Senate Appropriations Bill Includes Significant Increases for the Historic Preservation Fund
Contributed By: Preservation Action
Website: http://www.preservationaction.org
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This week the Senate Appropriations Committee released their FY21 Interior Appropriations Bill. The bill called for a nearly $20 million increase for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), including vital increases for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and grant programs like that the Civil Rights Grant program. The bill also included $10 million for a new grant program to preserve sites and structures associated with the Revolutionary War and the country's founding, as America prepares to recognize our 250th anniversary. The full breakdown of HPF funding is below.
- SHPOs: $57 million ($4.325 million over FY20 enacted)
- THPOs: $16 million ($2.265 million over FY20 enacted)
- Civil Rights Grants: $20 million ($2 million over FY20 enacted)
- HBCU Preservation Program: $10.25 million ($250,000 over FY20 enacted)
- Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants: $7.5 million (same as FY20 enacted)
- Save America's Treasures: $16.5 million ($500,000 over FY20 enacted)
- Underrepresented Communities Grants: $750,000 (same as FY20 enacted)
- Semiquincentennial Preservation Grants: $10 million (*new*)
HPF Total: $138 million ($19.34 million over FY20 levels)
Additionally, the bill included report language once again raising concerns about the proposed rule changes to the National Register of Historic Places. The bill also calls for level funding, at $20.944 million, for the Heritage Partnership Program, which funds National Heritage Areas. The House FY21 Interior Appropriations bill, which passed in July, proposed a nearly $18 million increase for the HPF. Both of these bills would provide a significant increase for the HPF, positioning the HPF well as lawmakers continue work on a potential year-end omnibus spending bill, that they hope to pass before Dec. 11th when the current continuing resolution expires.
Preservation Action will continue to advocate for robust funding for the HPF and will keep you posted as spending negotiations continue.
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Posted: November 13, 2020
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author and not necessarily the opinion of the editors of PreservationDirectory.com.
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