Several websites are reporting that Grand Tetons National Park Superintendent, David Vela, is rumored to be President Trump's nomination for Director of the National Park Service. While no official announcement has been made from the White House, several reports are saying that President Trump plans submit his name for nomination. The National Park Service has been without a permanent director since former Director Jon Jarvis retired at the end of President Obama's term in January of 2017. Currently Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith is serving as acting director. 

If nominated, David Vela would still need to be confirmed by the Senate. Vela, who is from Texas, first started working for the National Park Service in 1981 at the San Antonio Missions Historical Park . He''s worked in several positions in the National Park Service including Superintendent of the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historic Park, Regional Director of the NPS Southeast Region and in a senior position at the National Park Service headquarters in Washington, DC. If nominated and confirmed Vela would also be the first Hispanic NPS Director.

Senators Introduce "Compromise" Bill to Address Deferred Maintenance Backlog at the National Park Service

Last week a bipartisan group of Senators introduced the Restore Our Parks Act to address the nearly $12 billion deferred maintenance backlog at the National Park Service (NPS). This legislation is a compromise bill between the previously introduced National Park Service Legacy Act and the Administration supported National Park Service Restoration Act. The Restore Our Parks Act includes aspects of both bills and calls for the creation of the "National Park Service Legacy Restoration Fund" to address the maintenance backlog. This dedicated fund would receive revenue from existing on and off shore energy development that isn't already allocated for other purposes, providing up $6.5 billion over the next 5 years.

The bill was introduced by Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Angus King (I-ME). Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke, praised the introduction of the Restore Our Parks Act:

"Since my confirmation hearing, I've been adamant that we must address the nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog in our National Parks. I'm happy to see Senators Portman, Warner, King and Alexander teamed up to craft a very strong and historic bill to rebuild our national parks," said Secretary Zinke

The bill is also supported by the National Parks Conservation Association. Preservation Action will continue to monitor legislation to address the NPS deferred maintenance backlog as they move through Congress.

UNESCO World Heritage Committee Inscribes 19 New World Heritage Sites

At the annual meeting of the World Heritage Committee in Bahrain, the Committee inscribed 19 new World Heritage Sites from around the world. The list of newly inscribed sites includes 13 cultural sites, 3 natural sites, and 3 mixed (cultural and natural) sites. The Committee also approved the extension of one site, the Bikin River Valley in Russia. This brings the total number of inscribed sites to 1,092, with sites in 167 countries.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) seeks to encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world considered to be of outstanding value to humanity. To carry out that mission, the World Heritage Committee meets every year to discuss the management of World Heritage Sites and accept nominations of World Heritage Sites. The next session will be in Baku, Azerbaijan. Currently the United States has 23 World Heritage Sites. Most recently, the San Antonio Missions were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2015.

Newly Inscribed World Heritage Sites

Preservation Action Foundation's annual auction last year in Chicago, IL.

Registration is now open for Past Forward 2018, the National Preservation Conference hosted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This year's conference will be held Nov. 13-16 in San Francisco. Register today!

As you are making your travel plans, be sure to save the date for the annual Preservation Action Foundation After Party and Auction on November 14, 2018 at the California Historical Society in San Francisco, immediately following the opening reception of the conference! The annual auction has long been a highlight for Preservation Action Foundation and of the National Preservation Conference.   Last year's auction in Chicago was a huge success and were excited to top that this year! 

This is our largest fundraiser of the year and the proceeds from this event are used to assist the education and training, advocacy, and programs of the Preservation Action Foundation.  We are currently seeking donations of auction items like hotel stays, tours of historic sites and other unique experiences. This is a great way to highlight your organization and city/state to an active and interested group of people. Check out our website for more information and stay tuned as we'll be adding more information in the coming weeks.