1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF) is subject to the annual Congressional Appropriations process, in which Congress sets specific program spending levels for the upcoming fiscal year. The HPF is key to promoting and preserving the historic and cultural properties of importance across our nation and listing them in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).    One important program funded by the HPF is the National Park Service’s Underrepresented Communities Grant Program (URC).  The URC works toward diversifying listings submitted to the NRHP by funding surveys and inventories to identify properties associated with underrepresented communities. The HPF also provides critical funding to State Historic Preservation Officers (SHPOs) and their staff.  One of the many responsibilities of SHPOs is to oversee federally delegated preservation programs such as the URC.  A recent successful example of the URC resulted in the creation of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in California, 1850-1995 Multiple Property Documentation Form (MPDF).  This MPDF established a framework to identify and designate places in California associated with AAPI communities for inclusion in the NRHP.  The AAPI framework has led to the successful listing in the NRHP of several properties, including the Nisei Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 8985 in Sacramento.  This property was purchased by the Sacramento Japanese American Citizens League for use as a VFW post by Japanese American veterans.   The site is one of the last remnants of a once-thriving Japanese community in downtown Sacramento. Places like this are important to recognize and preserve as a living part of our community life to give a sense of orientation to the American people.  Now, the HPF is in jeopardy.  From grants to historic tax credits, it’s all at stake right now and it desperately needs your help. Despite being appropriated by Congress two months ago, FY 25 funds to SHPOs and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers (THPOs) have not been released and the Presidential budget proposal for FY 26 is set at ZERO.  The HPF provides the dollars necessary in every state to save the historic places that matter most in our communities and create huge, positive economic impacts.  Congresswoman Matsui, I respectfully ask for you to take a stand for historic preservation and the HPF.