Congressman Clyburn recognized as a National Park champion, receives 2019 National Park Heritage Award

U.S. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn is the recipient of the 2019 National Park Heritage Award from the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). This award recognizes Congressman Clyburn’s leadership and commitment to preserving historic structures on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) campuses and establishing the Reconstruction Era National Historic Park as part of the landmark John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act.

This law incorporated two bills that Congressman Clyburn authored – the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Historic Preservation Reauthorization and the Reconstruction Era National Historical Park Act. The bipartisan package provides protection for more than two million acres of national parks and public lands.

“Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have worked to preserve and protect our nation’s most treasured historical sites and institutions. These federal designations will bring new life to historic sites across the country, and I am proud of the bi-partisan support of this effort,” said Congressman Clyburn. “This law not only restores and preserves critical pieces of American history, but it also allows Americans to learn from our history.”

“It’s an honor to recognize Congressman Clyburn for championing this historic law that will enhance the National Park System for generations to come,” said Theresa Pierno, President and CEO of National Parks Conservation Association. “Now, thanks to this new law, we have even more places to enjoy the outdoors and learn about our nation’s history. We commend Congressional leaders like Congressman Clyburn who worked with colleagues across the aisle and across the country in support of our shared national parks and public lands that their constituents, and all Americans, care so deeply about.”

Congressman Clyburn has championed preservation of historic sites and structures on HBCU campuses his entire career in Congress. In 1998, at the request of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Government Accountability Office conducted a survey of preservation needs at HBCUs that found 712 structures on 103 HBCU campuses in need of historic preservation. The projected cost to preserve and restore those buildings was $755 million. To date, more than 60 buildings on HBCU campuses in 20 states have been renovated through the HBCU Historic Preservation program managed by the National Park Service.

The new legislation reauthorizes the program at $10 million annually for seven years. Many buildings at HBCUs in South Carolina have been restored by this program, including Chappelle Auditorium and Arnett Hall at Allen University, Ministers and Tingley Halls at Claflin University, and Massachusetts Hall at Voorhees College.

Establishing the Reconstruction Era National Park and Reconstruction Era National Historic Network will provide an in-depth understanding of the many diverse experiences of the nation’s history and provide more opportunities for heritage tourism, which is the fastest growing area in South Carolina’s tourism industry.