[OR_Archaeology] Obama signs legislation perm authorizing Save America's Treasures & Preserve America Grant programs

[Susan White]

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 30, 2009)

John L. Nau, III, chairman of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation,  today hailed President Barack Obama's signing of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (H.R.146/S.22) into law

The two national historic preservation organizations (respectively the independent federal agency that advises the President and Congress on historic preservation issues and the nation's leading preservation membership nonprofit) have long supported permanent legislative authorization of the Save America's Treasures and Preserve America
grant programs. The omnibus bill that incorporates the authorization of these two complementary programs contains numerous measures important to natural, cultural, and historic resource preservation constituencies. 

"This legislation permanently authorizes these two important programs that provide American citizens in communities across the country with the means to use and save their historic places that tell their part of the American story," Nau said. "In doing so, they make powerful economic, environmental and cultural contributions to communities and the nation."

"America's cultural and historic resources help define us as a nation, and their preservation benefits all of us," said Richard Moe.  "Permanent authorization of Save America's Treasures and Preserve America is a necessary step in the ability to continue telling America's remarkable and diverse story" "the U.S. Congress and the President are to be commended for their support."