Rep. Brad Miller (NC-13), co-chairman of the Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus introduced HR 3981, the “Preserve America and Save America’s Treasure’s Act” at the historic Sewall-Belmont House. The Congressman delivered remarks about this bipartisan bill, which will provide Congressional authorization to the Preserve America and Save America’s Treasures Programs run by the Department of Interior.

Also delivering remarks were First Lady Laura Bush, founder of the Preserve America program, Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), the original chair of Save America’s Treasures and co-sponsor of the companion bill in the Senate (S. 2262), Congressman Mike Turner (OH-3), co-chair of the Historic Preservation caucus and co-sponsor of the House bill and Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM), co-sponsor of the Senate bill.

In his remarks, Congressman Miller talked about the important role historic preservation plays in revitalizing communities. “When historic buildings and neighborhoods are taken for granted and deteriorate, we lose a part of our past forever. This bill will authorize two programs critical to the future of America’s historic communities and treasures.”

Each program fulfills a unique purpose. Save America’s Treasures provides funding for the restoration of historic structures, collections, and documents. Preserve America supports communities in their efforts to advance heritage tourism, education, and historic preservation planning. Together, these programs provide a comprehensive approach to historic preservation and have successfully preserved some of the nation’s most important collections and properties.

In North Carolina, the Save America’s Treasures program has rehabilitated several important structures, including the Pope House Museum in Raleigh and the Woolworth Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro. The North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office has benefited from a Preserve America grant to conduct a rural heritage resources survey in Northampton, Hertford, Bertie and Beaufort Counties. In addition, sixteen communities throughout the state have received designation as Preserve America Communities.