From Preservation Action:

This week Preservation Action submitted testimony to the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee in support of the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and other preservation priorities, as they work on drafting the FY25 Interior Appropriations bill. Preservation Action is urging the Committee to support $225 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, including much-needed increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, as SHPOs and THPOs continue to face staffing challenges and increased workloads. The testimony also requests increases for important grants programs, many of which are helping to tell a more diverse and inclusive American story. This marks the same level of funding that we advocated for during National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week and same level requested through the House and Senate HPF Dear Colleague letters.

Our HPF request also highlighted the need to reauthorize the Historic Preservation Fund, which is set to expire in September after Congress included a one year authorization in the FY24 appropriations package, and emphasized our support for the Historic Preservation Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3350).

Additionally, Preservation Action requested $34 million for the Preservation Partnership Program, which supports National Heritage Areas (NHAs), $10.5 million for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and $3 million for the African American Burial Grounds Preservation Program, which was established by Congress in 2022 to identify, document, and preserve African American Burial Ground sites whose protection and documentation has too often been neglected or forgotten, but has yet to be funded.

The appropriations process was in full swing this week- Secretary of the Interior, Deb Halland, testified before the House Natural Resources Committee and the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. The House Appropriations Committee also began public witness hearings to hear testimony on behalf American Indian and Alaska Natives, including our partners at the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (NATHPO) who testified in support of $34 million for THPOs, overall funding for the HPF, and other priorities. 

As the appropriations process continues, Preservation Action will continue to advocate for much-needed funding that supports historic preservation. Check out our complete testimony to the House Appropriations Committee to learn more!

Read Testimony: https://preservationaction.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Preservation-Action-FY25-House-Interior-Appropriations-Testimony-Final.pdf