our partners at the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers just concluded National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week in Washington, DC earlier this month. Despite contending with a unique set of circumstances we're happy to report that Advocacy Week was still a huge success. Thank you to everyone that helped make Advocacy Week 2020 possible.

The gathered group of preservation advocates were fortunate to hear from national preservation leaders and policy experts on the current legislative landscape and insight on conducting successful congressional visits. We were also honored to be joined by Acting Director of the National Park Service, David Vela , Chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee,  Rep. Raul Grijalva  (D-AZ) and Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY), who shared their unique perspectives on why historic preservation is important and how we could all be better preservation advocates.

The next day advocates from across the country took to the Hill and met with their members of congress in support of historic preservation priorities. In the evening, Preservation Action hosted the Champions of Historic Preservation Congressional Reception, where we thanked select members of Congress for their strong support and leadership on historic preservation.

Hill Report Forms/Follow Up

Please submit your Advocacy Week Hill Report Forms. Knowing how your meetings went is critical for our continued advocacy. You can complete your report form online or return completed forms to [email protected].


A s preservationists return to the their home states as Hill veterans, remember to follow-up from your congressional visits. 

We also encourage attendees to share your thoughts on Advocacy Week by completing the 2020 Advocacy Week Survey.


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.