House and Senate Negotiators Reach Deal on FY20 Appropriations, Vote Expected Next Week
This week House and Senate negotiators reached a deal in principle on FY20 Appropriations. The year end spending bill will be drafted over the weekend, setting up a potential vote next week. The 12 appropriations bills, including the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill which funds historic preservation priorities, are expected to be split into two larger packages. The government is currently operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) which ends on Dec. 20, setting up another potential government shutdown before the holidays if a final deal can't be reached in time.
House and Senate Negotiators are working resolve the differences between their respective appropriations bills. The Senate
FY20 Interior and Environment Appropriations Billincluded $113.6 million for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) an increase of $10.5 million over FY19 enacted levels. The House billincluded $121.66 million for the HPF. Both bills include important increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, and vital competitive grant programs. Additionally, the bills included strong report language objecting to the proposed rule changes to the National Register of Historic Places.
Preservation Action continues to monitor the appropriations process and advocate for these critical increases to the Historic Preservation Fund.
National Park Service Seeks Comment on Increasing Access to Hard to Reach National Park Lands
The National Park Service announced they are seeking public comment on increasing access to hard to reach national park lands. The park service aims to compile a list of those hard to reach lands that are part of a national park, but access is nearly impossible because they are surrounded by private lands or are restricted in some other way.
The John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act which passed in March, instructed the National Park Service and other land management agencies to develop a priority list of public lands with limited access. "Increasing the public's awareness and access to the more than 85 million acres managed by the National Park Service is one of our top priorities," said National Park Service Deputy Director David Vela.
Public comments are being accepted through January 4th, the National Park Service plans to publish the final priority list by March 12, 2020. Learn more and share your recommendations today.
Committee Hearing Held on Michigan Historic Tax Credit Legislation
This week the Michigan Senate Finance Committee held a hearing on Senate Bill 54, legislation to reinstate the Michigan Historic Preservation Tax Credit. The committee heard testimony from several advocates and historic preservation professionals in support of this important bill. The committee adjourned before taking action on SB 54, postponing consideration until a future meeting.
SB 54 and its companion legislation in the House, House Bill 4100, would establish a 25% historic tax credit toward qualified rehabilitation expenses. Michigan has been without a state historic tax credit program since the program ended in 2011. Despite strong support for the program, legislation to restore a historic tax credit came up short in 2018. If passed, Michigan would become the 38th state with a historic tax credit program.
Save the Date: National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week Returns March 10-12!
Start making your plans to attend National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week 2020. Advocacy Week returns March 10-12 at the Kimpton Hotel Palomar in Washington, DC. This is our annual opportunity to have a mass impact on policy makers in Washington in support of critically important historic preservation programs and sound preservation policy.
Preservation Action and the National Conference State Historic Preservation Officers organize our industry's Advocacy Week each year, bringing over 250 preservationists to Washington, DC to promote sound federal preservation policy and programs. Together with a cohesive message in support of preservation-positive legislation we can ensure a strong future for the federal historic preservation program.
Make Your Hotel Reservations Today
Take advantage of the special $274/night rate at the
Kimpton Hotel Palomar. Make your reservations by calling 1-877-866-3070 and refer to room block "NCSHPO March 2020" or
visit the online portal. Th
e cut-off date for this rate is February 08, 2020.
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.
This week House and Senate negotiators reached a deal in principle on FY20 Appropriations. The year end spending bill will be drafted over the weekend, setting up a potential vote next week. The 12 appropriations bills, including the Interior and Environment Appropriations bill which funds historic preservation priorities, are expected to be split into two larger packages. The government is currently operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) which ends on Dec. 20, setting up another potential government shutdown before the holidays if a final deal can't be reached in time.
