5.14.2026

Today, NCSHPO President Anne Raines, delivered written testimony to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, urging robust investment in the Historic Preservation Fund for FY 2027.

4.24.2026

Today, NCSHPO President Anne Raines, delivered written testimony to the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, urging robust investment in the Historic Preservation Fund for FY 2027.

The request calls for $250 million in HPF funding — $70 million for State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs), $34 million for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs), $25 million for preservation technology, and $121 million for competitive grant programs that protect and activate historic places nationwide.

The testimony also underscores a pressing concern: delays in the release of already-appropriated funds. With FY26 funding still pending more than 80 days after enactment, SHPOs risk planning uncertainty, disrupted projects, and staffing impacts. The message to Congress is clear — timely distribution matters as much as the appropriation itself.

This year’s request arrives at a moment of major milestones, including the 60th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act and the 50th anniversaries of both the HPF and the federal Historic Tax Credit — reminders of a proven federal-state-local partnership that delivers economic growth, community revitalization, and stewardship of the nation’s heritage.

From reviewing more than 100,000 federal undertakings annually to unlocking billions in private investment through the tax credit, SHPOs are central to making preservation work on the ground. This request aims not only to sustain that work — but to modernize it, expand capacity, and ensure that America’s historic places continue to serve communities today and into the future.