This week Rep. Mike Turner (D-OH), Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH), and Rep. Teresa Leger-Fernandez (D-NM) introduced the bipartisan Historic Preservation Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3350) in the House. This much-needed bill would reauthorize the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) for 10 years and increases the annual authorization from $150 million to $250 million.

With the HPF's current authorization set to expire on Sept. 30th, passage of this bill is critical. Without reauthorization, payments to the HPF would cease, undermining the importance of this funding. Additionally, the increased annual authorization for the HPF included in this is bill is long overdue. The HPF's authorization has not been increased since the program was established in 1976 and has since become the source of funding for multiple important grant programs. Notably, the last two appropriations bills approved by Congress have exceeded the HPF's authorization, underscoring the need for an increased authorization.

Preservation Action has been advocating for the need to reauthorize the HPF for the last two years. While we would like to see the HPF permanently and fully funded, this bill is a significant bipartisan compromise. We greatly appreciate the leadership of the Historic Preservation Caucus co-chairs, Reps. Turner and and Blumenauer and Reps. Carey and Leger-Fernandez for their continued support. We continue to work with champions in the Senate and are hopeful to have similar legislation introduced there soon.

Take Action!

Help us build support for this important bill by urging your Representative to cosponsor the Historic Preservation Reauthorization Act today! If you have a personal contact in your Representative's office contact that person directly. We've also made it easy for you to take action. Check out our action alert to learn more and easily edit and send a letter to your Representative. Also be sure to and share this alert with your networks!

The Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (H.R. 1785, S.639) continues to gain support and is already up to 20 cosponsors in the House and 8 cosponsors in the Senate. The HTC-GO Act was introduced in March by Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Senators Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). The bill includes four permanent provisions that would bring more value to Historic Tax Credit projects, improve access, make more projects eligible and encourage investment in smaller rehabilitation projects.

HTC advocates continue to look for opportunities to include this bill as part of a larger legislative vehicle. Currently, the House Ways and Means Committee are expected to mark-up a partisan economic package. While the scale of this package is still unknown, it could serve as a Republican marker for future year-end tax legislation. The more support we can demonstrate for the HTC-GO Act, the better the positioned these important provisions will be to be included as part of a larger package.

Our partners at the Historic Tax Credit Coalition are organizing their annual HTC Lobby Day on Wednesday, June 14th in Washington, D.C. The lobby day coincides with the IPED Historic Tax Credit Conference (June 15-16). Organizers are specifically interested in residents of AL, AZ, AR, CA, FL, ID, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MS, MO, MT, NE, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, SC, SD, TN, TX, WV, WI, and WY in attending. The HTC Coalition will set up meetings, provide materials, and provide a mid-morning breakfast and briefing on June 14th before afternoon Hill visits. Learn more about participating in the HTC Lobby Day!

Keep up your advocacy efforts- urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor the HTC-GO Act! Check out Preservation Action's action alert to learn more and easily reach out to your members today!

The National Park Service is now accepting applications for the History of Equal Rights grant program and the Underrepresented Communities grant program. Both of these grants are funded through the Historic Preservation Fund and are helping to preserve places that tell a more diverse and inclusive American story.

The History of Equal Rights grant program helps preserve sites related to the struggle to achieve equal rights in America. These grants are not limited to any specific group and are intended to include the broadest possible interpretation of eligible sites. This marks the 4th round of funding for the History of Equal Rights grant program, after being established by Congress in 2019. Currently $5 million is available in funding through the program. Applications are due July 11, 2023.

The Underrepresented Communities grant program aims to diversify the National Register of Historic Places by supporting the survey, inventory, or nomination of new sites or amending of previous listings to the National Register or as a National Historic Landmark, that help tell the stories of communities that are currently underrepresented. The Underrepresented Communities grant program was established in 2014 and since inception, has awarded over $6 million in grants to help diversify nominations to the National Register. Currently $1.25 million is available in funding through the program. Applications are due July 18, 2023.

Preservation Action continues to advocate for increased support for both of these important programs. Learn more about these opportunities and apply today!

Preservation Action held our 2023 Historic Preservation Month Congressional Briefing in person last week for the first time in three years. Thank you to all of our speakers, sponsors, and attendees for another successful briefing! 

We hosted the briefing alongside the Historic Preservation Congressional Caucus and featured panelists from the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers; National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers; National Trust for Historic Preservation; Historic Tax Credit Coalition; and PlaceEconomics. The goal of the briefing was to educate congressional staffers on the federal preservation program and key legislative issues impacting historic preservation. Speakers covered the economic benefits of historic preservation across the country, and saw examples of successful Historic Tax Credit & Historic Preservation Fund grant projects.

A special thank you to our event sponsor, Nixon Peabody, and all of our annual sponsors for making this briefing possible! A full recording of the briefing and handout materials from the briefing are available on our website.

National Park Service: "National Park Service Awards $9.7 million to Preserve America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities"

Indiana: "Indiana Governor Signs Bill Instituting State HTC"

Ohio: "New Federal Legislation Aims to Protect Historical Local Sites"

Colorado: "State Historical Fund Awards $535,980 to Preservation Projects Across Colorado"

Pennsylvania: "Policy Roundtable Explores Link Between Historical Preservation and Economic Development"