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PRESERVATION ACTION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
VOLUME 23, NUMBER 39 DECEMBER 11, 2020
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Lawmakers Pass 1 Week Continuing Resolution as Negotiations on COVID-19 Relief and Spending Legislation Continues
 This week, Congress passed a 1 week continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through Dec. 18th, sending it the President's desk for his signature. This continues current funding levels for one week and gives lawmakers more time to reach a deal on a potential year-end FY21 spending deal. Congressional leaders have reached an agreement on an overall spending level of $1.4 trillion and are currently working to resolve differences between the 12 individual spending bills. This is includes the House and Senate FY21 Interior Appropriations bills, which funds several historic preservation priorities like the Historic Preservation Fund. This year, both bills included significant increases for the HPF.
Lawmakers are looking to combine a year-end spending bill with COVID-19 relief legislation. A bipartisan group of centrist lawmakers proposed a $908 billion compromise COVID-19 relief bill, but differences remain over funding for state, local and tribal governments and provisions to provide coronavirus-related liability protection to businesses.
Preservation Action continues to advocate for the inclusion of historic preservation priorities in future COVID-19 relief and recovery legislation and urges robust funding for the HPF as the appropriation process continues.
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Preservation Action Expresses Objections to Proposed Rule Changes to the National Register of Historic Places
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|  | | Over the Rhine Historic District in Cincinnati, OH | |
This week Preservation Action met with the Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs to express our concerns about the proposed rule changes to the National Register of Historic Places. The National Park Service is moving closer to finalizing rule changes to the National Register of Historic Places that will have a significant impact on how properties are nominated to the National Register and determined eligible, despite significant opposition. During the meeting Preservation Action objected to several rule changes including provisions that would essentially give federal agencies a veto power over National Register and historic district nominations, as well as changes that would allow large landowners to have an outweighed ability to block historic district nominations. We were pleased to be joined by Frank Quinn with Heritage Ohio who spoke about how these changes would impact local projects and main streets across Ohio.
The National Park Service first proposed these rule changes to the National Register in early 2019 and the preservation community responded with an outpouring of comments expressing their concern. In total over 3,000 comments were submitted, the vast majority opposing the changes. Preservation Action submitted comments, specifically highlighting 7 ways the proposed revisions would impact local communities, and encouraged others to submit comments as well.
The rulemaking is currently under it's final review by the Office of Information & Regulatory Affairs (OLIRA) at the White House's Office of Management and Budget. A final rule could be issued as early as January. There's still time for interested parties to request a meeting with OLIRA to discuss concerns about the National Register rulemaking during this final review stage. Submit your meeting request today and reference RIN 1024-AE49.
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Application Deadline Extended for Civil Rights Preservation Grant Programs
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The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL was the recipient of an African American Civil Rights grant,
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The National Park Service is extending the application deadline for $15.5 million in grants for the African American Civil Rights grant program, which documents, interprets, and preserves sites and stories relate to the African American struggle to gain equal rights. Beginning this year, the program is no longer limited to just 20th century related sites. The National Park Service is also extending the application deadline for $2.5 million in grants for the new History of Equal Rights program. The program preserves sites related to the struggle of all people to achieve equal rights in America. This marks the first year of the program that was established as part of the FY20 Omnibus spending bill that passed last year. Both are funded through the Historic Preservation Fund. Applications for these programs are now due by Jan. 12, 2021.
The National Park Service is also currently accepting applications for $16 million in grants for the Save America's Treasures program. These grants are available to help preserve nationally significant historic properties and collections. Applications for the SAT preservation and collection grants are due Jan. 26, 2021.
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Save the Date! National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week Returns Virtually March 8-11, 2021
Preservation Action, along with our partners at the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, is excited to announce National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week 2021 will be held virtually for the first time from March 8-11, 2021. Virtual Advocacy Week will feature in-depth virtual trainings, policy briefings, networking opportunities, virtual meetings with elected officials, and of course virtual hill visits, providing the opportunity to meet with your members of Congress and their staff directly. Save the Date!
While we'll miss being able to storm the Hill in-person with all of you, we're excited to have an even bigger impact with the potential of reaching more members of Congress and allowing more advocates to bring our message of preservation-positive legislation directly to lawmakers.
Preservation advocates we're fortunate to be one of the last groups on Capitol Hill last year, just before the pandemic brought everything to a halt. This year, will be a critical time for advocates to make their voices heard. A new Congress will be sworn-in in January, including dozens of new members, new committee leadership and membership, and new policy goals that could impact critical historic preservation protections and programs.
Stay tuned for registration information to be announced in the coming weeks. We'll also be reaching out to state coordinators to help schedule visits and organize your team. If you are interested in serving as a state coordinator, reach out to [email protected]. Help us spread the word by sharing the Save the Date with your networks!
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National News
Stories From the States
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