Advocacy Alert: Section 106
ACHP’s Vote Guts Preservation in the U.S. --Here's How We Fight Back
Last Friday, the Administration-controlled Advisory Council for Historic Preservation (ACHP) voted to approve sweeping changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This will devastate the process by which we protect and preserve historic places and essentially eliminate public participation in federal decisions that affect local communities.
"Consent of the governed is being replaced with my way or the highway. This is the same haughty, retrograde, and myopic attitude that resulted in urban renewal, which decimated cities with highways and destroyed countless neighborhoods nationwide, especially underserved communities."
– Charles Birnbaum, The Cultural Landscape Foundation
The Architectural Heritage Center stands in opposition with our preservation partners across the nation. We are often called upon to take the lead in historic preservation advocacy for Oregonians in Portland. Please join us as we build a people-powered movement to fight against this likely illegal action.
The ACHP’s vote isn’t the end; it’s the beginning of a fast-paced pushback. A brief 30-day public comment period starts after the adopted changes are published in the Federal Register. Litigation moves to the front line of defense. And, we’ll let you know as soon as the comment period opens, as we’ll need your comments in the record!
But today, we need your help. Something needs to be done! Together, let’s be the voice for Oregon’s historic, natural and cultural resources! Individual actions, done simultaneously by all, will make a difference.
3 Ways to Help Today – Let’s Build Momentum!
Do ONE or ALL of these things:
1. Educate & Spread the Word
Read this NPR story from “All Things Considered” (Story 16 - listen here).
Participate in a webinar this Thursday (7/30/26) hosted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (Register here) More info at the Trust’s Action Center.
Find many more resources from Cultural Heritage Partners (who are currently in several legal challenges to protect historic resources) Their “15 Talking Points” are easy and helpful!
In today’s world where news gains traction when spread on social media - your efforts to help spread the word are critical to gaining greater attention. There are so many competing and overlapping issues which all require support and attention. Please re-share this information from our friends at Restore Oregon, create your own stories (tag us @visitahc, @restoreoregon, and @savingsplaces), and talk with co-workers, friends, etc.
2. Contact your Federal Officials
Reach out to your Federal Officials – Your U.S. Representative and both Senators (Wyden and Merkley) - your 3 emails and/or phone calls will get attention (believe in our collective power).
Sample scripts available here.
Also, THANK Senators Wyden/ Merkley and Representative Dexter as they have already been publicly fighting back on the record on historic review. Encourage them to DO MORE directly on this issue.
3.Contact Oregon’s Attorney General Dan Rayfield
Yes, our AG plays a critical role in defending all Oregonians from federal overreach. In May 2025, Oregon joined Washington in a lawsuit questioning the legality of an Energy Emergency Executive Order short-circuiting essential reviews, including Section 106!
Let’s ask him to now review this latest action and work again with many other state DOJ’s on this specific effort that would eliminate the process itself. He has a Federal Oversight Committee and a public input process available.
Use the Federal Oversight and Accountability Form to log your concern about the ACHP’s action and its impacts on Oregon’s historic, natural and cultural resources and our people who do this work from government agencies. We will likely see significant job losses as a result of these drastic changes, should they be realized.
A short message might be:
“I’ve just learned from Restore Oregon and the Architectural Heritage Center that the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation voted last Friday to remove protections and the public’s voice from Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Please work to legally challenge this action on behalf of Oregonians who care about our historic, natural and cultural heritage.”