Senate Passes Bill to Fund LWCF and Address Maintenance Backlog on Public Lands; Congress Expects to Markup Appropriations Bills Soon; Urge Congress to Support Preservation Easements

Preservation Action, Legislative Update
Volume 23, Number 23, June 19, 2020

1. Senate Passes Legislation to Fully Fund the LWCF and Address the Maintenance Backlog on Public Lands

2. Congress Expected to Begin Markups of FY2021 Appropriations Bills

3. Action Alert: Urge Congress to Support Historic Preservation Easements

4. Stories From the States

Legislative Update: June 19, 2020 →

Preservation Action Releases Statement in Solidarity; Historic Preservation Easements Threatened by IRS Campaign; LWCF and Parks Bill Moves Closer to Final Passage in Senate; and Stories From Around the States

Preservation Action, Legislative Update
Volume 23, Number 22, June 12, 2020

1. Preservation Action Releases Statement in Solidarity as Protests Continue Across the Country

2. Action Alert: Urge Congress to Support Historic Preservation Easements

3. Senate Moves Closer to Final Passage on Bill to Fully Fund the LWCF and Address the Maintenance Backlog on Public Lands

4. Stories From the States

Legislative Update: June 12, 2020 →

Preservation Action/Preservation Action Foundation Statement on Solidarity

Preservation Action condemns racial injustices and strongly supports the demands to dismantle America’s culture of white supremacy. Above all, we are reminded that communities are first made of people, and only second of buildings and sites. We stand in solidarity with Black Americans across the country and denounce the systematic destruction of their properties, communities, and lives. 

Preservation Action is committed to working toward the goal of assuring that historic preservation policy and practice reflect and embrace all our people and the places that tell their stories. The federal historic preservation program, through the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, represents a collection of “official” historic narratives. As a subset of a larger system of power that is rife with inequities, our national preservation program has historically been complicit in the white-washing of history. However, preservation has evolved and must continue to grow as a force that celebrates, designates, and proudly recognizes Black history and the sites and stories of underrepresented communities. We know Black and minority sites are a small fraction of “official” narratives, but we also know many who are working hard to change that. As a professional field that operates at the intersection of memory, space, and identity, preservationists have the power to affect narratives, but also the advocacy power to affect policy and funding. That’s why we lobby for more federal appropriations towards historic preservation. With more, our grassroots members can do more. 

Preservation Action’s mission is to make historic preservation a national priority by advocating to all branches of the federal government for sound preservation policy and programs through a grassroots constituency empowered with information and training and through direct contact with elected representatives. Our partner 501(c)3 Preservation Action Foundation works to educate and inform the next generation of preservation advocates. Our platform gives us the unique opportunity to affect policy that redistributes resources to advance equity in placemaking and public memory. 

Starting back in March 2020 at National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week, our grassroots members and partners made an ask to Congress for a record level of funding for fiscal year 2021. This includes $20 million to the Civil Rights Initiative, $10 million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and $8 million to Underrepresented Communities to preserve the sites and stories associated with securing civil rights for all Americans, including women, American Latino, Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and LGBTQ Americans. In recent years, these funds have gone to maintain places like the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL; the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL; and Academic Hall at Hampton University in Hampton, VA. 

On an organization level, our national board of directors membership is and remains open. If you know of someone eager to make preservation more equitable, inclusive, and relevant,  please nominate them to join our board. We all benefit from more diverse voices and perspectives. We are listening and ready to act. 

We recognize that historic preservation is a small piece in social justice reform, but we hope you will join us in the important work of allocating resources for equity, rebuilding communities, and preserving the stories that are unfolding today. 

The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, the site of a racially motivated bombing in 1963, received FY16 funds for repairs as part of the National Park Service’s African American Civil Rights subgrants.
The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, the site of a racially motivated bombing in 1963, received FY16 funds for repairs as part of the National Park Service’s African American Civil Rights subgrants.
The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL, the site of the 1965 Civil Rights march, received HPF restoration funds in FY18 as part of the African American Civil Rights subgrants.
The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL, the site of the 1965 Civil Rights march, received HPF restoration funds in FY18 as part of the African American Civil Rights subgrants.
Academic Hall at Hampton University, in Hampton, VA received an HBCU grant for restoration of the building.
Academic Hall at Hampton University, in Hampton, VA received an HBCU grant for restoration of the building.

Great American Outdoors Introduced in House and Senate Vote Expected Next Week- Take Action; Trump Issues Executive Order Instructing Agencies to Bypass NEPA; IMLS Announces African American and Native American History Grants; and Stories From the States

Preservation Action, Legislative Update
Volume 23, Number 21, June 05, 2020

1. Legislation to Fully Fund the LWCF and Address National Park Backlog Introduced in the House

2. President Trump Issues Executive Order Instructing Agencies to Waive Environmental Reviews Like NEPA Citing Emergency

3. Institute of Museum and Library Services Announces Grants for African American and Native American Culture and History

4. Stories From the States

Legislative Update: June 05, 2020 →

Main Street America Urges Congressional Support for Main Streets; Treasury Releases Guidance on Historic Tax Credit; ACHP Forms Traditional Trades Training Task Force; and Stories From Around the States

Preservation Action, Legislative Update
Volume 23, Number 20, May 29, 2020

1. Main Street America Urges Congressional Support for Main Streets

2. Department of Treasury Releases Guidance on Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit

3. Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Announces Formation of Traditional Trades Training Task Force

4. Stories From the States

Legislative Update: May 29, 2020 →