Preservation Action Legislative Update
Legislative Update
Volume 25. Number 21
July 01, 2022
1. COMMITTEE PASSES INTERIOR BILL
2. NPS LAUNCHES ROSENWALD STUDY
3. MINNESOTA STATE HTC EXPIRES
4. STORIES FROM AROUND THE STATES
House Appropriations Committee Passes Interior Funding Bill, Sending to the Full House
This week the House Appropriations Committee held a hearing to consider the FY23 Interior Appropriations bill. This bill includes $170.825 million for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), just below the current the FY22 enacted level of $173.072 million, but $19 million over the President's request. Once again the bill notably exceeds the current authorized level of $150 million. Overall the bill calls for $3.6 billion for the National Park Service, an increase of $378 million over enacted levels. The full breakdown for the Historic Preservation Fund is below. 

  • $58.675 million for State Historic Preservation Offices ($1 million over FY22)
  • $23 million for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices ($7 million over FY22)
  • $26.5 million for Save America's Treasures grants (equal to FY22)
  • $10 million for competitive grants for HBCUs (equal to FY22)
  • $10 million for the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grants (equal to FY22)
  • $22 million for African-American Civil Rights Movement grants ($250,000 over FY22)
  • $4.75 million for the History of Equal Rights Grant Program ($125,000 over FY22)
  • $3 million for the Semiquincentennial grant program ($7 million below FY22)
  • $1.25 million for Underrepresented Communities grants (equal to FY22)
  • $11.65 million for Community Project Funding ($3.622 below FY22)

Additionally, the bill includes $8.585 million for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, a $330,000 increase over FY22. The bill also funds the Heritage Partnership Program at $29.232 million (a $2.088 million increase over FY22), which helps support National Heritage Areas. The bill's HPF funding included $11.65 million in congressionally directed spending (or Community Project Funding) for historic preservation projects. You can view a complete list of the proposed HPF projects here.

During the full committee hearing Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) spoke in support of the Historic Preservation Fund, specifically highlighting continued funding for the Civil Rights and Underrepresented Communities grants program and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities preservation grant program. Similarly, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) spoke in support of the Heritage Partnership program and the Civil Rights and Underrepresented Communities grants program during the hearing.

The House Appropriations Committee voted 32-24 to advance the bill, sending it to the full House for consideration. Preservation Action appreciates the Committee's strong support for the HPF, especially the inclusion of much needed increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs/THPOs). Preservation Action will continue to advocate for critical funding for the HPF as the appropriations process moves forward. Stay tuned for more!
National Park Service Seeks Input on Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald School Resource Study
The National Park Service announced it is currently seeking public input on a special resource study to consider the establishment of a Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Park. Congress passed legislation last year authorizing the Secretary of Interior to conduct a special resource study on the life and legacy of American businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald and his work with Booker T. Washington to establish Rosenwald schools throughout the segregated South.

The public is invited to submit comments from July 1 to July 31. Additionally, the National Park Service will also be hosting two virtual meetings on July 6 and 7 at 7pm EDT. The July 6 meeting will focus on 4 sites in Illinois associated with Julius Rosenwald's life and the July 7 meeting will focus on Rosenwald schools. The National Park Service will submit the study's findings to Congress for consideration. The special resource study is expected to run through early 2024.

Our partners at the Julius Rosenwald and Rosenwald Schools National Park Campaign are encouraging supporters to submit comments and attend the virtual meetings to express their support. Check out the National Park's press release to learn more!
Minnesota's State Historic Tax Credit Expires
Disappointing news out of Minnesota this week, where the state's very successful Historic Tax Credit program has expired. Minnesota's Historic Tax Credit (HTC) program, which provides a 20% tax credit toward qualified rehabilitation expenses, officially sunset on June 30th, leaving numerous projects across the state in limbo. Despite broad bipartisan support and legislation in both the state House and Senate, efforts to extend the program were caught up in debate on a larger tax bill. Lawmakers failed to approve a larger tax bill, included an extension of Minnesota's HTC, before the end of the legislative session.

Advocates are calling for lawmakers to reconvene for a special legislative session ASAP and renew Minnesota's incredibly successful Historic Tax Credit program.

Since Minnesota's Historic Tax Credit was established in 2010, more than 130 historic buildings have been rehabilitated and the economic impact has been substantial. State HTC projects have generated $5 billion in economic activity, supported 20,000 jobs and produced $1.9 billion in labor income. The program returns $11.30 in economic activity for every $1 in tax credits.

Check out our partners at RETHOS and RevitalizeMN to learn more and find out how you can take action!
National News
Stories From Around the States
Preservation Action is the only national non-profit dedicated exclusively to lobbying for the best preservation policies at the federal level. We seek to make historic preservation a national priority by advocating to all branches of government through a grassroots constituency empowered with information and training.