June 5, 2025

NCPH Call to Action

Thank you for your continued advocacy during this challenging time, whether you’re sharing resources, materially supporting fellow public historians, or remaining steadfast in your commitment to inclusive, ethical public history. We acknowledge that contacting US congressional representatives is just one part of our collective advocacy work, and offer the following suggestions to support the continued fight to protect crucial federal funding for public history.

View a PDF version of this Call to Action here: https://ncph.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NCPH-Advocacy-Call-to-Action-June-2025.pdf

Reach out to your US Senators regarding the current budget bill and urge them to fully fund the National Park Service (NPS), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

Sample script: These agencies make a significant impact in our state/community. For example, the IMLS makes up only .00046% of the overall federal budget to support a sector that generates more than $50 billion dollars in economic benefits to the American economy and supports more than 726,000 jobs. The NEH costs less than 50 cents per American to support work that is critical to democracy, civil society, and education. These small but mighty institutions preserve our national history, tell the stories of our communities, and stimulate local economies across the country, often in rural and underserved areas. Investing in them is an investment in jobs, education, tourism, and civic pride. I urge you to support full funding for these programs in the current budget.

Reach out to your US Representatives to urge them to support two bills recently introduced in the House:

  • HR 3555: To ensure that the National Park Service is fully staffed
  • HR 3559: To ensure that the Forest Service is fully staffed

Sample script: These agencies play a vital role in protecting our natural and cultural resources. They also contribute significantly to our state and local economies by creating tourism, recreation, and conservation-related jobs. Fully staffing these agencies ensures they can continue effectively managing public lands, protecting historic sites, and serving millions of visitors each year. Please co-sponsor and vote in favor of both bills that deliver real value to communities like ours.

Ways to Take Action:

  • Postcards and letters – be sure they are postmarked from your representative’s district
  • Phone Calls – okay to leave a voicemail; when possible, make sure the area code of the number you call from matches your representative’s district
  • Email – when possible, revise form language to be more personalized
  • Visit Elected Officials’ Offices – make appointments in advance

Find Your Representative: https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials