Advocacy Update

Federal Advocacy

Preserve Arkansas weighs in on national preservation issues that affect Arkansans. The most recent issues are discussed below.

  • During National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week, Arkansas’s team of advocates urged our Congressional Delegation to support full funding for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), which is authorized at $150M per fiscal year, and provides crucial funding for State Historic Preservation Offices throughout the country as well as competitive grant programs that preserve Historically Black Colleges and Universities, sites associated with the struggle for civil rights, and underrepresented and rural communities. Released on May 28, the Biden Administration’s budget included $151.8M for the HPF – higher than the authorized funding level for the first time – signaling strong support for historic preservation in the future. The Arkansas team also advocated for temporary and permanent enhancements to the Federal Historic Tax Credit to address pandemic-related challenges, add value to the credit, and make it easier to complete small projects. HR2294, the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act of 2021 (HTC-GO) was introduced on April 1 and is gaining bipartisan support. U.S. Congressmen French Hill (AR-2) and Bruce Westerman (AR-4) are co-sponsors of this legislation. Send them a quick thank you note by clicking their names above.