On May 7, 2008, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee cleared legislation (S. 2262) to authorize both the Preserve America and Save America’s Treasures programs, making them permanent tools for those engaged in historic preservation activities. S. 2262 would formally codify the two grant programs that started through Presidential Executive Orders.

Both programs encourage heritage tourism and public-private partnerships in historic and cultural preservation. Preserve America fosters reuse and interpretation of cultural resources. The Save America’s Treasures grant program funds “bricks and mortar” improvements to historic structures and assets by providing competitive grants to encourage sustainable historic resource management through heritage tourism.

Companion legislation (H.R. 3981) has been introduced in the House and was the subject of a recent hearing by the House Subcommitee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands.