House Appropriations Committee Advances FY25 Interior Funding Bill

This week the full House Appropriations Committee voted to advance the FY25 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill by a vote of 29-25. The bill includes $3.12 billion for the National Park Service, a $209.8 million or 6.3% decrease from FY24 enacted levels. The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) is funded at $168.9 million, $19.76 million below FY24 enacted levels. This includes level funding for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and important grant programs, but eliminates Congressionally directed spending for HPF projects. Importantly, the bill includes a 1 year authorization for the HPF until 2025. The HPF is set to lapse in September without congressional action. Below is a breakdown of HPF funding:

• $62.15 million for State Historic Preservation Offices (same as FY24)
• $23 million for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (same as FY24)
• $25.5 million for Save America's Treasures (same as FY24)
• $24 million for the African American Civil Rights grant program (same as FY24)
• $10 million for Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grants (same as FY24)
• $11 million for HBCU preservation grants (same as FY24)
• $7 million for the Semiquincentennial grant program (same as FY24)
• $5 million for the History of Equal Rights grant program (same as FY24)
• $1.25 million for the Underrepresented Communities grant program (same as FY24
• Congressionally Directed Spending for HPF projects not included ($19.76M below FY24)

The bill also includes level funding at $29.232 million for the Heritage Partnership Program, which funds National Heritage Areas. The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) is funded at $8.375 million, $210,000 below FY24 enacted levels. The bill also requests a briefing from the ACHP on the scope of the work and estimated costs to develop an integrated map of National Register eligible sites.

We appreciate the Committee including 1 year authorization of the HPF, which would help avoid an unnecessary and harmful lapse, but a longer term authorization is needed. Additionally, we recognize the difficult budget year, but are disappointed by the cuts to the ACHP and HPF. As noted in our testimony, Preservation Action is continuing to urge Congress to support $225 million for the HPF, including much-needed increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, as they continue to face staffing challenges and increased workloads, and increases for important grants programs, many of which are helping to tell a more diverse and inclusive American story.

The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration. The Senate has yet to release their FY25 Interior Appropriations bill. Preservation Action will continue to monitor the appropriations process. Stay tuned for more.

Registration is now open for the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2024 PastForward Conference in New Orleans! The conference will run from Oct. 28-30, 2024 and help celebrate the 75th anniversary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the evolving practice of historic preservation in one of America's most historic cities. This year's conference sessions and speakers will address three of our biggest challenges: Creating Climate Resilience Through Historic Preservation, Ensuring a Representative Preservation Movement, and Encouraging Historic Preservation- Based Community Development.

The annual conference continues to be the nation's premier event for those who work to save, sustain, and interpret historic places. Learn more about this year's conference and secure your place!

Register Today!

Save the Date for PAF's Annual Auction and Fundraiser!

We are excited to announce that Preservation Action Foundation’s Annual Auction and Fundraiser will return on Oct. 28th from 7:00-9:30pm during the 2024 PastForward Conference in New Orleans! Plan to join us immediately following conference's opening reception at the historic BK House and Gardens. Don't miss out as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Preservation Action in style with food, drink, live-music, and of-course a lively auction in the heart of the French Quarter.

Ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for more information on donation and sponsorship opportunities.

This week, the National Park Service announced $10.6 million in grants to preserve Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU) buildings. The HBCU grant program is funded through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) and helps to repair and preserve historic structures on HBCU campuses. This year's grants will support 15 projects across 8 states.

This year's grant recipients include a grant to rehabilitate Steward Hall at Simmons College in Kentucky, built by celebrated Black architect Samuel Plato, and a grant to rehabilitate Melrose Cottage, which dates to 1785, at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.

Since the 1990s, the National Park Service has awarded over $100 million in preservation grants to more than 85 HBCUs across the country. Preservation Action is urging Congress to increase support for this important program from $11 million to $13 million in FY25.

National Park Service: "National Park Service Awards More Than $3.2 Million in Grants to Preserve and Interpret World War II Japanese American Incarceration Sites"

California: "Opinion: Preservation Could Help With Housing, Homelessness. Here's How"

Pennsylvania: "Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Awards 44 Keystone Historic Preservation Grants"

Michigan: "State Historic Preservation Office Awards Historic Preservation Grants to Seven Michigan Communities"