Legislative Update
Volume 25. Number 25
August 05, 2022
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1. SENATE RELEASES INTERIOR BILL
2. APPLY FOR HPF GRANTS TODAY!
3. ACHP ANNOUNCE LEADER FELLOWSHIP
4. STORIES FROM AROUND THE STATES
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Senate Appropriations Committee Releases Their FY23 Interior Spending Bill |
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This week the Senate Appropriations Committee released the Chairman's mark of the Senate's 12 appropriations bills, including the FY23 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The spending bill funds the Historic Preservation Fund at a record, $191.9 million, a more than $18 million increase over FY22 enacted. This marks a significant increase, once again exceeds the current authorized level of $150 million. The bill includes much-needed increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, which will face an increased workload as the bipartisan infrastructure bill is implemented, and important increases to grant programs that are helping to tell a more diverse and inclusive American story. The spending bills were released by committee Chairman, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) without support from committee Republicans. Senate appropriators have yet to agree on top line spending numbers. The full breakdown for the Historic Preservation Fund is below.
- $61 million for State Historic Preservation Offices ($3.325 million over FY22)
- $21 million for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices ($5 million over FY22)
- $26.5 million for Save America's Treasures grants (equal to FY22)
- $11 million for competitive grants for HBCUs ($1 million over FY22)
- $12.5 million for Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grants ($2.5 million over FY22)
- $24 million for African-American Civil Rights grants ($2.25 million over FY22)
- $5 million for the History of Equal Rights Grant Program ($375,000 over FY22)
- $10 million for the Semiquincentennial grant program (equal to FY22)
- $1.25 million for Underrepresented Communities grants (equal to FY22)
- $19.654 million in Congressionally Directed Spending ($4.382 million over 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 $27.177 million (a $33,000 increase over FY22), which helps support National Heritage Areas. The bill's HPF funding included $19.654 million in congressionally directed spending on historic preservation fund projects. You can view a complete list of the proposed HPF projects here.
The House passed their FY23 Interior spending bill earlier this month, as part of a 6 bill minibus (H.R. 8294). The bill included $170.83 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, slightly below FY22 enacted levels. Preservation Action is urging lawmakers to support $200 million for the HPF and submitted testimony in June recommending these funding levels.
Given disagreements between Democrats and Republicans on top line spending numbers, lawmakers will likely need to pass a continuing resolution by Sept. 30th, extending current funding until after the midterm elections and setting up potential negotiations on an omnibus spending bill for the end of the year. Preservation Action will continue to monitor the appropriations process and urge Congress to support robust funding for the HPF.
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Grant Opportunities Open for African American Civil Rights Grants and Other HPF Grant Programs |
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Several competitive grant programs, funded through the Historic Preservation Fund, are currently accepting applications. Together these programs are helping to preserve the places and tell the stories of America's rich and diverse history. Learn more about each of the grant programs below and find out how you can apply!
African American Civil Rights Grants *Just Announced*
The National Park Service announced they are now accepting applications for $21.7 million in African American Civil Rights preservation grants. The program documents, interprets, and preserves sites and stories relate to the African American struggle to gain equal rights, from the transatlantic slave trade and onward. These grants fund a broad range of preservation projects including survey and inventory, National Register nominations, oral histories and more and do not require a funding match. Applications are due November 8th. Learn more and apply today!
History of Equal Rights Grants
The National Park Service is currently applications for $4.625 million in History of Equal Rights preservation grants. This marks the 3rd round of funding for the program after being established by Congress in 2019. The program preserves sites related to the struggle of people 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. Applications are due September 14th. Learn more and apply today!
Underrepresented Communities Grants
The Underrepresented Communities grant program supports surveys and inventories of historic properties associated with communities that are underrepresented in the National Register. So far the program has awarded nearly $3 million in grants to help diversify the National Register. Applications are currently being accepted for $1.25 million in Underrepresented Communities grants. Applications are due August 10, 2022. Learn more and apply today!
Preservation Action is urging Congress to support increased funding for all of these important grant programs in the current appropriations process.
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ACHP Foundation Announces New 21st Century Leaders Fellowship |
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The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and the ACHP Foundation have announced the new 21st Century Leaders Fellowship. A primary goal is to promote diversity in historic preservation leadership. This immersive fellowship opportunity will provide an opportunity for early-career preservation professionals to work in the development and execution of public preservation policy at the national level. Fellows will interact with policy-makers in the governmental and private sector, both non-profit, and for profit to explore how national preservation policies and programs are created and carried out. They will develop new networks within a dynamic professional environment, and acquire skills to prepare the Fellow for a leadership role in historic preservation.
The initial fellowship will commence in January, 2023 and run 6-9 months on-site in Washington, D.C. Applications are being accepted now through September 15th. Learn more and apply today!
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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.
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