This week the House Appropriations Committee voted 33-27 to advance their FY24 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The bill calls for drastic cuts across the board, including a $436.25 million or a 13% cut to the National Park Service. Critics estimate this cut could result in a loss of more than 1,000 park staff. The bill funds the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) at $175.4 million, which is $29.115 million below FY23 enacted levels or a nearly 17% cut. The cut reflects the elimination of the community project funding (or earmarks) for HPF projects, which included $29.115 million in funding last year. The bill includes level funding for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs/THPOs) and important grant programs supported by the HPF. A full breakdown is below.

• $62.15 million for State Historic Preservation Offices (equal to FY23 enacted)
• $23 million for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (equal to FY23 enacted)
• $26.5 million for Save America's Treasures (equal to FY23 enacted)
• $30.25 million for Competitive Subgrants, which includes African American Civil Rights, History of Equal Rights, and Underrepresented Communities grants (equal to FY23 enacted)
• $11 million for HBCU preservation grants (equal to FY23 enacted)
• $12.5 million for Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grants (equal to FY23 enacted)
• $10 million for the Semiquincentennial grant program (equal to FY23 enacted)

Total: $175.4 million ($29.155 million below FY23 enacted levels)

Additionally,, the bill funds the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation at $8.285 million, a $300,000 cut below FY23 levels. And funds the National Recreation and Preservation Account at $80 million, a $12.512 million cut below FY23 levels. That includes $30.331 million for the Heritage Partnership Program, which supports National Heritage Areas, a $1.099 million increase over FY23 levels. The American Battlefield Protection Program is level funded at $20 million.

While we are disappointed in the cut to the HPF, the program largely avoids some of the steeper cuts seen in other parts of the bill. That said, level funding would still be especially harmful for SHPOs and THPOs in the current economic climate, where they face increased costs, and additional responsibilities. Preservation Action submitted testimony in March requesting $225 million for the HPF, including much-needed support for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and important grant programs. A full committee hearing is scheduled for the Senate FY24 Interior Appropriations bill next week.

Preservation Action will continue to monitor the appropriations process. Stay tuned for more.

The National Park Service announced they are now accepting applications for $24 million in African American Civil Rights preservation grants. This program, funded through the Historic Preservation Fund, documents, interprets, and preserves sites and stories relate to the African American struggle to gain equal rights, from the transatlantic slave trade and onward.

This funding will be split into two different grant opportunities. One will support "history" grants for interpretive and research based projects, while "preservation" grants will support planning and brick and mortar preservation projects. Since established in 2016, the African American Civil Rights grant program has provided nearly $100 million in grants, supporting more than 300 projects across the country. Applications are October 10, 2023. Learn more and apply today!

The National Park Service announced they awarded $10 million in grants for the Semiquincentennial grant program. This marks the second round of funding for the grant program that was established by Congress in 2020 to commemorate the upcoming 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. The program is funded through the Historic Preservation Fund.

This round of Semiquincentennial Grants will support 20 cultural resources preservation projects in 14 states. This includes the rehabilitation of Viets' Tavern in East Granby, Connecticut and pre-preservation planning for Pictograph Cave State Park in Billings, MT.

Preservation Action supports this important grant program and is urging Congress to support $11 million in funding for FY24. Learn more about the Semiquncentennial grant program and check out the complete list of grant recipients.

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