H.R. 2448: To direct the Secretary of Interior to submit to Congress a report on the National Park Service’s interpretation and application of the Standards for Rehabilitation for use of the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program.

This bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to produce a report concerning how the National Park Service applies the Standards for Rehabilitation in relation to the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program. The report is required to be submitted to Congress within one year after the bill's enactment. Below are the key components of what the report will include:

Report Requirements

• Data Overview: The report must provide data covering the processing of Program Applications over the previous ten years. This data should include:
  • The average duration from application submission to approval or denial, categorized by project size and types.
  • The annual averages for:
    • Hold notices issued
    • Conditions for approval
    • Denied applications
    • Approved projects
    • Withdrawn applications
• Improvement Areas: A discussion of areas that could be improved and recommendations aimed at removing obstacles to affordable housing development while still supporting historic preservation. This includes:
  • Possibilities for updating guidance to help convert non-residential buildings into housing.
  • Strategies for addressing environmental and health hazards.
  • Encouraging energy-efficient upgrades and sustainable features.
  • Improving accessibility for individuals with disabilities.
  • Addressing other concerns raised by users and beneficiaries of the program.
• Service Actions: Details of actions taken over the past ten years by the National Park Service to clarify or support the interpretation of the Standards in affordable housing developments, including:
  • Common issues raised by the stakeholders during project development.
  • The methods used by the Service to seek feedback on its interpretation of the Standards.
  • The process used to determine when guidance should be updated and the influences of resource limitations.
• Recommendations for Updates: Recommendations from the Secretary regarding potential updates to improve the Standards and their implementation. These recommendations should address:
  • How to make the program more compatible with the needs for affordable housing.
  • Strategies to protect historic properties from climate risks.
  • Considerations for economic and technical feasibility.

Definitions Provided

The bill includes several key definitions for clarity:

• Program: Refers to the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program.
• Program Application: Refers to the Historic Preservation Certification Application.
• Secretary: Refers to the Secretary of the Interior.
• Service: Refers to the National Park Service.
• Standards: Refers to the Department of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation regarding the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program.

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