The National Trust for Historic Preservation will present its 2018 John H. Chafee Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Policy to the Honorable Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA). The award will be presented at a reception during this year’s PastForward National Preservation Conference in San Francisco.

“Senator Cassidy’s steadfast leadership ensured that the federal historic tax credit, a critical incentive that drives investment to vacant and underutilized mills, factories, warehouses, schools and more, was included in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” said Stephanie Meeks, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. “As a result, our nation’s Main Streets, small towns, and urban centers can continue to use their distinctive historic character to create jobs and fuel new economic growth while preserving our country’s heritage.”

Senator Cassidy’s staunch support was instrumental in the Senate Finance Committee’s decision to restore the federal historic tax credit in the Senate version of last year’s tax reform bill. This language was included in the final Tax Cuts and Job Act, securing the HTC’s place as a permanent part of the reformed tax code. He continues to advocate for the federal historic tax credit as the sponsor of the Historic Tax Credit Enhancement Act (S. 3058), which would encourage greater investment in rehabilitation projects and maximize the impact of the historic tax credit. Senator Cassidy is also a leader in advocating for the Historic Preservation Fund, which provides essential funding for implementing the nation’s historic preservation programs at the state and Tribal level.

“Together with advocates, we educated my colleagues on the transformative economic possibilities of historic tax credits,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Let’s celebrate a victory for representative democracy, bringing facts to people on Capitol Hill to build support for the historic tax credit, which for so many communities has preserved the historic, the iconic and has been catalytic.”

Award Background:

The John H. Chafee award honors an individual or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to historic preservation in the field of public policy at the federal, state, or local level over a sustained period of time. Nominations for this award are judged using multiple criteria including broad and effective advocacy for the value of historic preservation to elected officials and government agencies, leadership on issues of importance to historic preservation policy, and success in broadening the base of support for historic preservation beyond its traditional constituencies.

Past recipients for the John H. Chafee award have included Heritage Ohio, Texas Historical Commission, Representatives Michael Turner (R-OH) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Mrs. Laura W. Bush, and Mr. John Nau, III.

Sample Tweet: @billcassidy recognized for leadership on #historictaxcredit with @SavingPlaces award at #PastForward2018

The 2018 National Preservation Award Winners:

• Louise du Pont Crowninshield Award: Jay Turnbull, San Francisco, CA
• American Express Aspire Award: Sarah Marsom, Columbus, OH
• John H. Chafee Trustees’ Award for Outstanding Achievement in Public Policy: Sen. Bill Cassidy, LA
• Trustees’ Award for Organizational Excellence: Historic Macon Foundation, Macon, GA
• Trustees Emeritus Award for Excellence in the Stewardship of Historic Sites: Edward Hopper House Museum & Study Center, Nyack, NY
• Peter H. Brink Award for Individual Achievement in Historic Preservation: Matthew Adams, San Francisco, CA

The 2018 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation National Preservation Award Winners:

• Crosstown Concourse, Memphis, TN
• The Douglass at Page Woodson, Oklahoma City, OK
• Richardson Olmsted Campus, Buffalo, NY