 ORGANIZATION CONTACTValerie J. Grussing, Ph.D. NATHPO, Executive Director Valerie@nathpo.org 202-628-8476MEDIA CONTACT Media@nathpo.org 202-643-0839 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
NATHPO PRAISES VITAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION BILL
After a Recent Senate Hearing Further Exposed the Need, the Historic Preservation Enhancement Act Would Give THPOs Increased Funding and Stability
Today, the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (NATHPO) praised introduction of the Historic Preservation Enhancement Act by Representative Teresa Leger Fernández (D-NM). The sweeping legislation, which Rep. Leger Fernández first introduced in 2024, would, if enacted, represent a vital step towards the federal government fulfilling their Trust responsibilities to ensure Tribal Nations have the financial resources necessary to protect their sacred places and preserve their cultural resources.
Last week's hearing in the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources provided lawmakers with a clear demonstration of the need for increased funding for Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs) as they look for ways to improve the process of reviewing federally connected projects under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. In his written and oral testimony, THPO for the Pueblo of Acoma and NATHPO Board Member Steven Concho demonstrated how THPOs' lack of resources can lead to delays in the consultation process. Furthermore, as more Tribal Nations assert their sovereignty and establish a THPO, each THPO's share of the funding the program receives - which has remained unchanged over the last several years - is further reduced.
The Historic Preservation Enhancement Act would take an historic step towards rectifying these two problems by permanently requiring $300 million each year to be appropriated for the Historic Preservation Fund. Of that $300 million, at least 20 percent of the funds would be required to be allocated for THPOs, which would nearly triple the current funding for the THPO program. The bill would also require the Department of the Interior to review the allocation of funding annually to ensure that funding for THPOs keeps pace as the number of THPOs increases.
"If Congress wants to get serious about streamlining historic reviews of projects, passing the Historic Preservation Enhancement Act would be a monumental first step," said Dr. Valerie Grussing, NATHPO's Executive Director for Legislative Affairs and Strategic Partnerships. "THPOs, whose current funding is already inadequate, are tasked with reviewing an ever-increasing number of projects. Meanwhile, their resources decrease year after year, punished by the success of a program whose funding does not increase as more THPOs are established. Representative Leger Fernández has proposed a bold and thoughtful answer to this problem, and we hope Congress will swiftly take up her bill so it can be enacted into law."
"Now, more than ever, it is our duty to preserve our history so that communities can see America's greatest treasures and hear our most moving stories," said Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández. "My parents instilled in me the importance of understanding the pain our communities have endured and what we can celebrate. I introduced the Historic Preservation Enhancement Act so that we can preserve places of struggle and perseverance across America and celebrate shared historical milestones. This bill funds State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices and other organizations dedicated to preserving these stories. Tribal Historic Preservation Offices (THPOs) are the heart of protecting the heritage and culturally important places of Native American communities. My bill would provide increased resources to THPOs which are currently under-funded despite the millennia of history they must protect."
Who we are – NATHPO is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization, founded in 1998, of Tribal preservation leaders protecting culturally important places that perpetuate Native identity, resilience, and cultural endurance. Connections to cultural heritage sustain the health and vitality of Native peoples. We provide guidance to preservation officials, elected representatives, and the public about national historic preservation legislation, policies, and regulations. We promote Tribal sovereignty, develop partnerships, and advocate for Tribes in governmental activities on preservation issues. For more information visit our website at www.nathpo.org.