As we wrap up National Historic Preservation Month, we wish everyone a great Memorial Day weekend! Preservation Month has been a busy one for Preservation Action. Earlier this month we held our annual in-person Preservation Month Congressional Briefing. Partnering with the Historic Preservation Caucus, we hosted an educational briefing for congressional staff featuring leading experts in historic preservation policy on the federal historic preservation program and current legislative efforts impacting preservation. You can review our handout materials and watch a recording of the briefing here!

Last month the Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and future tax reform efforts. Preservation Action used the opportunity to submit written testimony urging the Committee to support much-needed changes to improve and modernize the Historic Tax Credit as part of any future tax reform efforts. Additionally, the appropriations process has been in full swing the last few weeks. Preservation Action worked with congressional champions in the House and Senate to urge support for the FY25 Historic Preservation Fund Dear Colleague Letters. We also submitted written testimony to the House and Senate Appropriations Committee in support of much-needed funding for the HPF and other key historic preservation programs. Learn more about our testimony and letters here.

Looking ahead, we kicked off planning for the Preservation Action Foundation Fundraiser and Auction during the PastForward Conference in New Orleans, and continued working with our partners at the NCSHPO on planning Advocacy Week 2025!

Many thanks for the continued support of our members, sponsors and donors who make our work possible! If you are not already, we invite you to celebrate Preservation Month and and help mark our milestone 50th anniversary, by becoming a member of Preservation Action today!

Your support empowers us to continue fighting for the best preservation-friendly policies at the federal level. Celebrate Preservation Action's legacy and help us pave the way for the next 50 years of preservation advocacy!

This week Preservation Action submitted testimony to the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee in support of the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and other preservation priorities, as they work on drafting the FY25 Interior Appropriations bill. Preservation Action is urging the Committee to support $225 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, including much-needed increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, as SHPOs and THPOs continue to face staffing challenges and increased workloads. The testimony also requests increases for important grants programs, many of which are helping to tell a more diverse and inclusive American story. This marks the same level of funding that we advocated for during National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week and same level requested through the House and Sente HPF Dear Colleague letters. Our testimony also highlighted the need to reauthorize the HPF, which is set to expire in September, and emphasized our support for the Historic Preservation Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3350).

Additionally, we requested $34 million for the Preservation Partnership Program, which supports National Heritage Areas (NHAs), $10.5 million for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and $3 million for the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program, which was established by Congress in 2022, but has yet to be funded.

As the appropriations process continues, National Park Service Director, Chuck Sams, testified before the House Natural Resources Committee in support of the President's budget request. In his testimony Director Sams noted support for HPF appropriations, highlighting the separate line item for $2.5 million for Tribal Heritage Grants. The testimony also highlights the support for $3 million in funding for the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program.

As the appropriations process continues, Preservation Action will continue to advocate for much-needed funding that supports historic preservation. Check out our complete testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee to learn more!

The National Park Service is currently accepting applications for $5 million in History of Equal Rights grants. Funded through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), this grant program helps preserve sites related to the struggle to achieve equal rights for all Americans. These grants are not limited to any specific group and are intended to include the broadest possible interpretation of eligible sites. This marks the 5th round of funding for the History of Equal Rights grant program, after being established by Congress in 2019.

Grants support planning and "bricks and mortar" preservation projects and are funded through a competitive process. Grants are open to states, tribes, local governments (including Certified Local Governments), educational institutions and nonprofits. Applications are due August 20, 2024.

This important grant program is helping to preserve sites and stories that tell a more complete story of America. Preservation Action is urging lawmakers to support $7 million in funding for the History of Equal Rights grant program in the FY 25 appropriations process.

As the national grassroots advocacy and lobbying organization for historic preservation, it's important to us that we hear from YOU, the grassroots preservation community. 

No matter your membership status, we would love for you to take a couple of minutes (really, it takes maybe 2!) to tell us what's important to you in your work as well as share your input on Preservation Action. 

You don't need to share your name or any identifying information.  The deadline for responses is June 7th.

Historic Hotels of America: "The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Best of Adaptive Reuse List is Announced"

Missouri: "The Bipartisan Tweak to State Law That Could Jumpstart Downtown St. Louis"

South Dakota: "The Economic Benefits of Saving Historic Buildings"

West Virginia: "Preservation Alliance Announces Eight Grant Award Recipients"

Maryland: "Van Hollen, Cardin, Mfume Celebrate Nealy $2 Million in Direct Federal Investments for Historic Preservation Projects in West Baltimore"