On October 21, 2026, a coalition of preservation organizations, including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, sent a letter to Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mike Lee (R-UT) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) regarding the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (S. 5653).

The National Trust works to protect historic and cultural resources through the National Historic Preservation Act, including Section 106, which ensures that federal agencies consider the effects of their actions on historic places and consult with Tribal Nations, states, local governments, and the public. We support making federal reviews more efficient and predictable, but not at the expense of these essential protections or the voices of the communities they serve.

We strongly support the letter’s concerns about the historic preservation provisions of S. 5653 as drafted. We believe Congress should revisit these provisions and work with the preservation community, Tribal Nations, states, and local governments to develop reforms that improve efficiency while maintaining meaningful consultation, accountability, and effective protections for historic and cultural resources.