U.S. Senate Adjourns Without Vote on Historic Preservation Fund
Thank you for contacting Senators Schumer and Gillibrand recently to ask them to support full funding for the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) . Unfortunately, last night, the U.S. Senate adjourned for its summer recess without voting on the measure. However, your calls and e-mails—added to those found around the country—have put the HPF on their radar screens. The national coalition we are working with on HPF hopes to convince the Senate leadership to add the HPF to Senate Bill S. 2663 when the bill comes up in the fall.
NYS Senate Completes Budget That Defers Preservation Tax Credits
In Albany, the State Senate finally completed action on the state budget last night. But this includes deferring any state preservation tax credits earned through the end of 2012 until sometime between 2013 through 2016. While preservationists almost succeeded in allowing these credits to go forward without any postponement, last minute horse trading on the budget included preservation tax credits in a list of some 30 state tax credits which will now be deferred.
The result will likely hamper larger restoration projects and dampen hopes that the credits would spur economic development activity throughout the State.
Preservation lobbying in Washington and Albany will resume in the fall in hopes that full funding for HPF and a resumption of full state tax credits can proceed.
We hope you will continue to work with us then on both goals.
