[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 6, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H832-H833]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HISTORIC PRESERVATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I have dedicated my career to making the 
Federal Government a better partner for livable communities. These are 
places where families are safe, healthy, and more economically secure.
  One of the most important tools in making a community livable is the 
promotion of historic preservation.
  It is more than just preserving landmarks or putting up plaques. The 
historic preservation movement has resulted in preserving over 45,000 
historic buildings that celebrate and inform our heritage and our past.
  Historic preservation helps us understand who we are, where we went, 
and what we might be.
  I fought to protect these historic treasures that enrich community by 
recycling buildings that preserve that heritage. Not only do they give 
definition and character to our communities, but they are also a 
powerful boost for the local economy.
  A building that has been renovated creates many more jobs because it 
is labor intense and it is located in historically relevant space. 
Preserving these buildings makes communities stronger, more resilient, 
and more energy efficient than abandoning historic locations for new 
construction, which is often outside of the core area.
  A green building is one that has been revitalized and rebuilt rather 
than new construction.
  Historic preservation helps revitalize adjacent properties. The value 
radiates out from the historic property. Historic preservation is a 
tremendous attraction for tourism.
  Because it is so labor intense, the historic tax credit has created 
nearly 3 million jobs since its creation 40 years ago and has attracted 
$173 billion in private capital. That means each dollar for credit 
generates $4 in private investment.
  You don't need to be a billionaire developer.
  Projects that employ historic preservation on a smaller scale make it 
possible for a broader range of owners to participate, sharing the 
advantages.
  That is why the National Park Service found that in one study $33 
billion in tax credits generated over $38 billion in Federal tax 
revenue.
  This is a program that pays for itself even before consideration of 
the increased value of surrounding properties and the benefits of 
tourism and energy savings.
  Because it is labor intense, the historic tax credit has created 
nearly 3,000,000 jobs since its creation barely 40 years ago and has 
attracted approximately $173 billion in private capital.
  This means that each dollar of the tax credit generated $4 in private 
investment.

[[Page H833]]

  Mr. Speaker, it is hard to think of another Federal program that 
makes such a strong contribution to the sense of place, revitalizing of 
local economies, promoting tourism, and encouraging other investment.
  We will continue fighting to preserve this important private 
incentive for rehabilitation and reuse of historic buildings. It is 
changing the face of American communities, both rural and urban, by 
making such an investment protecting our heritage.
  By celebrating our past, we promote our future in a way that is cost-
effective and respectful of that heritage. I can't think of another 
program I have been involved with that has had such a profound effect 
on the livability of our communities.
  Historic preservation doesn't just celebrate and strengthen physical 
community. It speaks to the life and the spirit that is so vital.
  Preserving a community's past heritage is an important example across 
the country for projects large and small that inspire such pride 
celebrating the past while we invest in the future.

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