Advocacy Alert + Call to Action: Contact your members of Congress in support of the Historic Preservation Fund today!

On June 2, The Preservation League of NYS sent a letter to the entire New York State Congressional Delegation to stress the importance of the Historic Preservation Fund. Along with our Preservation Colleagues, the League is determined that our elected representatives in Congress understand the importance of the Historic Preservation Fund and related programs in communities across New York State. You can find that letter here.

But we also need YOU to raise your voice for preservation and contact your elected representatives.

Here’s a basic call script for your reference:

“I am calling to urge you to help facilitate the immediate release of Fiscal Year 2025 Historic Preservation Fund funding and support necessary and robust funding for the HPF in FY 2026.
I call on Congress to facilitate the immediate approval of the FY2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity so that New York’s State Historic Preservation Office and New York’s eight Tribal Historic Preservation Offices can continue to aid in the preservation of our state’s heritage.
I also call on Congress to demonstrate continued, bipartisan commitment to our nation’s history, ahead of the 2026 Semiquincentennial – by proposing FY26 appropriations necessary for SHPOs to carry out the requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act, emphasizing their role as stewards of our nation’s history; and by investing in preservation projects that recognize the past, with an eye toward the future.
The Historic Preservation Fund is vital to the preservation that happens every day in New York State. FY 2025 funds have not been released, leaving offices short of funds and preservation projects stalled, despite being appropriated by Congress. In addition, the President’s proposed budget seeks to eliminate the HPF almost entirely.
This will devastate historic preservation efforts statewide. Our communities rely on HPF funding to provide affordable housing, promote heritage tourism, celebrate our history, and support economic development. This is in addition to cuts and staff reductions at the National Park Service itself.

Despite the threat to the Historic Preservation Fund from the Executive Branch, there is widespread bipartisan support. In late May, 80 Representatives and Senators — representing 29 different states and territories — signed on to the FY2026 Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) Dear Colleague letters. You can find more information about the House and Senate letters here, thanks to our colleagues at Preservation Action. We also want to recognize the New York electeds who signed on to these letters: Representatives Dan Goldman , Paul Tonko, Ritchie Torres, and Jerrold Nadler; and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand who was co-lead on the Senate letter. It’s important for these representatives to hear from their constituents that they approve of their supporting the HPF — but if your representative isn’t listed, it’s even more important to reach out and encourage them to support this necessary funding.

Not sure who your Congressperson is? Click here to look it up.