In 2017 Preservation Action completed two surveys, our biannual Grassroots Survey and a Strategic Issues Survey. The Grassroots Survey was designed to reach a wider “general public” audience. The Strategic Issues Survey was designed to specifically reach preservation advocates.
Legislative Priorities
1. Federal Tax Incentives for Historic Preservation
Federal Historic Tax Credit
In 2017 the Federal Historic Tax Credit faced that severe threat of elimination, unsurprisingly the majority of respondents identified the HTC as the top legislative priority. The HTC was ultimately saved and now efforts are underway to strengthen and improve the HTC. The bipartisan Historic Tax Growth and Opportunity Act would make several changes to restore value to the credit last during tax reform and changes to expand and enhance the credit. We support these improvements and additions to tax incentives for historic preservation that create jobs, leverage private investment, bring economic development to communities AND save our American heritage.
2. Funding Federal Historic Preservation Programs
Historic Preservation Fund: Funding for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers
Preservation Officers carry out many of the responsibilities of the National Historic Preservation Act including administering the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit (Historic Tax Credit) program, conducting state and local inventories and surveys, and providing Certified Local Government programs with assistance and funding. Tribal Preservation Officers carry out many of the same responsibilities of there State counterparts but on Tribal lands.
Historic Preservation Fund: Funding for Preservation Competitive Grants Programs
Preservation Action supports the federal competitive grants programs, funded through the Historic Preservation Fund, that preserve irreplaceable historic resources and help to tell a more complete story of America. These programs include the Civil Rights Preservation grant program, the Save America’s Treasures grant program, the Historically Black Colleges and Universities preservation grant program, the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grant program, and the Underrepresented Communities grant program
3. Education: Improving the Visibility and Effectiveness of the Federal Preservation Program
Implementation of the Recommendations Issued in 2011 For the Improvement of the Federal Preservation Program
In 2012, the Federal Historic Preservation Program Task Force, convened by Preservation Action, released a set of recommendations for improving components of the federal historic preservation program. We seek to implement these recommendations.
Read “Aligned for Success” the Final Report by the Task Force →
4. Climate Impacts: Planning, Preparedness, Disaster Response, Flood Insurance
In 2017 Preservation Action launched the Changing Climate Committee.
5. Regulatory Reform: Infrastructure and Other Federal Programs
Over the last few years we’ve seen numerous harmful regulatory proposals that aim to weaken or “streamline” review processes. This includes proposed changes to the National Register of Historic Places that would dramatically impact how properties re nominated to the National Register and determined eligible and proposed changes to the National Environmental Protection Act that would limit public involvement and weaken requirements to consider indirect impacts of a federal project. Efficiencies are one thing – bypassing national preservation laws or making uninformed decisions based upon inadequate review is another. We must continue to pay attention!
Grassroots Survey Results
Q1. Should the preservation of historic buildings be a priority in your community? Please rate on how important.
- Extremely Important – 63.11%
- Very Important – 30.1%
- Moderately Important – 5.83%
- Slightly Important – 0.9%
Q2. Which of the following is most important for the historic preservation community:
- Financial Incentives for Historic Preservation – 33.98%
- Saving Monuments, Landmark Buildings and Sites – 21.36%
- Education and Storytelling of What Makes Those Sites Valuable – 25.24%
- Technical Assistance or Knowledge Training About Rehabilitation – 8.74%
- Other – 10.68%
2017 Grassroots Survey and Strategic Issues Survey Results