PRESIDENT’S BUDGET REQUEST WOULD ELIMINATE OR REDUCE FUNDING FOR IMPORTANT HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAMS

In a shock to the historic preservation community, President Obama’s 2011 Budget Request – released 2Feb2010 – slashed funding for several key components of the national preservation program. It proposes to completely eliminate funding for Save America’s Treasures and Preserve America grant programs. Perhaps what is most alarming is a White House blog that singles out these two programs as examples of programs that “weren’t working well”[1]. Proposed funding for National Heritage Areas is reduced as well. We need your help to reinstate these cuts and make the case for the importance of these programs. Details of program cuts in the proposed budget include: • Zeroed-out funding of Save America’s Treasures (SAT) program within the Historic Preservation Fund. • Reduced the National Recreation and Preservation account by $17 million which includes the elimination of the Preserve America grants and a proposed a 50% cut to National Heritage Areas We are especially concerned about reductions to Save America’s Treasures. It has enjoyed broad, bi-partisan Congressional support, and has played a vital role in successfully saving over 700 of America’s most significant places in all 50 states, from Ellis Island to Mesa Verde National Park to Valley Forge to Thomas Edison’s Invention Factory. In a statement early today, Richard Moe responded to the proposed cuts, “Over the last decade the Save America’s Treasures program has helped preserve some of our most significant historic places through modest grants that leverage private dollars, create jobs and strengthen communities. What’s not to like about this program? It’s incredibly short-sighted that the administration proposes eliminating it at a time when it’s needed more than ever.” The National Trust for Historic Preservation is very concerned these important programs, that preservationists have fought hard to create and fund, have taken such a big hit. We will be calling on all of you over the next few weeks to send the message to Congress that these programs are both effective and essential to federal preservation efforts. Please stay tuned to see how you can help in these efforts. We will be providing more information about additional historic preservation elements of the President’s Budget shortly. Emily Wadhams| Vice President, Public Policy Department National Trust for Historic Preservation | 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20036 [Source:  LinkedIn-National Trust for Historic Preservation group]