Join us for National Historic Advocacy Week in Washington, D.C.
Updated: Feb 8
U.S. Capitol, West Side, by Martin Falbisoner
"Florida Trust representatives will be joining preservationists from all over the county during National Historic Advocacy Week and conducting congressional visits to advocate for historic preservation."
Florida Trust is a proud State Advocacy Captain of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Each year, during the annual Past Forward conference the Florida Trust team and preservationists from around the state meet with lawmakers to advocate for legislation that preserves the historic and cultural fabric of Florida's communities.
In November 2022, the Florida Trust met with Representatives and Senators from Florida to discuss historic preservation and advocate for the Historic Preservation Fund, the federal and state historic tax credit, as well as the African American Burial Grounds Protection Act.
The efforts of Advocacy Captains around the United States paid off - Congress passed the FY2023 omnibus package before Christmas, which included:
Provisions of the African American Burial Grounds Protection Act, including a $3-million grant program for research, identification, documentation, preservation and interpretation of historic African American burial grounds
The highest-ever funding for the Historic Preservation Fund – $204.5 million!
What's next?
In addition to our statewide efforts, Florida Trust is gearing up to work on bill reintroduction for legislation that was not successful last year, including the Historic Tax Credit Growth and Opportunity Act.
Florida Trust representatives will be joining preservationists from all over the county during National Historic Advocacy Week and conducting congressional visits to advocate for historic preservation.
How do I help?
There are many ways you can help us advocate for historic preservation in the state and national levels:
Sign up for our Advocacy Newsletter.
Join us in Washington, D.C. during National Historic Advocacy Week, March 6-8, and add your voice to the cause. Email us to join our delegation!
Add your name to the list to participate in our online Advocacy Captain meetings with legislators in November 2023.
Call or email your state representative or state senator and ask them to support Rep. Stark's House Bill 499 or Sen. DiCeglie's Senate Bill 288, respectively.
Become a Florida Trust member.
If you aren't able to join our advocacy meetings, please consider donating to the Florida Trust. Donations help fund educational material and presentations, staff travel and collateral items.
Thank you!
Florida Trust would like to thank Mimi Bair, staffer for Rep. Buchanan, Jack Heekin, staffer for Sen. Scott, Kevin Alkinburg, staffer for Rep. Rutherford, Becca Flikier, staffer for Rep. Frankel, Chris Sweet, staffer for Rep. Diaz-Balart and Luis Hinojos, staffer for Sen. Rubio, for taking the time to meet with us last November and listen to our concerns and proposals. Many thanks to our Sen. DiCeglie and Rep. Stark for their leadership and support of Florida's historic places and Main Street Communities.We are so grateful!
Finally, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our members and Florida preservationists who joined us during our Advocacy Captain Calls and of course all of you, our supporters, who make our advocacy efforts possible.