Yesterday, President Barack Obama released his FY 16 budget, which includes $50 million to restore and highlight historic sites associated with the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. The following is a statement by Stephanie K. Meeks, President and CEO, National Trust for Historic Preservation:

“Our understanding of the past, and the roster of the places we work to save, should reflect the remarkable diversity of our nation. But too often, important stories and historic places have been overlooked. We believe the civil rights initiative announced by President Obama today is a positive and significant step in the right direction. Restoring historic sites that tell the story of the civil rights movement, and enabling local, state, tribal governments and historically black colleges and universities to apply for preservation grants to document these stories, will help Americans and future generations experience the full breadth of our diverse history.

“Every American should have the chance to see themselves, and the places they hold dear, included in our collective story.”

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About President Obama’s Historic Preservation Budget Provision

President Obama’s $50 million funding for historic sites associated with the civil rights movement in his FY16 budget includes $30 million for competitive historic preservation grants to preserve sites and stories associated with the civil rights movement and $2.5 million for grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities to document, interpret and preserve these stories. It also includes $17.5 million in funding for sites within the National Park Service (NPS), such as the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Additionally, the budget includes $500,000 in grants for the survey and nomination of properties to the National Register of Historic Places and as National Historic Landmarks that are associated with underrepresented communities.