From March 2-5, 2026, preservation advocates from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C. for National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week, hosted by the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers (NCSHPO) and Preservation Action (PA). In a time of uncertainty, it was energizing to be surrounded by so many dedicated people united by a shared commitment to protecting historic places, all representing diverse states, organizations, Tribal Nations, and communities.

250 for 250 and Reauthorizing the Historic Preservation Fund

Preservation advocates called on Congress to make a meaningful investments in the places that tell America’s story through the 250 for 250 campaign. The campaign calls for $250 million in funding for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) to strengthen preservation programs nationwide, in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary. This increase from the recent requests for $225 million includes an addition of $25 million to invest in the survey and digitization of historic site records and assets. These grants would be made available to SHPO and THPO offices to address concerns raised by Senators during evaluation of the Section 106 process that potential changes must be coupled by investments in preservation infrastructure to ensure effective processing of Section 106 reviews.

Through these programs, preservation professionals and local partners carry out critical work that helps identify, protect, and revitalize historic places. SHPOs and THPOs review federal projects for their impacts on historic resources, administer federal Historic Tax Credit project reviews, conduct surveys of historic sites, and support nominations to the National Register of Historic Places. The HPF also supports competitive grant programs that help preserve nationally significant historic places and ensure that preservation reflects the full and diverse history of the United States. Programs such as Save America’s Treasures, African American Civil Rights grants, the Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants, Semiquincentennial Preservation Grants, and Underrepresented Communities grants help communities protect historic places and share the stories that shape our nation.

In addition to strengthening annual funding, advocates urged representatives to support the Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3418), bipartisan legislation introduced by Mike Turner (R-OH) and Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM). The legislation would reauthorize the HPF for ten years and increase the authorized funding level to $250 million annually.

Together, the 250 for 250 funding request and the HPF Reauthorization Act represent a renewed national commitment to preserving America’s historic places. A $250 million investment would help preservation programs meet growing demands, strengthen grant programs, and support the work of preservation offices that protect historic resources in communities across the country.

Importantly, the Historic Preservation Fund is supported by revenues from offshore oil and gas leases rather than general taxpayer dollars.

Urge Congress to support the Historic Preservation Fund Reauthorization Act and provide $250 million for the Historic Preservation Fund.

Designating Route 66 as a National Historic Trail

Advocates encouraged Congress to support the Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act (H.R. 5470 / S. 2887), which would help recognize the roadway as the nation prepares to celebrate its centennial in 2026.

Route 66 stretches approximately 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, passing through eight states and more than 300 communities. Often known as the “Main Street of America,” the highway became a symbol of freedom, mobility, and opportunity in the twentieth century.

Designating Route 66 as a National Historic Trail would help preserve historic resources along the corridor while strengthening communities that depend on heritage tourism and local investment.

Click here to ask Congress to support the Route 66 National Historic Trail Designation Act (H.R. 5470 / S. 2887).

Strengthening the Historic Tax Credit

Advocates also called on representatives to cosponsor the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (HTC GO) (H.R. 2941/ S. 1459), bipartisan legislation introduced in 2025 by Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) in the Senate and by Representatives Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) in the House, that would modernize and strengthen one of the federal government’s most successful revitalization tools.

A key provision of the bill would return the federal Historic Tax Credit to single year delivery, allowing the 20 percent credit to be claimed in the year a project is placed in service, rather than taken over the course of five years. HTC-GO would also lower the substantial rehabilitation test for projects from 100 percent to 50 percent of a buildings basis, making it easier to undertake projects that do not require complete rehabilitation.

Importantly, the bill proposes to eliminate the current requirement that the value of the credits be deducted from a buildings basis calculation. This change would allow the historic tax credit to more easily pair with the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, which does not require a similar reduction in basis. Additionally, the bill seeks to improve access to historic tax credits for main street-scale properties and community organizations by increasing the value of the credit for smaller projects and changing the disqualified lease rules so more health centers, arts organizations, museums and theaters will qualify for the incentive.

These updates would strengthen the Historic Tax Credit’s ability to support housing, small businesses, and community revitalization projects across the country while ensuring that historic buildings remain active and productive assets in communities of all sizes.

Click here to ask your Members of Congress to cosponsor the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act (H.R. 2941/S. 1459).