Policy and Avocacy

So important to preservation projects in Delaware!

Senate Negotiations Continue on BBB -Vote Possible in December, Contact Your Senators!

As the holiday season enters full swing, Senate Democrats are still working to agree on the final "Build Back Better" (BBB) bill text and attempting to set up a vote the week of December 20th.

Over the weekend, the Senate Finance Committee released its draft of the BBB bill, which once again did not include Historic Tax Credit (HTC) provisions. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) is pushing to make needed changes and pass a Senate version of the bill in December, but absent a final agreement with moderate Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), consideration could slip to January. Since the reconciliation bill is essentially a Democratic exercise, no Republicans will be voting for the bill.

There is still opportunity to include HTC provisions in the final bill as rapid changes to the bill may happen this week in an attempt to vote the week of the 20th. Advocates from across the nation are reaching out to their Senators on behalf of the HTC. Earlier this month, more than 4,000 preservation, historic rehabilitation, and community development advocates joined a sign-on letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA), urging that HTC enhancements be added back into the Build Back Better bill.

Please contact your Senators NOW and tell them how much HTC improvements mean to you and include HTC provisions in the final "Build Back Better" reconciliation bill.

Take Action:

1. Call your Senators' offices (especially Democrats), 202-224-3121 -during office hours

Senator Tom Carper
Phone: (202) 224-2441

Senator Christopher Coons
Phone: (202) 224-5042

2. Once connected, introduce yourself as a constituent and ask for the email address of the tax staff

3. Share the HTC support letter from more than 4,000 advocates with tax staff.

4. Ask your Senator to "Please go to Democratic Leadership, share that these HTC provisions are important our state, and request HTC provisions be included in the final “Build Back Better” bill."
 

Thank you for your advocacy! So that we can monitor our impact, please share your efforts by emailing: Mike Phillips, mphillips@ntcic.com, Shaw Sprague, ssprague@savingplaces.org, and Patrick Robertson, probertson@confluencegr.com.

Background

In September, major HTC provisions were included in the reconciliation bill passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee. These HTC provisions would be the most significant improvement and expansion to the HTC in a generation and would benefit ALL HTC-eligible projects, from Main Street to large-scale rehabilitation efforts across the country. The leading voices on climate action call for more building reuse to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Rehabilitation Tax Credit

Sec. 135301. Temporarily increasing the HTC From 20% to 30% for all projects.

Sec. 135302. Permanent increase in the rehabilitation credit for small projects.

Sec. 135303. Modification of substantial rehabilitation definition.

Sec. 135304. Elimination of basis adjustment.

Sec. 135305. Modifications of tax-exempt use leasing rules.

Sec. 135306. Enabling HTC to be used for public school buildings.

To read the full text of the section-by-section breakdown of the HTC provisions passed by the Ways and Means Committee in September (but not included in the White House framework and House passed BBB bill), Click Here (HTC on Pages 3 and 4).

In October, the White House released the "Build Back Better" framework, which was drafted into a bill by the House. After deliberation, the bill was significantly reduced in size and scope from $3.5 trillion to $1.75 trillion and passed the House in November with a vote of 220 to 213. Many community development incentives, including the Historic Tax Credit provisions, were not included in the House-passed BBB bill.

For additional HTC Resources, Talking Points, and to view the HTC Call to Action from Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR), visit https://ntcic.com/htc-advocacy/

DELAWARE

CONTACT INFO FOR YOUR DELAWARE STATE ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES 

Who represents me? 

CONGRESS

U.S. Senator Tom Carper
Contact Via Web Form

Washington Office:
513 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0801
Phone: (202) 224-2441
Fax: (202) 228-2190

Main District Office:
2215 Federal Bldg., 300 S. New St.
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 674-3308
Fax: (302) 674-5464

U.S. Senator Christopher Coons
Contact Via Web Form 

Washington Office:
383 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5042
Fax: (202) 228-3075

Main District Office:
1105 N. Market St., Ste. 2000
Wilmington, DE 19801-1233
Phone: (302) 573-6345
Fax: (302) 573-6351

U.S. Congressional Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester
Contact Via Web Form

Washington Office:
1123 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4165
Fax: (202) 225-0011

Main District Office:
1105 North Walnut Street, Suite 400
Wilmington, DE 19801
302-830-2330