HR5914-119

What This Bill Does

The Historic Preservation Enhancement Act rewrites key Historic Preservation Fund provisions in title 54. It changes the fund deposit authority from a fiscal years 2012 to 2023 authorization to a permanent fiscal-year authority and doubles the annual amount from $150 million to $300 million. If revenues that normally feed the fund are insufficient after other directed deposits, Treasury general fund money must cover the difference needed for the Historic Preservation Fund. Amounts deposited for fiscal year 2026 and each later year become available beginning in fiscal year 2027 and later without further appropriation or fiscal year limitation. Of each year's fund amount, at least 40 percent must go to State Historic Preservation Offices and at least 20 percent to Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, with the Tribal allocation increasing as the number of Tribal offices increases. The President must submit proposed allocations for fiscal year 2027 within 90 days after enactment and then in annual budget submissions, while Congress may set alternate allocations in appropriations Acts. If Congress does not set full allocations, the President allocates remaining amounts; during continuing resolutions, the President may distribute funds to State and Tribal offices at prior-year rates. The bill also authorizes fund money, subject to appropriations, for African American Civil Rights Movement Initiative grants, History of Equal Rights grants, Survey Grants for Underrepresented Communities, and Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants.

Who Benefits and How

State Historic Preservation Offices benefit from a guaranteed minimum 40 percent annual allocation from a larger $300 million fund. Tribal Historic Preservation Offices benefit from a guaranteed minimum 20 percent allocation that rises as more Tribal offices are recognized. Civil rights and equal rights preservation grant programs benefit from explicit authorization to receive Historic Preservation Fund money. Underrepresented communities benefit through continued Survey Grants for Underrepresented Communities. Rural and small-town historic revitalization projects benefit from authorization for Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Treasury must provide general-fund backfill when dedicated revenues are insufficient to meet the Historic Preservation Fund deposit amount. Interior and National Park Service staff must administer no-year fund availability, minimum allocations, continuing-resolution distributions, and annual allocation reporting. The President's budget staff must submit proposed allocations within 90 days for fiscal year 2027 and annually thereafter. Congressional appropriators must decide whether to set alternate allocations or leave allocation of remaining funds to the President.

Key Provisions

• Amends title 54 to make the Historic Preservation Fund deposit authority permanent and increase annual deposits from $150 million to $300 million.
• Requires Treasury general-fund deposits to cover shortfalls when dedicated revenues are insufficient.
• Provides no-year availability without further appropriation for fiscal year 2026 and later deposits beginning in fiscal year 2027.
• Requires at least 40 percent for State Historic Preservation Offices and at least 20 percent for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices.
• Requires presidential allocation proposals, allows congressional alternate allocations, permits continuing-resolution distributions, and requires annual allocation reports.
• Authorizes Historic Preservation Fund support for African American Civil Rights Movement, History of Equal Rights, Underrepresented Communities, and Paul Bruhn revitalization grants.