On November 9, the U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on permitting reform legislation that could bring the most significant changes to federal historic preservation regulations in more than 60 years.
At the center of the debate is Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), which requires federal agencies to identify historic properties that could be affected by projects they fund or permit. This includes historic buildings, archaeological sites, and properties on Tribal lands.
Section 106 also provides an opportunity for Tribal Nations, local governments, community groups, and the public to weigh in before projects move forward.
Why does this matter to New Orleans?
After Hurricane Katrina, Section 106 played a vital role in ensuring that federal recovery investments did not cause further harm to New Orleans’ historic neighborhoods and architectural character.
What Would Change?
The Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (Senate Bill 5653) proposes significant changes to the Section 106 review process.
Among other things, the legislation would:
- Allow federal agencies to make decisions about impacts to historic properties without consulting state and local governments, Tribal Nations, or the public.
- Limit the types of projects and historic properties subject to preservation review.
- Create inconsistencies in the review process that could lead to uncertainty and project delays.
These changes could significantly limit opportunities for communities to participate in decisions affecting their historic places.
What can you do to help?
Call on U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy to oppose the legislation as currently written and protect Section 106.
You can make your voice heard in two ways:
OPTION 1: CALL THEIR OFFICES
Call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask to be connected to Senator Cassidy’s or Senator Kennedy’s office.
Here is a sample script you can use:
“Hello, my name is [NAME], and I am a constituent from [CITY], Louisiana. I am calling to ask [SENATOR’S NAME] to vote NO on the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 as written, or to support the bill only if Title III is removed. The proposed changes threaten historic and archaeological resources, weaken meaningful public participation, and limit opportunities for communities and Tribal Nations to weigh in on federally supported projects. Please protect historic preservation review and ensure that local voices remain part of these decisions. Thank you.”
OPTION 2: SEND AN EMAIL
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has made it easy to contact your senators directly through its online action center.
Learn More
Read the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s one-page overview of its principal objections to the proposed legislation.
