This week Preservation Action joined several preservation partners in sending a letter to Senate and House appropriators urging support of $191 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, the same level outlined in the Senate Chairman's markup, to include as part of a potential year-end omnibus appropriations bill. This funding would include much needed increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and important grant programs, many of which that are helping to tell a more diverse American story. Congress is currently negotiating a potential year-end Omnibus appropriations bill for FY 2023. We are currently operating under a Continuing Resolution that is set to expire on Dec. 16th. If lawmakers fail reach an agreement on a year-end spending bill, they could pass another CR, which would continue current funding levels.

Thanks in large part to preservation advocates, the Historic Preservation Fund has seen record funding for the last 6 consecutive years, including $173.072 million in FY22. While this funding has had a substantial impact on preservation work across the country, additional appropriations are needed to make up for years of chronic underfunding and to effectively tell and preserve the full American story.

Preservation Action will continue to urge Congress to support robust funding for historic preservation priorities during the appropriations process.

Following the last month's midterm elections and subsequent party elections, the upcoming 118th Congress is starting to take shape. Republicans clinched control of the House, but with a very slim majority, while Democrats have retained narrow control of the Senate either 50-50 or 51-49, depending on the results Georgia's runoff election. This means we will be entering a period of divided government in Washington. Republicans have elected Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) as their Majority Leader. However, given their party's razor thin majority, it's uncertain if he can garner enough support to be voted Speaker of the House. On the Democratic side, current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced she would be stepping down after a historic 20 years as the leader of the Democratic party. This cleared the way for a new crop of Democrats to assume the party's leadership positions, led by Rep. Hakeem Jefferies (D-NY) was elected to be the Democrats Minority Leader. On the Senate side, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will continue as Majority Leader and Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) will continue as Minority Leader.

Important committee assignments will be decided in the coming weeks. Preservation Action will be closely following committees relevant to historic preservation priorities. On the House side, Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) will Chair the House Appropriations Committee and Rep. David Joyce (R-OH) will lead the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees funding for the National Park Service and the Historic Preservation Fund. Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) will lead the House Natural Resources Committee with Rep. Russ Fulcher (R-ID) leading the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee, which oversees public lands legislation and authorization of the Historic Preservation Fund. There's less certainty over who will lead the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax policy, including the ever important Historic Tax Credit. Current Chairman, Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), is expected to be Ranking Member, while there is a three way race for Chairman between Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), and Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO).

On the Senate side, Chair of Appropriations Committee and longtime champion of historic preservation Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is retiring, along with current Ranking Member Sen. Richard Shelby (R-TN). The new Chair is expected to be Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) is expected to be the new Ranking Member. In other key Senate Committees, like the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, we expect leadership to stay the same.

While divided government is known for gridlock, there will still be opportunities for legislation to move. We also benefit from historic preservation being strongly bipartisan. Additionally, there will be at least 83 new members of Congress sworn-in January, educating these members on federal historic preservation policies and programs will be absolutely critical. Preservation Action already started this process through our Congressional Candidate Survey. You can review the results of the survey here. Stay tuned for more.

Legislation to permanently protect the area around the Chaco Cultural Heritage National Historical Park in New Mexico has been reintroduced. Led by Sen. Ben Ray Lugan (D-NM) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) in the Senate, and Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM) and Rep. Melanie Ann Stansbury (D-NM) in the House, this Chaco Culture Heritage Area Protection Act (H.R. 9344, S. 5124) would permanently protect a 10 mile area around Chaco Culture National Historical Park from future oil and gas leasing and mineral development.

Chaco Canyon and the surrounding landscape contains irreplaceable ancestral sites and cultural patrimony from the Chacoan culture, like ceremonial buildings and distinctive great houses, and was designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. Earlier this year, the Biden Administration moved forward with a twenty year moratorium on development in the 10 mile buffer zone surrounding the park. A previous version of the bill passed the House in 2021.

Preservation Action fully supports this important legislation and appreciates the leadership of the New Mexico congressional delegation. Urgent action is needed to permanently protect this incredible landscape from encroaching development. Join us in encouraging your members of Congress to support this important bill!

Bob Vila: "How to Get your Old House on the National Register of Historic Places"

Campaign for Historic Trades: "The Campaign for Historic Trades Releases First-of-it's Kind Labor Study on the Status of Historic Trades in America"

Tennessee: "Let's Harness Our Heritage to Revitalize Tennessee Main Streets and Communities"

West Virginia: "Wheeling Heritage Awards $375,000 to Historic Preservation Projects in Wheeling"

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