Want $150 Million per year for Preservation?
We need your help to voice your support for the Historic Preservation Fund today! The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the CLEAR Act, a bill to address offshore oil and gas reforms following the oil well blow-out in the Gulf of Mexico which contains a provision to fully fund the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) at $150 million!
Contact your Representative and ask him/her to support the full-funding for the HPF provision by voting yes for CLEAR Act (H.R. 3534).
Not since its inception in 1976 has the HPF received full funding to carry out the provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act. In fact since 2001, appropriations have declined from $94 million to less than $80 million.
The HPF is funded by receipts from federal offshore oil and gas subject to annual federal appropriations by Congress. The CLEAR Act will fully fund the HPF and not subject the HPF to the appropriations process in Congress, allowing the Secretary of Interior to use these funds without further federal action. Imagine the great work the preservation movement could accomplish with full funding of $150 million each year!
There has not been an active bill before Congress in a DECADE to address full funding for HPF, so we urgently need you to take action right now. Do not delay because the vote is expected before the end of the week. You make all the difference!