Congressman James E. Clyburn of South Carolina recently reintroduced a bill known as the “Historic Preservation Program” that possibly will again authorize millions to be appropriated in order to preserve some of the country’s historic sites and buildings at historically black colleges or universities (HBCUs) on campus.
From the Congressman James Clyburn’s website, “In 1998 the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducted a study to identify historic sites and buildings on the campuses of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and determine the cost of preserving and protecting those sites and buildings. The GAO indentified 712 historic sites and buildings that were of historic significances and determined that it would require $755 million to successfully restore and preserve them. Congress responded by authorizing and appropriating funds to implement the program.”
Claflin University, South Carolina State University, Voorhees College, Benedict College, and Allen University will reap the benefits of having a plethora of their campus buildings become recognized historical sites.
The Historic Preservation Program has not been in operation since 2009, but Clyburn wants to put an end to this, saying, “I look forward to continuing my work with HBCUs in South Carolina and around the country to revive this successful effort to celebrate our heritage and strengthen our communities.”
Congressman Clyburn added: “The structures on these campuses across the country are living testaments to African American history and deserve to be stabilized and restored. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to preserve our nation’s history.”
