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PRESERVATION ACTION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
VOLUME 24, NUMBER 28 AUGUST 27, 2021
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House Passes $3.5 Trillion Budget Resolution. Urge Support for Historic Tax Credit Enhancements
This week the House voted 220-212, on a party-line vote, to adopt the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation framework that previously passed the Senate. The adoption of the budget reconciliation sets up the consideration of a larger infrastructure package focused on more human and climate related infrastructure priorities, that could avoid a Senate filibuster, allowing it to pass with just Democrat votes. As part of an agreement between House leadership and a group of 10 moderate Democrats, the House made a commitment to take up the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure package by September 27th, just before the surface transportation authorizations are set to expire on October 1st. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act passed the Senate earlier this month and includes funding for physical infrastructure like roads, bridges, railways, airports, transit and broadband.
The adoption of the reconciliation budget means House committees will begin drafting their portions of the bill over the next few weeks. Committees have a September 15th deadline to have their portions of the reconciliation package ready for the Budget Committee. This presents a prime opportunity for preservation advocates to reach out to your members of Congress. We have a strong opportunity to include provisions from the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (HTC-GO) that expand and enhance the HTC, in the reconciliation package, but we need your help!
Take Action!
- Reach out to your Representative and Senators and urge them to support and cosponsor the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (H.R. 2294, S. 2266). If your Representative or Senators have already cosponsored, thank them!
- Urge your lawmakers to include the provisions of the HTC-GO in the budget reconciliation bill.
- Let them know how the HTC-GO Act will benefit historic rehabilitation projects in your community.
- If you have a contact in your members' office, reach out to them directly.
- Preservation Action has also made it easy for you to take action. Easily edit and send a sample letter to your Representative and Senators today!
Additional Resources
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Congress Faces Busy September and Limited Time to Complete the FY22 Appropriations Process
When lawmakers return from the August Recess in September, they will only have a few weeks to complete their FY22 Appropriations bills before the end of the fiscal year on September 30th. Last month the House passed H.R 4502, a minibus spending package which included the FY22 Interior Appropriations Bill. The Interior Appropriations bill passed by the House includes a record level $155.8 million for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), an $11.5 million increase over FY21 enacted levels and $4 million over President Biden's budget request. Like the President's request, the bill notably exceeds the current authorized level of $150 million, underscoring the strong support for the HPF and the need for an increased authorization. The bill includes much-needed increase for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and significant increases for important competitive grant programs like the African American Civil Rights grants, History of Equal Rights grants, and preservation grants for underrepresented communities.
Despite the progress made in the House to pass nine of their twelve appropriations bills before the August recess, the Senate has yet to take up their Interior appropriations bill. We're hopeful the Senate version of the Interior appropriations bill will also include similar increases for the HPF. Given the short timeline, we expect lawmakers to pass a continuing resolution (CR) by the end of September to avoid a potential government shutdown. Complicating matters, Congress will also need to raise the debt ceiling, which is expected to run out this fall. Lawmakers could try to temporarily suspend the debt ceiling by attaching it to the CR, further kicking the can down the road.
Preservation Action appreciates the strong support of the Historic Preservation Fund included in the House bill and urges the Senate to include similar increases. We'll continue to keep you posted with the latest on the appropriations process.
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Preservation Action Leading Webinar on Grassroots Advocacy for Historic Preservation
 As you're getting ready for this year's PastForward Virtual Conference, join Preservation Action for a free pre-conference webinar, Just Do It! Grassroots Advocacy for Preservation on September 14th at 2pm ET. This skill building workshop is part of a free series of sessions developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation ahead of the PastForward Conference to complement the conference's program.
Grassroots advocacy is changing the face of American politics and the direction of policy. Join Preservation Action to learn how stories, documentation, and outreach can be turned into action plans for preservation. Hear grassroots leaders share how they used unconventional tools and government funding to protect valuable community resources. Be inspired by their experiences to jump into action to advocate for your community. Speakers include Preservation Action's Board Chair, Briana Grosicki, Everett Fly with the San Antonio African American Community Archive and Museum, Laiken Jordahl with the Center for Biological Diversity, Renee Kuhlman with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Maya Thomas with the Dox Thrash House in Philadelphia.
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