Save America's Treasures
Important Update: Short-Sighted Budget Slashes Preservation Funding
Written by Pat Lally
Remember my comments in the blog I posted last week on the State of the Union? That the President's address sets the stage for his budget? That the three-year freeze he proposed could lead to cuts? Well, the White House sent its Budget Request to Capitol Hill yesterday, as it typically does the first Monday in February. How did preservation fare? Let's just say that it wasn't a very good day for us.
Save America's Treasures, the nation's only bricks-and-mortar grant program, is proposed for elimination. Not since the 1980's has there been such an assault on the programs that protect America's heritage. Since 1998, Save America's Treasures has been the federal government's most successful tool to preserve the important places that tell our nation's story. Due to the broad, bi-partisan Congressional support it has on the Hill, the program has saved over 1,200 of America's most significant places in all 50 states, supporting jobs and economic development in every single project it covers.
The elimination of Save America's Treasures would represent a 25% reduction in the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), the account that funds the core activities of the national historic preservation program. How ironic just as preservationists have mounted a nationwide campaign to get the HPF fully funded. Even though it is supposed to get $150 million annually, the fund barely sees half that from Congress. If the House and Senate go along with this Budget Request, the HPF will now get only a third of what it should receive.
But here's the biggest irony in the President's Budget Request (and a little-known fact). Technically speaking, Save America's Treasures and the other core national preservation programs under the HPF cost the American taxpayer nothing. You see, this account, by law, is funded by the revenue received from offshore oil and gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf. Years ago, Congress had the foresight to place historic preservation in this dedicated account along with other "conservation" activities. Their rationale was that as non-renewable resources are expended (such as fossil fuels), some of the associated revenue should help pay for the conservation and preservation of other non-renewable resources, such as sensitive ecosystems and nationally-significant buildings, collections, and objects.
Makes sense, right? Well, the problem is that both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue have budgeted much of this money for purposes other than historic preservation, and that simply has to stop. In fact, some of the other conservation activities that are funded by oil and gas leasing revenue are increased substantially in this Budget Request, just as we were slashed. It seems to me that preservationists need to make it loud and clear to their lawmakers as to why we need every penny of the $150 million that we're supposed to get from Washington every year.
The final irony is that, among federal programs, Save America's Treasures stands out as a model of efficiency and effective spending. You see, every grant recipient under this program is required to find a dollar-for-dollar, non-federal match. To date, Save America's Treasures at the National Trust has raised almost $57 million in non-federal and private matching funds. As a result, Save America's Treasures has been enormously successful in leveraging private-sector financing and creating productive and sustained partnerships with large corporations, foundations, and individuals that provide matching contributions. Here is just a small glimpse into some of the places and things that Save America's Treasures has helped preserve for future generations: Ellis Island, Mesa Verde National Park, Valley Forge, Thomas Edison's Invention Factory, and the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to write the "Star Spangled Banner."
Now, I've placed so much emphasis on Save America's Treasures because, in the grand scheme of things, it make no sense at all to eliminate. But it is also important to know that this Budget Request would cut and eliminate other worthy and valuable preservation programs if adopted. Preserve America, a sister program to Save America's Treasures for preservation education and outreach (funded out of the National Recreation Account), would be eliminated. National Heritage Area funding would be cut by half. And lastly, for the State and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers who are the backbone of the national historic preservation program – level funding from last year. What this really means is that they will continue to be inadequately funded and often unable to keep up with their enormous workloads.
In just four weeks, preservationists will be coming to Washington to meet with their elected representatives during Historic Preservation Advocacy Week. We'll be making a full court press on the Hill to oppose the elimination of Save America's Treasures and Preserve America. We'll also oppose other cuts to important preservation programs, and lobby for increased funding for State and Tribal Offices. In the meantime, stay tuned for our call to action to engage your Member of Congress; we need everyone to express their opposition to how this Budget Request treats critical historic preservation programs.
Read Further Analysis of the President's Budget Request »
This piece originally appeared on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's blog on Monday, February 3. Pat Lally is the congressional affairs director for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Stay tuned for a behind-the-scenes look at how preservation policy is made through his weekly posts from the Hill.
About Save America's Treasures
Save America's Treasures' story unfolds in many places, from world famous landmarks to the familiar houses and churches that grace our hometowns, Every community has something – a railroad station, a fountain in a town square, a mural in the courthouse – that helps to define it, sets it apart from every other place, and makes it feel like home. These structures, objects and, works of art tell our story as a nation and a people – an inspiring story written in brick and bronze and paint. Keeping this story alive and intact is what Save America's Treasures is all about.
Established by Executive Order in 1998, Save America's Treasures is a public-private partnership that includes the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Park Service, the President's Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and the federal cultural agencies. Honorary Chair Mrs. Laura Bush leads this effort along with co-chairs Richard Moe, president of the National Trust, and Susan Eisenhower, noted author and granddaughter of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Former First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, who launched the program as the centerpiece of the Millennium celebration, continues to participate as the founding chair.
Since its creation, Save America's Treasures has designated over 1,600 official projects and awarded over $300 million in public and private grants to preservation efforts in every state. It forges partnerships with corporations and foundations, public agencies, the media and private citizens, generating new resources and public visibility to ensure a brighter future for our past. The collection ranges from such iconic objects as the Star Spangled Banner, the Founding Fathers' Papers, and the World Trade Center Model to historically and architecturally significant structures, including the Acoma Pueblo, Lincoln Cottage, Taliesen, and the Conservatory of Flowers, as well as the autobiographical homes of Edith Wharton, Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott, Harriet Tubman, and Captain Frederick Pabst.
Save America's Treasures is a public-private partnership that works – its success enriches our lives and honors the past with gifts to the future. In the words of National Trust President Richard Moe, "Save America's Treasures is the country's most significant preservation effort in over 40 years."
The Save America's Treasures federal grant program is administered by the National Park Service (NPS) in partnership with the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Each year, grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and historic structures and sites. Intellectual and cultural artifacts include artifacts, collections, documents, sculpture, and works of art. Historic structures and sites include historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects. Grants are awarded through a competitive matching-grant program by Save America's Treasures public partners.
Save America's Treasures at the National Trust for Historic Preservation is the partnership's principal private partner. Through creative collaboration with preservation organizations, private donors, foundations, corporations, and media outlets, Save America's Treasures at the National Trust raises awareness and new resources for the nation's most important historic and cultural preservation efforts. The program also plays an important role as an on-the-ground "eyes and ears" for the federal program. We work closely with a variety of projects across the country, meeting with project representatives, providing advice and guidance on the federal grant process, reviewing draft applications as appropriate, and providing assistance in meeting the required match when possible.
We Want Your Feedback
Are you concerned about how this Budget Request would adversely affect the preservation of our national treasures? Let me know what you think by leaving a comment below.
Submitted by Judith at: February 7, 2010
Save America's Treasures has been a lifeline for thousands of historic sites across America. In addition to enhancing our sense of ourselves as a people, preserving historic sites makes economic sense, both through heritage tourism and through promoting sustainable energy use. Cutting this program makes no sense at all! We need it--desperately!
Submitted by rosie at: February 7, 2010
I am deeply concerned about this cut and would like to say that I believe this program should be fully supported by our government and that all should know that it is not effecting our taxes, and supporting our nation's future!! Thank you.