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On July 22, 2026, the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Government Relations team provided an update on key federal policy efforts. With limited legislative days before the end of the 119th Congress, this webinar shared information about what Congress is working on and how you can help advance preservation policy priorities. The session provided key updates on Section 106 regulations, the fast-approaching end of the fiscal year, legislative momentum, and a discussion about potential lame-duck policy priorities.

Resources Shared in the Chat

• Slide Deck
• Register for Upcoming Webinars
• National Preservation Law Conference

Section 106 and Permitting Reform

• Section 106 Regulations Under Threat | Register for July 30th Webinar
• Energy and Natural Resources Committee Statement on Section 106 Regulations
• Permitting Reform Process 101

Appropriations

• FY 2027 Advoacy One Pagers
• Historic Preservation Fund
• Historic Tax Credit

Bears Ears

• Ancesteral Places of Southeast Utah
• Statement in Response to July 13 Presidential Action Modifying the Bears Ears National Monument

Chaco Canyon

• Greater Chaco Landscape (2026 11 Most Listing)
• National Trust Comments on the Potential Revocation of the Protective Buffer at Chaco Culture National Historical Park
• BLM Public Comment Period: Ends July 29
• Take Action: Urge Your Elected Officials to Support Preservation of the Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape

Tule Lake

• Tule Lake Segregation Center (2026 11 Most Listing)
• Take action: Urge Your Elected Officials to Support the Tule Lake National Monument
• Preserving the Japanese American Experience at Tule Lake

Other Issues

• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Live stream and NPS testimony
• Take Action for Route 66: Urge Congress to Support National Historic Trail Designation for Route 66
• Rosenwald Schools: House and Senate Introduce Rosenwald Schools Legislation in 119th Congress
• Take Action for American Battlefields: Urge Your Senators to Support Preservation of America’s Battlefields
• African American Civil Rights Network: National Trust for Historic Preservation and Trust for Public Land Applaud Introduction of Bipartisan Legislation to Reauthorize the African American Civil Rights Network | Take Action: Tell Congress to Support the African American Civil Rights Networkr
• Congress Introduces PRESERVE Act to Protect Publicly Commissioned Art

On July 14, Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV) and Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) introduced the Protecting Resources and Ensuring Stewardship of Enduring Records of Visual Expression (PRESERVE) Act that would establish a procedure to ensure that publicly commissioned art is protected and preserved during the federal building disposal process.

The bill would require the General Services Administration (GSA) to, among other things, convene a committee of experts to develop and implement a plan to preserve publicly commissioned artwork of buildings included in the disposal process and ensure artwork is accessible to the public.

The National Trust endorsed this legislation, and we hope Congress will ensure passage of this bill that would help preserve iconic historic resources at federal buildings.

"We applaud Representatives Titus and Doggett for their leadership introducing the PRESERVE Act and proudly endorse this critical legislation that would preserve one of our nation's largest publicly commissioned art collections held in federal buildings nationwide," said Brent Leggs, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "As some federal buildings are decommissioned or sold over time, the PRESERVE Act would mandate the protection of the irreplaceable artworks they hold, ensuring the memory and stories they tell about who we are as a nation are publicly accessible for future generations. We look forward to Congress ensuring passage of this legislation."

On June 11, Representatives Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and Mike Carey (R-OH) and Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) introduced the Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act (H.R.9269 / S.4767).

The African American Civil Rights Network (AACRN), a National Park Service (NPS) program, connects more than 130 historic sites, NPS units, and research programs dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement.

This bipartisan and bicameral legislation would reauthorize AACRN for an additional ten years. Its authorization lapsed in January 2025. Without Congressional action, no sites have an opportunity to join this vital network.

Send your members of Congress a letter asking that they cosponsor and support the Renewing the African American Civil Rights Network Act.

On June 3, 2026, the House overwhelmingly passed the American Battlefield Protection Program Amendments Act by a vote of 404-13. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation (H.R. 7618/S. 3524) would reauthorize the American Battlefield Protection Program’s (ABPP) Battlefield Land Acquisition Grant Program (BLAG) through 2035, among other things, and continue this critical investment for battlefield preservation.

The bill is now pending in the Senate. Send a letter to your Senators asking that they cosponsor and support the legislation.

On Monday, May 11, Preservation Action and the Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus hosted the 2026 Historic Preservation Month Briefing on Capitol Hill. The briefing highlighted the role historic preservation plays in addressing some of the nation’s most pressing challenges, including affordable housing, economic development, and permitting efficiency.

Lauren Cohen, Director of Government Relations at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, moderated a panel discussion featuring Katlyn Cotton of PlaceEconomics, Mike Phillips of the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, and Elizabeth Tune of the Virginia State Historic Preservation Office.

The panel covered a range of issues impacting the preservation field, including the Section 106 review process and the role State Historic Preservation Offices play in project review and permitting. Speakers also discussed new data on the benefits of rehabilitating historic buildings for affordable housing, as well as the economic activity and community revitalization that can result from investing in Main Streets and downtowns through the Historic Tax Credit.

As Congress continues consider preservation and community development priorities, advocates can support these efforts by encouraging their representatives to support the reauthorization of the Historic Preservation Fund (H.R.3418), appropriate $250 million for the Historic Preservation Fund, cosponsor the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (HTC-GO) (H.R. 2941/S.1459), and join the House Historic Preservation Caucus. Take action on these items today!

Watch the full Congressional briefing.