In a letter to the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), the Coalition for American Heritage outlined our support of the revisions thus far to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We also described additional changes CEQ should make in revising its implementing regulations.

The Coalition suggests that CEQ eliminate the threshold analysis, improve public involvement, and reinstate the definition of “significantly” to include unique resources. Making these changes will help ensure the public’s right to be informed about the potential impacts of proposed development.

Read a full copy of our letter here.

Sara Bronin, President Biden’s nominee to chair the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP), answered questions from senators about her vision for the agency’s future in a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources yesterday. She tackled questions about the key issues in preservation interspersed with moments of levity that referenced John Wayne movies and the construction of brew pubs.

The two senators from Connecticut, Sen. Blumenthal and Sen. Murphy, introduced Ms. Bronin to the committee members. Sen. Blumenthal spoke about being personal friends with Ms. Bronin and her family, and he touted her devotion to equity and inclusiveness. Sen. Murphy said that she has the right background and expertise for the job. He highlighted her ability to bring people together in support of a common goal.

In her opening statement, Ms. Bronin cited the benefits of historic preservation as: a sense of belonging, an engine of economic activity, a path to greater sustainability, and a means to sustain our faith. A copy of her statement is available here.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), the committee chairman, noted that she would be only the second full-time chair of the ACHP, if confirmed. He asked her if it makes a difference to have a full-time chair in the position. Ms. Bronin replied that it was very important, especially because historic preservation cuts across so many different federal agencies and policy areas.

Sen. Barrasso (R-WY), the ranking member of the committee, referenced an oped that Ms. Bronin wrote for the Los Angeles Times, in which she argued for a retooling of the criteria and process for historic designation to ensure that we preserve a greater diversity of histories. Sen. Barrasso asked Ms. Bronin how she would propose reforming key preservation programs, like the National Register, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties, and the federal historic tax credit. Ms. Bronin noted that the Secretary’s Standards haven’t been updated in any significant way to account for current needs. She suggested that modernization could include a greater focus on the impact of natural disasters on historic properties. Ms. Bronin also noted the increasing expense of nominating properties to the National Register, and she said that rural and underserved communities might need additional flexibility to ensure that their nominations are considered.

After answering questions from the top Democrat and Republican on the committee, Ms. Bronin fielded questions from several additional members.

• Sen. Heinrich (D-NM) asked if she’d commit to considering an administrative withdrawal of lands around the Chaco Cultural National Historic Park, which would protect the area from future oil and gas development. Ms. Bronin committed to considering the issue.
• Sen. Heinrich also said that federal agencies often fail to meaningfully consult with tribes on actions that will impact their communities. Ms. Bronin cited the work that the ACHP has already done to promote tribal consultation and committed to making it a high priority to consult with tribes early and often. She also advocated for an increase in funding for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices.
• Sen. Marshall (R-KS) touted his efforts to recognize the Chisholm Trail, which was featured in two John Wayne movies. Ms. Bronin responded that it sounded like an enjoyable project and the two shared a chuckle.
• Sen. Hickenlooper (D-CO) shared a little-known fact about his personal history; he used to take historic buildings and turn them into brew pubs. He even received an award for his work from the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
• Sen. Hickenlooper asked Ms. Bronin about how preservation can ignite economic development. Although she had only 20 seconds to reply, Ms. Bronin cited the ways in which historic preservation can create jobs, return revenue to the government via the tax credit, produce affordable housing, and promote heritage tourism.
• Sen. Hoeven (R-ND) invited Ms. Bronin to visit North Dakota to see the national parks and meet with the tribes in his state. Ms. Bronin expressed her appreciation of the invitation and said that she’d like to visit.

To watch the archived footage of the hearing, click here.

Next, the committee will vote on Ms. Bronin’s nomination. If it is approved, then the U.S. Senate will consider her confirmation as chair of the ACHP.

As the Senate debates a massive investment in American infrastructure, the Coalition published an oped in The Hill arguing for funds to provide the technology and staff needed for an efficient review process.

Our August newsletter also includes links to a letter of support for Professor Sara Bronin, the president’s nominee to chair the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. If your group would like to join the letter, please use the Google form we provided.

Last night, the House passed Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez’s (D-NM) amendment to H.R. 3684, the INVEST in America Act, that would permanently authorize the Historic Preservation Fund and increase its authorization level from $150 million to $300 million. Increasing funding for the HPF will help speed infrastructure development and preserve sites, buildings, and objects critical to the American story. Raising the authorization level to $300 million and making it permanent will help communities identify and preserve the historic places that tell their story. The Coalition for American Heritage thanks Rep. Leger Fernandez for her leadership on behalf of historic preservation.

The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) provides state and tribal historic preservation offices with grant funding to implement our nation’s historic preservation laws and recognize historic places across the country. With each new federal infrastructure project, State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices process permitting reviews to ensure that local communities have a voice in federal developments. Their review is mandated by the National Historic Preservation Act and is critical to fulfilling America’s commitment to historic preservation. HPF monies come from off-shore oil and gas lease revenues. They do not compete with other taxpayer funded priorities.

HPF funds have been used to rescue and rehabilitate significant historic sites, revitalize communities and create opportunities for economic growth. Preservation of these sites and objects strengthens local economies by encouraging tourism and creating jobs. Unfortunately, funding for these important programs has not increased in tandem with rising costs. A July 2019 Congressional Research Service report on National Park Service Appropriations Ten-Year Trends, noted, “The largest activity in the HPF account is grant funding for state historic preservation offices, which declined by 9% in inflation-adjusted terms over the decade.” And, as the number of Indian tribes operating Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPO) increases, the amount of HPF funds appropriated to the each THPOs has dwindled.

Under the purview of the National Park Service (NPS), HPF grant programs support projects that protect and interpret America’s diverse heritage, including sites related to underrepresented communities. At present, fewer than 8% of the sites listed on the National Register are associated with women, Latinos, African Americans, LGBTQ, and other underrepresented communities. There is much work to be done to reconcile America’s difficult history and create a more inclusive future. Robust funding for the Historic Preservation Fund will help protect and interpret America’s diverse heritage and support economic opportunities in local communities.  

Final passage of the bill is expected in the U.S. House of Representatives this week. House Democratic leaders are urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to incorporate the legislation into the bipartisan infrastructure package he is negotiating with the Biden White House.