[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 86 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S7286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     MEASURE TO EXTEND THE AUTHORIZATION FOR THE NATIONAL HISTORIC 
                           PRESERVATION FUND

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, today I introduce a measure to extend 
the authorization for appropriations for the National Historic 
Preservation Fund, as established in the Historic Preservation Act 
Amendments of 1976. On September 30, 1997, the authorization for 
deposits into the Historic Preservation Fund from revenues due and 
payable to the United States under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
Act expired. I am introducing this legislation today with the purpose 
in mind of re-authorizing the deposits at the same level of 
$150,000,000 annually through the year 2004.
  The Historic Preservation Fund is based on the idea that a part of 
proceeds from depletion of a non-renewable resource, off shore gas and 
oil, should be invested in the enhancement of other non-renewable 
resources: historic properties. The Historic Preservation Fund account 
supports roughly half the cost of the Nation's historic preservation 
program as created by the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 
470). State governments contribute the other half of the cost. This is 
a true Federal-State partnership.
  States and certain local governments and Indian tribes carry out the 
Nation's historic preservation program under the Act for the Secretary 
of the Interior and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. The 
historic preservation program involves the identification of historic 
places, working with property owners in nominating significant places 
to the National Register, consulting with federal agencies on projects 
that may adversely impact historic places, advising investors on tax 
credits for the rehabilitation of historic buildings, and offering 
information and educational opportunities to the private and public 
sectors on historic preservation.
  The national historic preservation program, made possible by the 
Historic Preservation Fund (plus the State match), contributes 
significantly to community revitalization for the benefit of residents, 
to heritage tourism by identifying places people want to visit, and to 
economic development through the rehabilitation of commercial buildings 
and rental housing ($1.7 billion in construction costs in fiscal year 
1997).
  I believe this is an extremely worthwhile program that works. We 
should re-authorize this fund so that important restoration and 
revitalization efforts may continue across the country, done with the 
assistance of State Historic Preservation Offices and the Advisory 
Council on Historic Preservation. I ask unanimous consent that the text 
of the bill be entered into the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2257

       Be in enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT.

       The second sentence of section 108 of the National Historic 
     Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470h) is amended by striking 
     ``1997'' and inserting ``2004''.

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