Virginia
VA-1
Leslie Mehta
Democrat
Historic Preservation Fund:
Do you support stable and robust funding for the Historic Preservation Fund?
Yes
Would you support efforts to reauthorize and increase the Historic Preservation Fund?
Yes
Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives:
Would you support efforts to modernize and enhance the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HTC) program?
Yes
Do you support the Federal Historic Preservation Easement program?
Yes
Historic Preservation Protections:
Would you support policies that ensure that the impact on historic and cultural resources continue to be considered as part of the federal project planning process?
Yes
Does historic preservation play an important role in your state/district? How so? Describe any personal connections to historic preservation or historic sites. Is there a specific historic place in your district that is important to you and your constituents?
Virginia has been so critical in American history, in both good and bad ways – supporting and being instrumental in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitutions and, unfortunately, as leaders in trying to maintain legal enslavement. We need to learn from our history and Virginia is a good place to start.
Colonial Williamsburg is in my district and they are a wonderful example of showing history in in its good and bad parts so people can learn.
VA-5
Gloria Tinsley Witt
Democrat
Historic Preservation Fund:
Do you support stable and robust funding for the Historic Preservation Fund?
Yes
Would you support efforts to reauthorize and increase the Historic Preservation Fund?
Yes
Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives:
Would you support efforts to modernize and enhance the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HTC) program?
Yes
Do you support the Federal Historic Preservation Easement program?
Yes
Historic Preservation Protections:
Would you support policies that ensure that the impact on historic and cultural resources continue to be considered as part of the federal project planning process?
Yes
Does historic preservation play an important role in your state/district? How so? Describe any personal connections to historic preservation or historic sites. Is there a specific historic place in your district that is important to you and your constituents?
Virginia’s 5th Congressional District contains numerous historic sites, including those listed on the National Register of Historic Places, i.e., Appomattox Court House National Historical Park that marks the end of the Civil War. Two homes our 3rd President, Thomas Jefferson (Monticello and Popular Forest), Anne Spencer’s Home & Garden, Moton School, Monacan Indian Nation a state-recognized tribe in Virginia) and many others.
VA-6
Ken Mitchell
Democrat
Historic Preservation Fund:
Do you support stable and robust funding for the Historic Preservation Fund?
Yes
Would you support efforts to reauthorize and increase the Historic Preservation Fund?
Yes
Having worked on a UNESCO World Heritage site I understand the need and value of the Historic Preservation Fund. This Fund is vital to the conservation of our history, maintenance of our culture, heritage and to our Nation and who we are as a people.
Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives:
Would you support efforts to modernize and enhance the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HTC) program?
Yes
Do you support the Federal Historic Preservation Easement program?
Yes
Historic Preservation Protections:
Would you support policies that ensure that the impact on historic and cultural resources continue to be considered as part of the federal project planning process?
Yes
Does historic preservation play an important role in your state/district? How so? Describe any personal connections to historic preservation or historic sites. Is there a specific historic place in your district that is important to you and your constituents?
My personal connections to historic preservation began in 2004 when I relocated to Charlottesville and started a business remodeling historic properties. Eventually, I became a Vice President of Buildings and Grounds for all facilities at the Thomas Jefferson Foundation- Monticello, including the Visitors Center, Tufton, Jefferson Library and the 2500 acres granted to Jefferson’s father. In this role, I led the modernization of Monticello’s infrastructure and the protection of this World Heritage Site. The Commonwealth of Virginia is also well known for its historic battlefields from both the American Revolution and the Civil War as well as its historic buildings, homes, schools and graveyards in particular for underrepresented communities.
VA-Senate
Tim Kaine
Democrat
Historic Preservation Fund:
Do you support stable and robust funding for the Historic Preservation Fund?
Yes
Would you support efforts to reauthorize and increase the Historic Preservation Fund?
Yes
The Historic Preservation fund plays a vital role in protecting Virginia’s rich and diverse history. Just last year, I helped secure $1,124,764 in Historic Preservation Fund Grants to help preserve historic sites in Yorktown, Fort Monroe, Hayes, and Lancaster. I will work to ensure the Historic Preservation Fund is adequately funded.
Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives:
Would you support efforts to modernize and enhance the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit (HTC) program?
Yes
The federal HTC is a proven economic engine, especially for reinvestment in rural communities. Communities across Virginia use to draw in new business, create jobs, and revitalize cities and towns. That’s why when Republicans attempted to eliminate the HT
Do you support the Federal Historic Preservation Easement program?
Yes
Historic Preservation Protections:
Would you support policies that ensure that the impact on historic and cultural resources continue to be considered as part of the federal project planning process?
Yes
One of my proudest accomplishments in the Senate was helping to secure federal recognition for seven tribes, enabling them to access critical resources for tribal citizens and their broader communities. We must work to guarantee that federally funded projects do not harm our tribal communities nor the historic and cultural resources that we have in Virginia and across the country.
Does historic preservation play an important role in your state/district? How so? Describe any personal connections to historic preservation or historic sites. Is there a specific historic place in your district that is important to you and your constituents?
Virginia is home to 123 National Historic Landmarks and 22 National Parks, several with historic significance. When I was Governor of Virginia, we set and achieved a goal of preserving over 400,000 acres of open land. Just last month, I helped secure $416,207 in federal funding for the restoration of the west steps of the Sir Christopher Wren Building at William & Mary in Williamsburg – the oldest college building still standing in the U.S. I was proud to support the America’s Great Outdoors Act, the largest investment in open space preservation in a generation. I’ve also successfully enacted legislation to expand Petersburg National Battlefield to better tell the story of the Siege of Petersburg, as well as legislation to create the 400 Years of African American History Commission to commemorate the 2019 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans to North America, in Point Comfort, Virginia. Moreover, as an avid outdoorsman, I have hiked the entire history-filled Virginia portion of the Appalachian Trail. Historic sites are a part of the fabric of our Commonwealth, and I will continue working to preserve them for generations to come.