HPF/CLEAR Act action item

[Harbeson, Kristen]

Friends and allies:

 

Sometimes Congress is like Baseball: there may be long periods of inactivity, but when things happen they happen fast.  Now is a moment when things are happening at a dizzying rate.  I hope you’ll forgive another message so soon after the last one, but this is an extraordinary time for the HPF and there has never been a moment when mobilization was more important.

 

As I mentioned in the last update:  House Natural Resources committee Chairman, Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), recently released a new  discussion draft version of H.R.3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy and Aquatic Resources Act (CLEAR Act) which among  other things, includes  full and permanent funding for the Historic Preservation Fund ($150 million guaranteed annually until 2040). The legislation would also  provide $900 million in full and permanent funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.   Keeping the HPF  provision in the bill is far from certain and we must aggressively continue our advocacy efforts.  

 

ACTION:

 

We encourage you send testimony in support of the HPF amendment in the CLEAR Act.  This could make a significant difference in the trajectory of the bill as it travels through Congress in the next days and weeks.

 

·         Who: Anyone can submit testimony.  You have the option of specifically simply stating your support of the Coalition and of fully funding the Historic Preservation Fund (which does not count as lobbying) or requesting funding (which counts as lobbying).  As a reminder, 501 c 3s can lobby.  For more information, you can follow this link: Can 501 (c) 3's lobby? YES!

 

·         What: We have created a draft template for Congressional Testimony and posted it on the Coalition website here: http://www.fullyfundhpf.org/home/legislation.

 

·         When: Testimony must be submitted before close of business on Tuesday, July 13^th.

 

·         Where: Testimony should be submitted to House Natural Resources Committee staff at:  nancy...@mail.house.gov.  You should also copy your own Congressional delegation.  You can find links to your delegation here: http://www.fullyfundhpf.org/home/take_action. 

 

To help us coordinate our advocacy efforts and legislative follow up, please also send a copy to NCSHPO Government Relations Director, Elizabeth Hebron at heb...@sso.org.

 

·         How: Testimony should be submitted electronically as a Microsoft Word document.

 

As always, thank you for everything you do to support historic preservation and the Coalition for Full Funding.  If I can be of any assistance or provide further information, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

 

Best,

Kristen

 

 

Kristen Harbeson, State Services Director | NCSHPO  | National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers |

444 N Capitol St NW  Suite 342 | Washington DC 20001-1512 | 202-624-5465 | 202-624-5419 fax | harb...@sso.org | www.ncshpo.org

 

Join the Coalition for Full Funding of the Historic Preservation Fund. visit the website at: www.fullyfundhpf.org