Take Action for Historic Preservation
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Federal Policy Issues and Information
- Change is definitely coming to Washington, but not just in the form of a new presidential administration. See how the elections for hotly-contested Senate and House seats impacted some of our preservation allies in our ongoing congressional elections assessment.
- Election Day has come and gone, but your role in the political process is far from over. As we prepare to work with the Obama Administration, we want to hear from you through our post-election poll about which preservation issues and priorities impact your community the most.
- Learn about the first major amendments to the federal rehabilitation tax credit in 20 years benefitting affordable housing and leaseback of historic property and real estate.
- The June 2008 Midwest floods caused extensive damage to historic properties throughout Iowa and affected areas of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri and Minnesota. Learn about the tax relief that was enacted by 110th Congress to ameliorate the effects of the devastating floods on these states.
- Three hundred thousand places of landmark historical or cultural significance, including Native American sacred sites and Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields are at risk of ruin, according to the recently released report, The National Forest System: Cultural Resources at Risk.
TAKE ACTION >> - A massive proposed oil and gas development project would cause irreparable damage to Nine Mile Canyon in Utah, home to one of the most important and extensive collections of prehistoric rock art panels in the world. LEARN MORE >>
- Ask your representatives to join the Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus and become an advocate for historic preservation policy in Congress. LEARN MORE >>
State Policy Issues and Information
- Help Save New Orleans’ Charity Hospital and the Adjacent Mid-City Historic Neighborhood LEARN MORE >>
- Proposition WW proposes major funding for East Bay Regional Parks in California. LEARN MORE >>
- Proposition J gives San Francisco voters chance to reform planning processes for landmark buildings in the city. LEARN MORE >>
- Help preserve historic Hangar One in California. LEARN MORE>>
- Help pass important historic preservation incentives pending before the Pennsylvania State Legislature. LEARN MORE >>
- San Onofre State Beach in California faces the threat of a toll road construction. LEARN MORE >>
- California Voters are urged to Vote No on Proposition 98 on June 3rd, 2008. LEARN MORE >>
- State Parks and Historic Sites across the state of New Jersey are threatened by proposed budget cuts. LEARN MORE >>
- Massachusetts Voters to Decide on Adopting the Community Preservation Act. LEARN MORE >>
- 48 California State Parks are currently at risk due to budget cut-backs. Get all the info about this issue to save these historic public places. LEARN MORE >>
- Arizona - Urge your state legislators to get states park funding out of the budget cross-hairs. LEARN MORE >>
Local Issues
- Help Protect Miami Marine Stadium: Support designating the stadium as a local landmark! LEARN MORE >>
- Save the Historic Heart of the Presidio of San Francisco: Attend Presidio Trust Public Hearing on Monday July 14th. LEARN MORE >>
- Read the National Trust's letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi regarding regarding the management and stewardship of the Presidio that will benefit and preserve the historic properties located on the national park site.
News from Capitol Hill
- President Bush signed the "Housing Recovery Act of 2008" (P.L. 110-289) into law on July 30, 2008, which contains three amendments to the federal rehabilitation tax credit affecting alternative minimum tax relief, leasing of historic properties to nonprofits, and consideration of historic properties in state Qualified Allocation Plans (QAPs) for use with the low-income housing tax credit.
- Preservation Architect and National Trust Sustainability Coalition member Jean Carron, FAIA, delivered testimony on behalf of the National Trust before the Senate Rules Committee on June 18, 2008, to discuss the inherent advantages of reusing existing buildings in the context of increasing reducing the carbon footprint of the U.S. Capitol complex. Read her complete statement for the record.
- A five-year reauthorization of farm bill programs, including historic preservation provisions, became law on June 18, 2008 after the House and Senate overrode a presidential veto for a second time. Learn more details about these important provisions affecting rural heritage.
- The National Trust testified before the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials on June 5, 2008 against an exemption being sought by the railroad industry from both Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act for railroad facilities. Read this important testimony to learn more about this exemption's potential effect in undermining these important historic preservation protections.
- National Trust President Richard Moe on testified on June 5, 2008 before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee outlining the management of Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs), which have become one of the most significant and widespread threats to cultural resources on public lands.
- Read the National Trust's letter of endorsement for a bill (HR 4199) expanding the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historic Park (DAHNHP) to include the Wright Company Factory buildings and Hawthorn Hill — the family home of aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright.
Legislative Updates
Read the statement of National Trust president Richard Moe on the passage of the 2008 Farm Bill law and the opportunities it provides for rural heritage.
Find out about the latest developments related to the National Trust's top legislative priorities in the 110th Congress by visiting our Legislative Status page.
