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House Appropriations Committee Advances Interior Funding Bill – Including Preservation Priorities
This week the House Appropriations Committee held a full committee markup and voted 35-27 along party lines to advance the FY27 House Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill includes funding for the National Park Service and important historic preservation priorities. The bill funds the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) at $163.65 million, $17.409 million below FY26 enacted levels. Below is a breakdown of the proposed HPF funding levels.
$62.150 million for State Historic Preservation Offices (same as FY26)
$23.750 million for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (same as FY26)
$25.5 million for the Save America's Treasures grant program (same as FY26)
$30.25 million for Competitive Grant Subactivity (same as FY26)
$11 million for the HBCU Preservation Grant Program (same as FY26)
$7 million for the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant program ($906,000 below FY26)
$4 million for the Semiquincentennial Grant Program ($907,000 below FY26)
Congressionally Directed Spending for HPF projects not included ($15.596 million below FY26)
Total HPF Funding: $163.65 million ($17.409 million below FY26 enacted levels)
The bill maintains level funding for State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and most grant programs, with cuts to the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization grant program and the Semiquincentennial grant program. The bill did not include Congressional Directed Spending for HPF projects, which constitutes the majority of the cut. The bill also includes a one year authorization of the HPF, which currently runs through September. While we are pleased that the bill largely rejects the severe cuts proposed by the Trump administration, which would have nearly eliminated the HPF, we are disappointed by the significant, over $17 million cut to the HPF. Preservation Action continues to urge Congress to support $250 million for the HPF during this historic year.
Elsewhere, the House Interior Appropriations bill includes $3.2 billion for the National Park Service, $42 million below FY26 enacted levels. The bill also includes $6.2 million for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, $2.085 million below FY26 enacted levels, a more than 25% cut. The National Endowment of the Arts and Humanities is funded at $135 million each, $72 million below FY26 enacted levels. The bill includes level funding for the Heritage Partnership Program which supports National Heritage Areas at $30.985 million and funds Cultural Programs at $40.327 million, a $1 million increase.
During the hearing several committee members discussed the cuts to the National Park Service and cuts to the NEA and NEH, including the Administration's past diversion of funds. Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-SC) spoke passionately about the importance of protecting our historic places in helping to tell the full story of America, highlighting the cuts to the HPF. Committee Democrats offered several amendments to the bill including amendments to prohibit funding for the President's proposed triumphal arch and the White House ballroom project. Those amendments failed along party line votes.
The bill was approved by the full committee and now heads to the full House for consideration. A hearing schedule hasn't been announced in the Senate yet. Check out the FY27 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee bill report and watch the hearing here.
Preservation Action continues to urge lawmakers to support robust funding for historic preservation priorities, including a historic $250 million for the Historic Preservation Fund. Join us by reaching out to your members of Congress today!
Take Action: https://preservationaction.org/historic-preservation-fund/
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