PRESERVATION ACTION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
 


LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
VOLUME 24, NUMBER 10
MARCH 26, 2021
Apply for Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants. Deadline for HBCU and Underrepresented Communities Grants is Next Week

The National Park Service is currently accepting applications for $7.5 million for the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants program. The program supports the rehabilitation of historic properties and helps to foster economic development in rural communities across the country by providing subgrants to rural communities. The program was established in 2018 and has supported projects across the country.

Properties must be listed on the National Register of Historic Places or determined eligible for national, state and local significance, and located within a rural community. States, Tribes, Certified Local Governments, and non-profits can apply for funding that will in turn be subgranted to rural communities in their jurisdictions. The deadline for applications is May 12, 2021. Apply today!


Deadline for HBCU and Underrepresented Communities Preservation Grants is Next Week

Applications are also being accepting for other Historic Preservation Fund grant programs. The National Park service is currently accepting applications for $10 million in funding for the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Preservation Grant Program. This program helps preserve historic structures on HBCU campuses. The National Park Service is also accepting applications for $750,000 in funding for the Underrepresented Communities Grant Program. This program aims to diversify the National Register of Historic Places by supporting the survey, inventory, or nomination of new sites or amending of previous listings to the National Register or as a National Historic Landmark, that help tell the stories of communities that are currently underrepresented. Applications  for the HBCU preservation grants and applications for the underrepresented communities grants are both due March 31st.
 
Preservation Action supports these critically important grant programs and is urging Congress to support increased and full funding for these programs. Join us by urging your Representative to sign-on to the FY22 Historic Preservation Fund Dear Colleague Letter today. Take Action!
Legislation Encouraging Redevelopment of Old Buildings Near Public Transportation Introduced

Earlier this month the REHAB Act-Revitalizing Economies, Housing, And Businesses Act (H.R 1483) was introduced in the House. This legislation encourages investment in downtowns and other walkable areas by creating a federal tax incentive for redeveloping old (but non-historic) buildings near public transportation. The bill would provide a 15% credit for the rehabilitation of non-historic buildings that are at-least 50 years old and located within 1/2 mile of existing or planned public transportation facility. The bill provides an additional 10% credit (25% total) for projects that provide new units of attainable housing and/or invests in public infrastructure, like better bus stops, sidewalks, street lighting, etc.

The bill was introduced by the co-chair of the Historic Preservation Caucus, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA), Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA), and Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) and referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. Supporters hope to include the bill as part of any future infrastructure or stimulus legislation. Preservation Action is excited to support this important legislation.
 
Urge your members of Congress to support the REHAB Act today!
Thank You for a Successful Virtual Historic Preservation Advocacy Week!

Preservation Action along with our partners at the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers just concluded our first ever Virtual Historic Preservation Advocacy Week. While we missed being in person with everyone, we were thrilled to have a record number nearly 300 attendees (including several first time advocates) representing 42 states, allowing us to reach more than 200 congressional offices and have an even greater impact!

To kick Advocacy Week off we heard a recorded message from one of preservation's biggest supporters in Congress, Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT). Preservation advocates were then fortunate to hear from national preservation leaders and policy experts on the current legislative landscape and future of historic preservation policy. We were honored to be joined by Rep. Teresa Leger-Fernandez (D-NM), Rep. Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), all who shared their unique perspectives on why historic preservation is important and how we could all be better preservation advocates. In the afternoon we heard from another panel of preservation and federal policy experts on conducting successful virtual congressional office visits. 

The next day Preservation Action hosted our Congressional Reception and Townhall featuring Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) who co-chairs the Historic Preservation Caucus, Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL), who is helping to lead efforts the expand the Historic Tax Credit, and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) who is the new Chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Attendees engaged with the Members on current historic preservation efforts in Congress.

Thank to everyone that helped make Advocacy Week 2021 a huge success!


For Advocacy Week attendees, now is the time for the important follow-up from your congressional office visits. Be sure to thank offices and to follow-up with any promised information or materials. You can also remind your members to join the Historic Preservation Caucus and sign-on to the FY22 Historic Preservation Fund Dear Colleague letter. 

Additionally,  please complete a hill report form online for each of your meetings. Knowing who you met with and how those meetings went is essential for our continued advocacy.

Preservation Action
2020 Pennsylvania Ave NW #313
Washington, DC 20006
p. 202-463-0970

Preservation Action is the only national non-profit dedicated exclusively to lobbying for the best preservation policies at the federal level. We seek to make historic preservation a national priority by advocating to all branches of government through a grassroots constituency empowered with information and training.