PRESERVATION ACTION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
 



LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
VOLUME 21, NUMBER 27
AUGUST 31, 2018

Lawmakers Return From August Recess Next Week. Critical Time for Preservation Advocates

Congress will return next week after an abbreviated August Recess to a busy schedule. High on their agenda will be finishing work on several appropriations bill. Lawmakers are further along in the appropriations process than in recent years, but face a September 30th deadline. The Interior Appropriations Bill passed the House in July and the Senate in early August, now the differences between the two bills will be worked out in conference committee, including differences in funding levels for historic preservation. The FY19 House Interior Appropriations bill   funds the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) at $101.41 million, while the Senate bill funds the HPF at $91.91 million. 

Preservation Action will continue to work with members of Congress, especially conference committee members, to ensure funding for the HPF is retained and enhanced, but we'll need your help!  This will be a critical time for preservation advocates to reach out to their lawmakers to ensure the increases for the HPF achieved in the House bill are included in the final bill. Stay tuned in the coming weeks to find out how you can help! 
ACHP Adopts Program Comment
 to Streamline Section 106 Review in Railroad Rights-of-way


The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) announced the issuance of a Program Comment that exempts and rail rights-of-way from Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act), which passed in 2015, required the ACHP to issue an exemption to Section 106 for rail rights-of-way. The program comment is the result of years of consultations with State/Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, Indian tribes, national preservation organizations, and other interested stakeholders.  A Program Comment is one of the tools available for the ACHP to ensure that historic preservation interests are balanced with development needs. 

The Program Comment adopts a two pronged approach to meet the requirement of the FAST Act: an activities based approach and a properties based approach. The activities based approach identifies specific activities that should have minimal to no adverse effects on historic properties, and are exempted from Section 106 review. The properties based approach provides an optional process for identifying excluded historic rail properties that are subject to Section 106 review, while exempting consideration of effects to other rail properties.

Learn more about ACHP's railroad right-of-way Program Comment.
National Park Service Awards $8.6 million in HBCU Preservation Grants

This week the National Park Service (NPS) awarded $8.6 million in grants to preserve structures on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The grants fund projects at 18 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 9 different states. 

"HBCUs have played an important role in our country's pursuit of equality, civil rights, and higher education for all Americans," said NPS Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith. "These grants will help restore and enhance landmark buildings that are a source of pride on campuses in nine states."

The HBCU preservation program is funded through the Historic Preservation Fund. As part of the FY18 Omnibus spending bill, Congress appropriated $5 million for the program, a $1 million increase over FY17 levels.  Preservation Action, along with partners from across the country, advocated for the HBCU preservation program during Advocacy Week 2018 and continues to advocate for this important program during the FY19 appropriations process. Learn more and check out HBCU preservation projects funded this year.
Gold Rush: Party Time! PAF Auction Returns on Nov. 14th in San Francisco. Get Your Tickets Today!
 
California Historical Society
Get your tickets today for Preservation Action Foundation's Legendary Party and Live Auction in San Francisco. The annual after party and auction will take place on November 14, 2018 immediately following the Opening Reception of the National Preservation Conference. Enjoy the atmosphere and exhibits at the California Historical Society, located in the former San Francisco Builders Exchange building in the vibrant Yerba Buena neighborhood, just a mile from the conference headquarters.

The annual auction has long been a highlight for Preservation Action Foundation and of the National Preservation Conference. Last year's auction in Chicago was a huge success and were excited to top that this year!

Take advantage of early-bird prices! Get your tickets today!


Donate an Auction Item

This is our largest fundraiser of the year and the proceeds from this event are used to assist the education and training, advocacy, and programs of the Preservation Action Foundation We are currently seeking donations of auction items like hotel stays, tours of historic sites and other unique experiences. This is a great way to highlight your organization and city/state to an active and interested group of people. Download the 2018 Auction Donation Form and check out our website for more information.

Preservation Action
1307 New Hampshire Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036
p. 202-463-0970  f. 202-463-1299


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.