Help us celebrate 50 years of Preservation Action by joining or renewing your membership during our Summer Membership Drive! Annual membership is what powers our efforts to advocate for the critical preservation programs and policies that we depend on. If you rely on the information provided every week in the Legislative Update or our Action Alerts that help you communicate more effectively and easily with your members of Congress, please join or renew your membership TODAY! 

In addition to our weekly Legislative Update, Action Alerts, and Quarterly Newsletters, members receive:



• Invitations to Preservation Action events throughout the year- including member-only tours planned during the PastForward Conference in New Orleans and National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week in Washington, D.C.
• Exclusive this year, new or renewing members who join in July or August will receive a special 50th anniversary enamel pin!

Don't miss out, join or renew your membership TODAY!

FY25 Interior Appropriations Bill Advances in House and Senate

The appropriations process continued in the House and Senate this week. Before departing for an early August recess, the House passed the FY25 House Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (H.R. 8998). The bill passed 210-205, mostly along party lines with Democrats largely objecting to steep funding cuts and policy riders. Overall the bill funds the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) 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. 

On the other side of Capitol Hill, the Senate Appropriations Committee released their FY25 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which was approved by the full Committee on a 28-1 vote. The bill includes $182.775 million for the HPF, $5.891 million below FY24 enacted levels. This includes level funding for most HPF grant programs, a small increase for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, and $17.375 in congressionally directed HPF projects, but does not include funding for the Semiquincentennial grant program. Like the House bill, the Senate bill also included a provision to reauthorize the HPF for 1 year. Below is a breakdown of HPF funding in the Senate bill:

• $63.15 million for State Historic Preservation Offices ($1 million over FY24)
• $25 million for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices ($2 million over FY24)
• $26 million for Save America's Treasures ($500,000 over 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)
• $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)
• $17.375 million in Congressionally Directed Spending for HPF projects ($2.391m below FY24)

Total HPF funding: $182.775 million ($5.891 million below FY24 enacted levels)

The full list of Congressionally Directed Spending for HPF projects included in the bill for are available in the FY25 Senate Interior Report (pages 179-182). Notably the Senate bill also included $2 million for the African American Burial Grounds Preservation program, $30.615 million, an increase of $1.383 million, for the Heritage Partnership Program which supports National Heritage Areas, and $8.735 million for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, an increase of $150,000 over FY24 enacted levels.

Preservation Action appreciates the modest increase for SHPOs and THPOs included in the Senate bill, and language reauthorizing the HPF for one year, but much more is needed. We will continue to advocate for critical increases for the HPF as the appropriations process continues and a longer term HPF authorization. Differences between the House and Senate Interior bills will be worked out in conference. With Congress departing for the August recess and current funding running through September 30th, we're likely to see a Continuing Resolution to extend current funding levels until after the election. Stay tuned for more!

Earlier this week the House passed their FY25 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (H.R. 8998). During floor debate, the House agreed to a bipartisan amendment, led by Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA), Rep. Nikema Williams (D-GA), and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) that fully funds the African American Burial Grounds Preservation program at $3 million.

The program was established at the end of 2022 to identify and preserve African American burial grounds. The protection and documentation of these sacred places have too often been overlooked. Many African American burial grounds are in a state of disrepair, inaccessible, or their locations are unknown. Providing federal resources helps ensure that these sites are preserved, documented, and maintained for future generations. Despite the program being established, the program has yet to be funded. Preservation Action has long supported this program, including advocating for funding in our FY25 Interior Appropriations testimony. We appreciate the leadership of Reps. Adams and Fitzpatrick in sponsoring this amendment and urge Congress to include funding for this important program in the final bill.

National Parks Conservation Association: "House's Egregious Funding Cuts and Harmful Policies Put Future of National Parks at Risk"

Missouri: "Missouri Governor Signs Bill Providing Bonus HTC Percentage to Rural Counties"

Pennsylvania: "Pennsylvania's Historic Tax Credit Increased to $20 Million"

Ohio: "State Funding Available to Help Preserve Historic Buildings"

California: "New Housing Laws May Threaten Some of SF's Most Iconic Buildings"