Cohen Wins Increase To Save America's Treasures And History
Press Release
Cohen Wins Increase to Save America's Treasures and History
Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) today championed a $1 million increase in federal funding to help preserve historic landmarks and artifacts throughout the country - including the Ninth Congressional District. The increase in funding was paid for by reducing the National Park Service Construction Fund that was funded well-over President Obama's request.
The Cohen-Provision was included in H.R. 2996, the Fiscal Year 2010 Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. HR 2996 passed this afternoon by a vote of 254-173 and now will be considered by the U.S. Senate.
"Our district is home to many historic and cultural landmarks that helped to shape the story of America. By increasing national funding for this important grant program, the Ninth District will have an even greater chance to preserve our community's unique history for generations to come," Congressman Cohen said.
Save America's Treasures grants assist in preserving historical sites, documents, collections, photographs and many other artifacts. In Memphis, these grants have been used to restore historic Elmwood Cemetery and preserve the work of photographer, filmmaker, and oral historian Rev. L.O. Taylor who single-handedly documented the African American community in Memphis, Tennessee from the 1920s through the 1960s.
According to the National Park Service, the federal Save America's Treasures program is one of the largest and most successful grant programs for the protection of our nation's endangered and irreplaceable cultural heritage.
Grants are awarded to federal, state, local, and tribal government entities, and non-profit organizations through a competitive matching-grant program, administered by the National Park Service in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.
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