Disaster Recovery for Cultural Assets | Senate NPS Appropriations Sign On Letter
Fabulous Rosemary Gimlet recipe
With the hurricane and wildfire season upon us, I wanted to share this terrific piece from The New York Times, An Arts District Helped Make Asheville a Destination. Its Recovery is Slow Going. that focuses on the River Arts District and its struggle to recover from Hurricane Helene. The Blue Ridge National Heritage Areas, which showcases the living Appalachian cultural traditions of North Carolina, reports that they are struggling to raise recovery support for their artisans and creative communities. Tourism leaders played a leading role in securing dedicated funding for public lands in the last disaster relief bill and hopefully this article will plan for future disaster recovery programs and the need to provide funding beyond the traditional FEMA, small business, and economic development dollars.
When Congress returns to work on September 2, it is going to be a mad dash to finish all 12 of the appropriations bills that fund the federal government before the start of the new fiscal year on October 1. The Senate Appropriations bill provides strong funding for the parks and includes recommendations to protect key assets such as prohibiting the sale of NPS units without sign off from Congress and requiring the timely disbursement of funding for the National Heritage Areas. The National Parks Second Century Action Coalition has drafted a sign on letter to the Senate urging support for the Senate’s FY26 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill. The draft letter is pasted below. The deadline to sign on is COB on September 1. Shoot me an email if you would like your organization to sign the letter.
This will be the first of what expect to a busy month of advocacy. If Congress does not pass the 12 appropriations bills then we are looking at a possible government shutdown. Congress could also negotiate an omnibus funding bill for all of the agencies that have not had their funding bills signed into law, which would most likely be an extension of the FY25 funding. Expect September to be a contentious month.
Finally, I have spent the last week with my 87-year-old mother in Michigan. When I asked her what she wanted to do while I was home, she replied that she really wants to drink gimlets. Okay! As she is also big herb grower I came across this rosemary gimlet recipe, which received rave reviews from Mom and her book club. I thought I would share it with the network for your Labor Day enjoyment. Pro tip: switch out the gin for rum and you have a daiquiri.
Cheers!