Member Update

Unlocking New Funding Sources

SHA is partnering with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Cultural Resource Association (ACRA) to advocate for funding provided in the new transportation law, the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. Section 1312 of the FAST Act authorizes the use of all Federal Transportation program funds to assist Federal and state agencies, and Indian tribes to participate in the environmental review process for transportation programs and projects. It also directs FHWA and state DOTs to fund activities that will benefit the management and preservation of archaeological resources, and enhance the nation’s historic preservation efforts.

As part of this new authorization, Congress directs the U.S. DOT to issue guidance within 180 days after enactment to implement Section 1312. SHA is working with ACRA and other preservation partners to provide input to the DOT on the program guidance, which is currently under way, to ensure that as broad an array of preservation activities as possible are designated eligible under this authority. If you want to provide input, please contact Marion Werkheiser.

Historic Preservation Fund Update

On February 11, the Federal Lands Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on H.R. 2817, the National Historic Preservation Amendments Act of 2015, which would reauthorize the NHPA for 10 years. Congressman Mike Turner (R-OH) and NCSHPO President Elizabeth Hughes testified at the hearing. Hughes thanked Congressman Turner and Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) for their support of historic preservation and stated, “For the past forty years, programs administered with support from the HPF have helped local communities in every Congressional district to recognize, save, and protect America’s historic places.” Video of the hearing is available here: http://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=399894. At last check, the bill has 31 co-sponsors (15 Democrats and 16 Republicans).

Meanwhile, the Senate has not been able to agree to vote on S. 2012, the Energy Policy Modernization Act. Section 5003 of the Act would permanently reauthorize the HPF and the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and create a new $150 million annual National Park Service maintenance fund. Disputes over federal funding for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan have held up a vote on passage of the Act.

Preservation Advocacy Week

Join Preservation Advocates from Around the Country in Washington, D.C., March 8-10, during Preservation Advocacy Week! Registration is here: http://www.preservationaction.org/advocacy-week/.

Win! Antiquities Act Amendment Defeated in Senate

Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) introduced an amendment to the Energy Policy Modernization Act (S. 2012) which would have restricted the president’s ability to designate national monuments. The amendment would have required approval by Congress and the relevant state legislature for national monument designations, severely limiting the President’s power to designate national monuments by executive order. Thanks to all our preservation partners who weighed in with their legislators to defeat this amendment.

White House Releases 2017 Budget

In early February, the Obama Administration released its FY17 budget. The request includes an increase of $22 million over FY16 for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), funding it at $87.41 million. Here’s the breakdown:

• SHPOs: $46.925 million
• THPOs: $11.985 million
• Civil Rights Grants: $25 million
• HBCU Preservation Program: $3 million
• Underserved Communities Grants: $500,000

The President’s budget usually acts as a ceiling on new funding during the appropriations process.

Obama Designates 3 New National Monuments in California

In February, President Obama designated the Mojave Trails National Monument, Sand to Snow National Monument, and Castle Mountains National Monument. According to the White house, “These designations encompass nearly 1.8 million acres and nearly double the number of acres of public lands that he's previously protected.” For photos and more information, see https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2016/02/12/photos-president-obama-designates-3-national-monuments-california.

House Bill Would Require Justifications of NSF Grants

On February 10, the House of Representatives passed the Scientific Research in the National Interest Act (H.R. 3293), which would require the National Science Foundation to provide written justification for how every grant furthers the “national interest.” The bill passed largely along party lines, Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed. While the bill’s sponsors characterized the measure as ensuring that the NSF is open and accountable to the taxpayers, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said the bill “is about second-guessing our nation’s best and brightest scientists, and the grant-making decisions they make.”

MAP Videos are Up!

Several Making Archaeology Public videos have been completed, with more to come. The states with videos are Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Montana, New Mexico, and Pennsylvania. Check them out here: http://preservation50.org/mapp/.

Other Pending Legislation of Interest

• R. 3114, Army Corps of Engineers Veterans Curation Training Act: Reauthorizes the Army Corps of Engineer's Veterans Curation Program. Passed by the House; pending before Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

• R. 1493, Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act: Grants the President the authority to impose emergency restrictions on the importation of Syrian cultural materials, and establishes the position of U.S. Coordinator for International Cultural Property Protection at the State Department. Passed by the House in June 2015; passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in January 2016.

• R. 295: Reauthorizes the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Historic Preservation program.

• R. 87: Modifies the boundary of the Shiloh National Military Park in Tennessee and Mississippi, and establishes Parker's Crossroads Battlefield in Tennessee as an affiliated area of the National Park System.

• R. 1621: Modifies the boundary of Petersburg National Battlefield in Virginia.

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