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From: [log in to unmask] (Loretta Neumann)
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Date: 96-04-19 10:48:14 EDT
To: American Cultural Resources Association and
Interested Others
From: Loretta Neumann, CEHP Incorporated
Subject: ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HISTORIC PRESERVATION
The best defense, they say, is a good offense. Last year we had a bitter
battle to save the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation from being
terminated by the Congress. The House Appropriations Committee attempted to
cut most of the Council's funding and to use what was remaining to close down
the Council. This would not have saved taxpayers much money--the Council's
budget was only about $3 million a year. But it would have removed a key
partner in the national preservation program and drastically weakened the
protections afforded by the National Historic Preservation Act.
The Council is in danger again. This year, we have a battle on two fronts.
The first involves the Council's basic authority under the National Historic
Preservation Act for its funding, which expires this year and needs
reauthorization. The other is the annual appropriations for the 1997 fiscal
year, which starts October 1, 1996. Both require the enactment of
legislation, not an easy task in this very political, election year.
This memo will summarize the current situation with both the Council's
authorization and its fiscal 1997 appropriations. It will also provide some
suggestions on how you can help. The time to work on these issues is NOW,
and we need EVERYONE who cares about protecting our nation's archaeological
and historical heritage to help.
[Note: The material in this memo is copyrighted by CEHP Incorporated. It
may, however, be reprinted and reproduced in whole or in part if credit is
given to both ACRA and CEHP Incorporated.]
OVERVIEW OF THE COUNCIL
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation was established nearly 30
years ago by the National Historic Preservation Act. It is an independent
federal agency, funded as part of the appropriations for the Department of
the Interior and Related Agencies. The Council is composed of 20 members from
government and the private sector, and has a small staff based in Washington,
DC and Denver, CO. A major role of the Council is under Section 106 of the
National Historic Preservation Act which requires all federal agencies to
take into account the effect of their undertakings on historic properties and
to give the Council an opportunity to comment on them. This latter
provision, while not a "veto" over federal projects, does serve to help
assure that preservation needs are balanced with other important public
interests.
REAUTHORIZATION
Rep. James Hansen (R-Utah) has introduced H.R. 3031, to reauthorize funding
for the Council at $5 million annually through the year 2002. Rep. Hansen
chairs the House Resources Committee's Subcommittee on National Parks,
Forests and Lands. He introduced the bill "on request," which means that he
did it as a courtesy by virtue of his position, but he does not necessarily
support the bill. His subcommittee held a hearing on the legislation on
March 20. No further action has been taken. However, congressional staff have
indicated that the bill could be "marked up" (that is, amended and voted on)
the end of May. The staff also indicate that the bill may have a rough time
in the subcommittee, as 11 of the 15 Republicans voted against
Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) amendment last year to restore funding for
the Council.
No legislation to reauthorize the Council has yet been introduced in the
Senate. The Council has sent a letter to the Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska),
Chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, requesting him
to introduce the bill.
APPROPRIATIONS
The President's budget for fiscal 1997 includes $2.5 million for the
Council. This is level funding from last year, actually less since it does
not take into account inflation or other normal cost increases. Preservation
groups are supporting $3 million for the Council which is still below its
previously authorized level of $5 million. The House Interior Appropriations
Subcommittee has finished its hearings on the fiscal 1997 appropriations and
is expected to begin marking up a bill in May. The Senate will likely begin
its work shortly thereafter.
ACTION NEEDED
Most of the major national archaeology and historic preservation
organizations have written and testified in support of the Advisory Council
and other programs funded through the appropriations for the Department of
the Interior & Related Agencies. Most, like ACRA, have submitted testimony
in support of the Council's reauthorization--including the National
Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, Preservation Action,
National Trust, Society for Historical Archaeology, and Society for American
Archaeology, among others.
These efforts may be fruitless unless Members of Congress also hear from
their constituents back home. We need your help! Below are sample letters
that you can download and edit to include your own personal messages,
followed lists of the members of the relevant committees. Even if your
representative or senator is NOT on the list, write to them anyway, but word
the letter accordingly and urge them to contact the chairman of the relevant
committee urging that the cited action be taken.
ADDRESSES
If you have access to the World Wide Web, you can get the names and e-mail
addresses and Web sites for Members of Congress through ACRA's home page,
which also contains some useful links to cultural resources information. The
address is >http://www.mindspring.com/~wheaton/ACRA.html<
Click on "Who and How to Lobby for cultural resources issues" in the middle
of the ACRA home page.
The Council's own Web site provides interesting and timely information on
the role and function of the Council. The address is >http://www.achp.gov<
The "mother lode" of information about the Congress is through the "Thomas"
Web site maintained by the Library of Congress (named for Thomas Jefferson).
You can get access through it to all the Members who are on-line and also
committees. The address is: >http://thomas.loc.gov<
If all else fails, and you are not sure of the name of your representative
or senators, send us an e-mail message to >[log in to unmask]< and we will try
to locate him or her. Be sure and provide us with the name of your home town
and your zip code. Please e-mail, send or fax us copies of your
correspondence, and any responses you receive. Our "snail mail address" is
CEHP Incorporated, 1627 K Street NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20006. Fax:
(202) 293-1782.
LETTERS
Note: The following letters can be modified, depending on whether or not
your Representative is on the House Resources Committee or Interior
Appropriations Subcommittee or the Senate (check the lists that follow all
the letters below.) Note, if he is on the Interior Appropriations
Subcommittee (and there are only males on it), send ONLY the version of the
letter that follows after the Senate letter). If your member is named in the
letter (e.g., Rep. Young, Rep. Hansen, Senator Murkowski), simply urge them
to act favorably on the bill as soon as possible.
Use your personal or professional letterhead, as appropriate. Be sure and
include your full name and address so you can receive a response. And
remember to send us copies of your letters and any responses you receive.
LETTERS TO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ON COUNCIL'S REAUTHORIZATION
The Honorable [full name]
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative [last name]:
I am a constituent who is concerned about assuring the continuation of the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. I am writing to ask you to
support H.R. 3031, a bill to reauthorize funding for the Council for five
years.
The bill is pending before the House Resources Committee. [As a member of
the House Resources Committee, your support for H.R. 3031 is especially
critical.] Please urge Committee Chairman Don Young and National Parks
Subcommittee Chairman James Hansen to act favorably on the legislation as
soon as possible.
The Council was created as an independent federal agency by the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966 to advise the President and Congress on
national historic preservation matters and to direct the process established
under Section 106 of the National Historical Preservation Act of protecting
historic properties from harm by federal undertakings. The Council has
played a significant and vital role in addressing major issues affecting
archeological resources and historic sites.
[Give a specific example of how the federal review process has or could
benefit historic properties in your community.]
I would appreciate knowing your intentions on this matter. Thank you.
Sincerely,
LETTERS TO THE SENATE
ON COUNCIL'S REAUTHORIZATION
The Honorable [full name]
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator [last name]:
I am a constituent who is concerned about assuring the continuation of the
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. I am writing to ask you to
support legislation to reauthorize funding for the Council for five years.
Such legislation was introduced in the House (H.R. 3031 by Representative
James Hansen). No similar legislation has yet been introduced in the Senate.
[As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, your
support for the Council is especially critical.] I strongly urge you to
sponsor a companion bill to H.R. 3031 in the Senate and to urge Committee
Chairman Murkowski to act favorably on the legislation as soon as possible.
The Council was created as an independent federal agency by the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966 to advise the President and Congress on
national historic preservation matters and to direct the process established
under Section 106 of the National Historical Preservation Act of protecting
historic properties from harm by federal undertakings. The Council has
played a significant and vital role in addressing major issues affecting
archeological resources and historic sites.
[Give a specific example of how the federal review process has or could
benefit historic properties in your community.]
I would appreciate knowing your intentions on this matter. Thank you.
Sincerely,
LETTERS TO HOUSE INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
This letter is ONLY to Members of the House of Representatives who are also
Members of the Interior Appropriations Committee and also to the Chairman and
ranking member of the full Appropriations Committee. (Modify it if writing
directly to the chairmen and ranking members to urge them to act favorably on
the request for $3 million for the Council.) See list that follows these
letters.
The Honorable [Full Name of Your Representative]
US House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative [Last Name]:
As a constituent, I am writing to urge your support for funding of $3
million for the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation as part the fiscal
year 1997 Appropriations for the Department of the Interior and Related
Agencies.
As a member of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, your support
for the Council is critical.
The Council was created as an independent Federal agency by the National
Historic Preservation Act of 1966 to advise the President and Congress on
national historic preservation matters and to direct the process established
under Section 106 of the National Historical Preservation Act of protecting
historic properties from harm by Federal activities. The Council has played
a significant and vital role in addressing major issues affecting
archeological resources and historic sites.
[Give a specific example of how the federal review process can benefit
historic properties in your community.]
I would appreciate knowing your intentions on this matter. Thank you.
Sincerely,
COMMITTEE LISTS
Note, for the House Resources and Senate Energy Committees, we are
including the full committee lists, with stars indicating members of the
subcommittees that have jurisdiction over historic preservation. For the
Appropriations Committee, we are including only the full committee chairman
and ranking members and the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee.
HOUSE RESOURCES COMMITTEE
The House Resources Committee Subcommittee on National Park, Forests and
Lands chairman is Rep. Jim Hansen (R-Utah) and the ranking member is Rep.
Bill Richardson (D-New Mexico).
The full House Resources Committee chairman is Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska)
and the ranking member is Rep. George Miller (D-California).
Committee Members:
* (starred members are also members of the Subcommittee on National Parks,
Forests & Lands)
Republicans
Don Young, Alaska, Chairman
Billy Tauzin, Louisiana
*James Hansen, Utah
Jim Saxton, New Jersey
Elton, Gallegly, California
*John Duncan, Jr., Tennessee
*Joel Hefley, Colorado
*John Doolittle, California
*Wayne Allard, Colorado
Wayne Gilchrest, Maryland
Ken Calvert, California
*Richard Pombo, California
*Peter Torkildsen, Massachusetts
*J.D. Hayworth, Arizona
Frank Cremeans, Ohio
*Barbara Cubin, Wyoming
*Wes Cooley, Oregon
*Helen Chenoweth, Idaho
*Linda Smith, Washington
*George Radanovich, California
Walter Jones, North Carolina
Mac Thornberry, Texas
Richard Hastings, Washington
Jack Metcalf, Washington
Jim Longley, Maine
*John Shadegg, Arizona
*John Ensign, Nevada
Democrats
George Miller, California, Ranking Minority Member
Edward Markey, Massachusetts
*Nick Joe Rahall, II, West Virginia
*Bruce Vento, Minnesota
*Dale Kildee, Michigan
*Pat Williams, Montana
Sam Gejdenson, Connecticut
*Bill Richardson, New Mexico
Peter DeFazio, Oregon
*Eni F.H. Faleomavega., America Samoa
Tim Johnson, South Dakota
Neil Abercrombie, Hawaii
*Gerry Studds, Massachusetts
Solomon Ortiz, Texas
Owen Pickett, Virginia
*Frank Pallone, Jr., New Jersey
Calvin M. Dooley, California
*Carlos Romero-Barcelo, Puerto Rico
*Maurice Hinchey, New York
*Robert Underwood, Guam
Sam Farr, , California
*Patrick Kennedy, Rhode Island
SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
The full Senate Energy Committee chairman is Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska)
and the ranking member is Sen. J. Bennett Johnston (D-Louisiana).
The Senate Subcommittee on Park, Historic Preservation, and Recreation
chairman is Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyoming) and the ranking member is Sen. Dale
Bumpers (D-Arkansas).
Committee Members:
* (starred members are also members of the Subcommittee on Parks, Historic
Preservation, and Recreation)
Republicans
Frank Murkowski, Alaska, Chairman
Mark Hatfield, Oregon
Pete Domenici, New Mexico
*Don Nickles, Oklahoma
Larry Craig, Idaho
*Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Colorado
*Craig Thomas, Wyoming
Jon Kyl, Arizona
*Rod Grams, Minnesota
*James M. Jeffords, Vermont
Conrad Burns, Montana
Democrats
J. Bennett Johnston, Louisiana
*Dale Bumpers, Arkansas
Wendell H. Ford, Kentucky
*Bill Bradley, New Jersey
Jeff Bingaman, New Mexico
Daniel K. Akaka, Hawaii
*Paul Wellstone, Minnesota
*Howell Heflin, Alabama
Byron L. Dorgan, North Dakota
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERIOR & RELATED AGENCIES
. The full House Appropriations Committee chairman is Rep. Bob Livingston
(R-Louisiana) and the ranking member is Rep. David Obey (D-Wisconsin).
The Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman is Rep. Ralph Regula
(R-Ohio) and the ranking member is Rep. Sidney Yates (D-Illinois).
Subcommittee Members:
Republicans
Ralph Regula, Ohio, Chairman
Joseph McDade, Pennsylvania
Jim Kolbe, Arizona
Joe Skeen, New Mexico
Barbara Vucanovich, Nevada
Charles Taylor, North Carolina
George Nethercutt, Washington
Jim Bunn, Oregon
Democrats
Sidney Yates, Illinios, Ranking Minority Member
Norman Dicks, Washington
Tom Bevill, Alabama
David Skaggs, Colorado
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