|
Dear National Preservation Partners Network Members and Supporters,
Our nation's historic preservation infrastructure faces a critical juncture that demands immediate and unified action from our preservation community. The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), the primary federal funding mechanism for supporting state and local preservation efforts, requires urgent Congressional attention for both current and future funding cycles.
The Current Crisis
The FY25 Historic Preservation Fund allocation remains unreleased by Congress, creating significant and immediate operational challenges for State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), and Certified Local Governments nationwide. This will ultimately negatively impact the communities your organization serves since this delay threatens ongoing preservation projects, archaeological surveys, National Register nominations, Federal Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit projects and critical preservation planning initiatives that protect our shared cultural heritage.
Simultaneously, as Congress prepares the FY26 budget, we face the sobering reality that the budget in its current form basically eliminates the Historic Preservation Fund by cutting $158 million. This is the most significant threat historic preservation has faced in over four decades. The elimination of the funding will devastate historic preservation efforts and programs across the country, from rural historic districts to urban redevelopment projects.
Why Your Voice Matters
The Historic Preservation Fund represents more than federal dollars—it embodies our national commitment to preserving the places that tell America's story. These funds support:
- State and Tribal Historic Preservation Programs that serve as the backbone of preservation efforts nationwide
- Certified Local Government grants that empower communities to protect their own historic resources
- National Register documentation that provides crucial legal protections and financial resources for significant properties
- Archaeological surveys and research that expand our understanding of America's deep history
- Preservation education and training that engages the public and builds the next generation of preservation professionals
Every dollar invested in historic preservation generates substantial economic returns through heritage tourism, job creation, Main Street revitalization and property value enhancement, while simultaneously strengthening community identity and cultural continuity.
Immediate Action Required
We need every member of the National Preservation Partners Network to contact their representatives in Congress immediately with two clear messages:
For FY25 HPF Funding Release:
Contact your senators and representatives to urge immediate release of already-appropriated FY25 Historic Preservation Fund dollars. These funds are critical for maintaining state and tribal preservation programs that protect resources in every Congressional district.
For FY26 HPF Full Funding:
Advocate for full funding of the Historic Preservation Fund in the FY26 budget process. The House of Representatives passed a budget that basically eliminates the HPF, but the Senate will now take up the matter, so there is still time to save this critical source of funding.
How to Take Action
In The Next Week:
- Call your representatives' offices - Phone calls carry significant weight with Congressional staff
- Send personalized letters or emails - Include specific examples of how HPF funding benefits your community or region
- Engage on social media - Use #PreservationMatters and #HistoricPreservationFund to amplify our message
- Mobilize your networks - Share this call to action with board members, volunteers, and community partners and ask them to contact their representatives in Congress.
Key Talking Points
- Historic preservation creates jobs and drives economic development
- HPF supports preservation activities and economic development in every state and territory
- Delayed funding disrupts ongoing projects and threatens historic sites
- Historic preservation strengthens communities and preserves America's heritage for future generations
Congressional Contact Information
Find your representatives' contact information at Congress.gov or call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121.
Sample Language for Your Outreach
"Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I'm a constituent from [Your City/State/Zip Code]. I’m [calling/emailing] to voice concern over the devastating $158 million in cuts to the Historic Preservation Fund in President Trump’s proposed FY 2026 budget and the impoundment of already-allocated FY25 funding.
The Historic Preservation Fund is independently funded from offshore gas and oil drilling leases, not taxpayer dollars. It is absolutely essential to our nation’s heritage, providing critical funding to all State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), and programs that preserve, document, and showcase America’s rich history and culture.
The Historic Preservation Fund protects the places that define us, from our treasured historic landmarks and cultural resources to our small-town Main Streets and dense urban centers.
The Historic Preservation Fund also helps:
- Generate billions of dollars in investment through historic building reuse, conversion, and adaptive reuse projects.
- Create thousands of affordable housing units each year, often at lower costs than new construction.
- Support critical public infrastructure projects.
- Increase in-demand, skilled labor jobs for Americans in areas like masonry, carpentry, and electrical work.
- Boost local economies through heritage tourism.
[*Optional* Insert example/story from your community of the positive impact of historic preservation / HPF]
I urge you to support full funding for the Historic Preservation Fund in the FY 2026 budget and to make FY 2025 HPF funds already appropriated by Congress available. Our nation’s heritage—and critical public infrastructure and local economies—depend on it. Thank you for your time."
Building Long-Term Support
Beyond this immediate crisis, we must strengthen ongoing Congressional relationships to ensure sustained support for historic preservation. Consider scheduling meetings with district staff during upcoming Congressional recesses, participating in preservation advocacy days, and building coalitions with economic development, housing and tourism organizations that benefit from historic preservation investments.
United We Preserve and Persevere
The strength of the preservation movement lies in our collective voice and shared commitment to protecting America's heritage. Every phone call, every letter, and every conversation with elected officials contributes to building the political support necessary for robust historic preservation funding.
Our historic places cannot advocate for themselves; they depend on us to be their voice in the halls of Congress. The time for action is now, before more funding delays and cuts threaten the critical preservation infrastructure we've spent decades building.
Thank you for your continued dedication to historic preservation and for taking action on this critical funding issue. Together, we can ensure that future generations inherit and benefit from the rich cultural landscape that defines America's unique identity.
Please share your advocacy activities and any responses from Congressional offices with us. Documenting our collective effort helps demonstrate the breadth of support for historic preservation funding and can inform future advocacy strategies.
You can share your advocacy efforts and let us know how we can help you by completing the NPPN Member Survey below.
| 
