Lobbying 101
Why Advocate?
As an advocate for historic preservation, you can take part in lobbying your public officials across a broad range of issues that will affect the quality of life in diverse neighborhoods and communities across the country. The National Trust for Historic Preservation wants preservation advocates to engage in those issues that most directly impact their communities and to build a social network that reaches other preservationists experiencing similar problems and/or successes in their neighborhoods. Sharing of anecdotal information, best practices, current public policies or regulations, and success stories will help build the historic preservation movement while simultaneously shaping public policy to utilize all the benefits that historic preservation can provide to our urban and rural environments.
Make Your Voice Heard
Visit http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/, your on-line connection to your elected representatives in Congress and the State Legislatures. This web site will allow you to express your support for preservation policy initiatives and developments that affect your community when needed.
Understanding Capitol Hill
Becoming an effective advocate for historic preservation requires four simple steps:
- Understand Congress and how our laws are made
- Know the key committees in the House and Senate with jurisdiction over historic preservation
- Follow the basic rules for nonprofit lobbying
- Learn about the role of the Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus in furthering the historic preservation agenda
How Laws Are Made
Learn about the legislative process and how are laws are made in the House and Senate.
Know the Key Committees
Below is a list of key congressional committees and their members that have jurisdiction over the policy issues of importance to historic preservation and the National Trust's public policy agenda in the 110th Congress.
House Committees - Agriculture; Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies; Subcommittee on Agriculture; Subcommittee on Homeland Security; Budget; Financial Services; Homeland Security; Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks; Rules; Transportation and Infrastructure; Ways and Means
Senate Committees - Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment & Related Agencies; Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Subcommittee on Homeland Security; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Budget; Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks; Environment and Public Works; Finance Committee; Homeland Security/Government Affairs
The Rules and Regulations Governing Nonprofit Lobbying
The general rule is that 501(c)(3) organizations are limited in lobbying by the requirement that "no substantial part of the activities be used for carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation." Because this vague rule was difficult to interpret and apply, Congress modified the tax code to permit certain 501(c)(3) organizations to elect to lobby under prescribed limits, which provide a safe harbor for the lobbying activities of the organizations. An organization that chooses not elect to follow the safe harbor limits of the tax code can still lobby, but only if lobbying does not constitute a substantial part of the activities of the organization. Read more
