ADVOCACY GUIDE & BRIEFING PACKET

PRESENTED BY:

Preservation Action National Conference of 202-463-0970 State Historic Preservation Officers [email protected] 202-624-5465

Welcome to HISTORIC PRESERVATION ADVOCACY WEEK 2021

This Briefing Packet provides information on the key issues preservation advocates will be talking to their Members of Congress. This year’s issues focus on the Historic Preservation Fund, the Historic Tax Credit, and the Historic Preservation Caucus. While all of them are important, we encourage you to carefully consider which issues are most appropriate to bring before your legislators.

For Each Issue You Will Find: Additional Resources: • Whom to Talk To • Where to Go for More Information • Lists of Relevant Committee Members • Talking Points • What to Ask For • References to Relevant One-Pagers

While Historic Preservation Advocacy Week will look a little different from previous years with the new virtual format, this is a critical year for advocacy. We have a new administration and the 117th Congress is just getting underway, including 70 new members of House and Senate. Education is critical. Democrats now control the Presidency, and the House and Senate, but with slim majorities. The good news for preservationists is that our message is one that enjoys strong bi-partisan support: protect and preserve our American heritage, while generating economic development, leveraging private investment, and creating jobs.

Despite challenging budgets, members of Congress on both sides of the aisle have demonstrated strong support for the Historic Preservation Fund. For the last four years, we have successfully advocated for significant increases to the HPF, including a record level $144.3 million for Fiscal Year 2021. While these recent successes are cause for celebration, more work needs to be done. The need for funds has surged as SHPO duties have increased, new THPO offices established, and competitive grant programs created and expanded. We are asking advocates to thank members for their support of the HPF, while reminding legislators that more is needed to make up for years of chronic underfunding and to carry out the important work the HPF makes possible: recognizing, saving, and protecting America’s shared heritage.

The Federal Historic Tax Credit (HTC) is a 20% credit applied to qualified rehabilitation costs for certified historic structures, distributed over 5 years (4% per year). The HTC represents the largest federal investment in historic preservation, with a proven track record of rehabilitating historic structures, encouraging private investment and creating jobs, while returning more to the Treasury than the cost of the program. The historic rehabilitation community, like so many others, has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic decline. We are urging members of Congress to temporarily increase the HTC from 20% to 30% to address pandemic-related challenges. We are also asking for much needed improvements and enhancements to the credit, including increasing the credit from 20% to 30% for projects less than $2.5 million and lowering the substantial rehabilitation threshold to make more projects eligible.

We encourage you to talk with your colleagues, ask questions, and exchange ideas. There are many different perspectives to advocacy, and we become more effective when we become aware of the various positions articulated on an issue.

After your Hill visits, please fill out a “Hill Report Form” for each visit and return it to Preservation Action. Hill Report forms can be completed online at https://forms.gle/CY4hMYwXgVqqp2tv9.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION FUND

WHO TO TALK TO: HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS Subcommittee on Interior, Your Senators and Representative and members of the Appropriations Environment and Related Agencies Committees, especially the House and Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittees. (D-ME) Chair, Betty McCollum (D-MN) WHAT TO REQUEST: (D-WA) (D-CA) Appropriators: Thank appropriators for their support of the Historic Preservation (D-NV) Fund, while reminding them that more is needed to make up for years of chronic (D-OH) underfunding and carry out the essential functions of the HPF. (D-PA)

FY22 Request: $60 million for State Historic Preservation Officers, $24 million for Ranking, (R-OH) Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, $19 million for the African American Civil (R-ID) Rights Initiative Competitive Grants, $7 million for the History of Equal Rights Chris Stewart (R-UT) Grants, $10 million for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, $20 million for (R-NV) Save America’s Treasures, $9 million for the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants, and $1 million for underrepresented communities.

Non-Appropriators: If your member is not on the Appropriations Committee, ask SENATE APPROPRIATIONS them to voice support for the HPF request listed above to the Chairman and Subcommittee on Interior, Ranking Member of the Interior appropriations subcommittee. (see side bar). Environment, and Related Agencies

Ask all House offices to sign onto the Dear Colleague HPF appropriations letter. The House letter is being circulated by Representatives Blumenauer (D- Chair, (D-OR) OR) and Turner (R-OH). Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Patrick Leahy (D-VT) TALKING POINTS: Jack Reed (D-RI) 1. With America’s history disappearing all around us, it is vital to invest in the Jon Tester (D-MT) HPF so state and local entities will have the resources and tools they need to Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) save America’s historic places. (D-NM)

2. In addition to facilitating the preservation of our historic places, since 1976, the Ranking, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) HPF has facilitated more than 95,000 listings on the National Register, the survey (R-MO) of millions of acres for cultural resources, and $162 billion in private investment Mitch McConnell (R-KY) through the Historic Tax Credit. Bill Hagerty (R-TN)

3. Identify projects and programs of interest to your member that will languish Shelly Moore Capito (R-WV) without proper funding. Also, reference the Certified Local Government (CLG) Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) program which assists local communities and preservation commissions with (R-FL) training and survey grants funded in part by the HPF.

4. The HPF is not used for land acquisition but instead provides state and local entities with the resources they need to enable both public and private SUGGESTION: preservation efforts. Identify an HPF supported activity or 5. HPF does not use tax-payer dollars. Mention that the source of funding for project (i.e. preservation training, SHPOs and THPOs, and grant programs is not tax revenue but rather from the grant, tax credit project) in your district Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), funded by Outer Continental Shelf Oil Lease that has had a positive economic revenues. Every year $150 million in lease revenue is deposited into the HPF. impact on your community. Ask that these revenues be used for their intended purpose and not sacrificed as a budget-balancing tool.

6. Increases in SHPO apportionments have not kept pace with the overall increase in the HPF. In FY 2016, SHPO apportionments accounted for 72% of the total HPF. In FY 2021, SHPO apportionments account for 39% of the HPF.

7. Funding for THPOs has not kept pace with the number of new THPOs added each year, therefore the average award is reduced each year.

FEDERAL TAX INCENTIVES FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION

WHO TO TALK TO: HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS Chair, (D-MA) Mike Thompson (D-CA)* Your member of Congress but importantly members of the House Ways and (D-TX)* Means Committee and its Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, and the John B. Larson (D-CT)* Senate Finance Committee. (D-OR) (D-WI) Jr. (D-NJ) WHAT TO REQUEST: Danny Davis (D-IL) Linda Sanchez (D-CA)* (D-NY) Continue to educate legislators about the amazing economic development and (D-AL)* community revitalization power of the Historic Tax Credit. Encourage members to Suzan DelBene (D-WA)* support efforts to strengthen and increase the HTC. (D-CA) (D-WI)* (D-MI) TALKING POINTS: (D-PA)* (D-VA)* 1. The credit generates new economic activity. Since inception, the HTC has Dwight Evans (D-PA) (D-IL) rehabilitated more than 45,000 buildings, created nearly $3 million jobs, attracted Tom Suozzi (D-NY)* approximately $173 billion in private investment nationwide and has produced (D-CA) (D-FL) over 172,000 low- and moderate-income affordable housing units. (D-CA) (D-NV) 2. A 2019 study concluded that the HTC returns more to the Treasury than it (D-VI)* costs. The HTC has generated $38.1 billion in federal tax revenue from the $32.9 Ranking Member, (R-TX) (R-CA) billion in federal tax credits. (R-FL) Adrian M. Smith (R-NE)* 3. From 2013 to 2017, 40% of all HTC projects were in predominantly minority (R-NY) Mike Kelly (R-PA) census tracts and 74% of HTC projects were in economically distressed areas. (R-MO) (R-SC)* 4. The credit is used in both larger urban areas and smaller towns. In 2019, 34% (R-AZ)* (R-IN) of projects were in communities with populations under 100,000. Darin LaHood (R-IL)* (R-OH) 5. Thirty-nine states recognize the economic development potential of historic (R-TX)* Drew Ferguson (R-GA)* rehabilitation and have enacted individual state HTC programs that work in (R-KS)* tandem with the federal program. (R-PA) (R-OK)* Carol Miller (R-WV) Encourage your members to support efforts to strengthen and increase the Historic Tax Credit SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE Chair, (D-OR) Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)* • Temporarily increase for the HTC from 20% to 30% to address pandemic Maria Cantwell (D-WA) related challenges. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)* Thomas Carper (D-DE) (D-MD)* • Makes it easier to complete small rehabilitation projects by increasing the credit Sherrod Brown (D-OH)* to 30% for projects with less than $2.5 million in qualified rehabilitation expenses. Michael Bennet (D-CO) Robert P. Casey, Jr. (D-PA) (D-VA) • Makes more buildings eligible for HTCs by lowering the substantial Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)* rehabilitation threshold. Maggie Hassan (D-NH) Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)* Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)* • Increases the value of HTCs by eliminating the requirement that the value of the Ranking (R-ID) HTC must be deducted from a building’s basis (property’s value for tax purposes) (R-IA)* John Cornyn (R-TX)* John Thune (R-SD)* • Makes the HTC easier to use by non-profit organizations by eliminating IRS Richard Burr (R-NC)* restrictions that make it difficult to partner with developers. Rob Portman (R-OH)* Patrick Toomey (R-PA)* Tim Scott (R-SC) Bill Cassidy (R-LA) Historic Tax Credit Economic Impact and Annual Reports are James Lankford (R-OK) Steve Daines (R-MT) available online at: https://ncshpo.org/resources/reports-and-studies/ Todd Young (R-IN) Ben Sasse (R-NE)* John Barrasso (R-WY) * Members of Taxation or Select Revenues Measures Subcommittee JOIN THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION CAUCUS

WHO TO TALK TO: TALKING POINTS:

Your member of the U.S. House of Representatives and 1. The Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus brings Senate. together Members of Congress who understand the under- appreciated potential of America’s historic places. They WHAT TO REQUEST: know that the value of these places is not solely in what they teach us about our history. It is also in what they Ask House members to join the Congressional Historic promise for our future. Heritage tourism, the commercial Preservation Caucus by contacting Jon Bosworth in Rep. revitalization of forgotten downtowns, the economically Earl Blumenauer’s (D-OR) office at 202-225-4811 or viable rehabilitation and the re-use of historic properties as Maggie Ward in Rep. Michael Turner’s (R-OH) office at housing stock are only a few of the ways that history is 202-225-6465. If they already are a member, thank them! coming alive in communities across the country. Encourage the member to note on their website that they are member of the Congressional Historic Preservation 2. Members of the Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus and encourage them to share stories on Caucus join together to support and encourage the preservation issues, and historic sites in their district on preservation and thoughtful development of historic places their websites. in their districts, states, and as a matter of national policy. The Caucus allows Members to share information and There is currently no Historic Preservation Caucus in the ideas and support legislative and budget matters as they Senate. Ask your Senator to lead an effort to create a pertain to national, state, and local issues and opportunities Senate Historic Preservation Caucus. in historic preservation.

CURRENT LIST OF CONGRESSIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION CAUCUS MEMBERS

Arkansas Florida Maryland New Jersey Oklahoma Texas (R) (R) Anthony Brown (D) (D) (R) Lloyd Doggett (D) (D) Bill Pascrell (D) (R) Arizona Georgia (D) (D) Oregon E. Bernice John- Raul Grijalva (D) David Scott (D) Earl Blumenauer (D) son (D) (R) Maine New Mexico Peter DeFazio (D) (D) (R) Chellie Pingree (D) Deb Haland (D) Bobby Scott (D) California Illinois Matt Cartwright (D) (R) Michigan Don Beyer (D) (D) Danny Davis (D) Daniel Kildee (D) Brian Higgins (D) Mike Doyle (D) (D) Janice Schakowsky (R) (D) (D) (D) Sean Maloney (D) Virgin Islands Colorado Minnesota Jerrold Nadler (D) Rhode Island Stacey Plaskett Diana DeGette Indiana Betty McCollum (D) (D) (D) (D) (D) Andre Carson (D) (D) Antonio Delgado (D) (D) (D) Joe Morelle (D) Vermont Kentucky Missouri South Carolina (D) Connecticut (R) (D) North Carolina James Clyburn (D) Joe Courtney (D) Andy Barr (R) G.K. Butterfield (D) Joe Wilson (R) Washington Rosa DeLauro (D) (R) (D) (D) Nebraska David Price (D) John Larson (D) (R) (R) South Dakota (D) (D) (R) West Virginia Ohio New Hampshire David McKinley D.C. Massachusetts Marcy Kaptur (D) (R) Ann Kuster (D) Tim Ryan (D) Tennessee E. Holmes-Norton (D) (D) (D) Stephen Lynch (D) Steve Stivers (R) Michael Turner (R) (D) Wisconsin Jim McGovern (D) Gwen Moore (D) Delaware Richard Neal (D) (D) Lisa Blunt- William Keating (D) Rochester (D)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

KNOW YOUR MEMBER HELPFUL ONLINE RESOURCES

Doing a bit of homework before meeting a legislator or their Th Advocacy Week Schedule & One-Pagers staff can help with the conversation and build a relationship. preservationaction.org/advocacyweek You can do this by visiting the legislator's website at www.house.gov or www.senate.gov. Basic information Preservation-Related Congressional Committee List includes biography, committee assignments, top policy preservationaction.org/congressional-committees/ priorities, and their track record with preservation and other legislative issues that impact your state and community. Historic Preservation Caucus List preservationaction.org/caucus/ You may find that someone helped establish a National Historic Landmark or provided assistance with a local tax Preservation Action Legislative Updates credit project. In some cases, you'll be talking to someone preservationaction.org/category/legislative-update (or more likely their staff) who has no track record with historic preservation at all. Preservation programs may not Bill Information fall within their immediate subcommittee jurisdiction. Find a congress.gov way to connect. Share your knowledge of preservation and the district. Share how what you do relates to a given Historic Tax Credits program and what insights and help you can offer. nps.gov/tps/tax-incentives.htm

It is also helpful to see how your legislator gets recognized State Historic Preservation Offices in local press. If you haven't actually met them, you can at nps.gov/shpo least meet their public persona in media and online. ncshpo.org

Knowing your legislator is very similar to knowing a Tribal Historic Preservation Offices colleague. As you know, in a non-lobbying context, you get nps.gov/history/tribes/tribal_historic_preservation_officers_program.htm to know someone over time based on common interests and nathpo.org goals. Communication with your legislator should be about building a two-way dialogue for information sharing and CONNECT WITH US problem solving. There is always common ground. And, never jump to conclusions based on background or political Share your experiences during Advocacy Week on social media using party. You may miss critical information. #PresAdvocacy21

Create an opportunity for more dialogue. If there is an . upcoming event or exciting project in the district, invite the member and/or staff to attend.