As the end of the month draws closer and Congress continues work on a Continuing Resolution to avert a government shutdown, members of Congress need to hear from preservation advocates. Without congressional action the Historic Preservation Fund's authorization is set to lapse on September 30th. We need your help!
Reach out to your members of Congress and urge them to support efforts to reauthorize the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF)!
The Historic Preservation Fund is the principal funding source to implement the the nation's historic preservation programs. The program is funded through oil and gas lease revenue, not taxpayer dollars. For more than 45 years, the HPF has empowered states and local entities to preserve the buildings and sites that tell their community's stories. The HPF supports State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices in carrying out their federally mandated duties to protect historic resources and evaluate the impact of federal projects on them. The HPF also supports a number of critically important competitive grant programs that are helping to revitalize communities and preserve places that tell a more diverse and inclusive American story.
Reauthorization is imperative to the ongoing success of the HPF program.
The bipartisan Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3350) would reauthorize the HPF for 10 years and increase the program's current authorization from $150 million to $250 million. Despite growing workloads for SHPOs and THPOs and the expansion of HPF-funded competitive grant programs, the HPF's authorization has never been increased. Increased authorization is needed to provide long-term stability.
In addition to H.R. 3350, the recent FY24 Senate Interior Appropriations bill included a one year authorization for the HPF. While a longer-term and increased authorization is needed, including a short-term authorization as part of a Continuing Resolution or other legislative vehicle would provide a temporary fix and avoid a lapse in deposits to the HPF.
Take Action!
Urge your members of Congress to support the HPF Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3350) and look for ways to include HPF authorization as part of a Continuing Resolution or other legislative vehicle.
Preservation Action has made it easy for you take action. Check out our action alert to learn more and easily send a letter to your members of Congress TODAY!
Take Action: https://preservationaction.org/reauthorize-hpf
Posted: September 28, 2023
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author and not necessarily the opinion of the editors of PreservationDirectory.com.
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