From Save Our Heritage Organisation
We made our voices heard here in California. Now we need to make Congress listen.
Last week, SOHO members and supporters helped defeat Proposition 45, a measure that threatened California’s landmark environmental protections. Together, voters rejected it. Thank you! That’s what happens when people speak up, stand together, and refuse to accept the erosion of protections that safeguard our communities.
Now we face another extremely consequential fight and we urgently need your help again. It will only take a minute!
On Monday, November 9, the U.S. Senate voted 75–23 to advance S. 5653, the so-called Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA).
Despite the misleading title, this legislation contains provisions that would severely undermine Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act—the very law that gives Tribal Nations, local communities, and preservation advocates a meaningful voice when federally funded or permitted projects threaten historic and cultural resources.
This is not only an attack on preservation and conservation. It is an attack on the public’s right to have a say in what happens to our shared heritage. Section 106 is built on a fundamental principle: public input is essential to federal decision-making. BAAJA would weaken that requirement, making public participation discretionary rather than mandatory.
Think about what that means. Sacred places, Indigenous burial grounds, archaeological resources, and irreplaceable historic sites could face destruction without the meaningful public review and participation the law was designed to ensure.
This bill still contains 77 distinct environmental attacks! It guts not only the Historic Preservation Act but also the Endangered Species Act, and the Clean Water Act.
More than 800 people gathered at the U.S. Capitol to oppose this legislation, representing a national coalition of more than 1,200 organizations. Preservationists, Tribal leaders, historians, architects, landscape architects and community advocates stood together to send Congress a clear message.
Our State Senators Padilla and Schiff stood with us as well and voted against advancing BAAJA.
We must keep the pressure on.
The bill is not yet law. It remains subject to amendments and a final Senate vote before potentially moving to the House of Representatives. Its proponents are pushing to pass it during the lame-duck session of Congress. Time is short, and our voices are needed now.
TAKE ACTION TODAY. DO NOT LET CONGRESS SILENCE THE PUBLIC.
To stop this bill, we need 14 senators who voted “yes” to reverse their positions by the time the final vote happens, which could be any day. They are fast-tracking this, but it is unknown when it will be heard, today, tomorrow, or possibly as late as Monday. But don’t wait, please call now!
If they voted no, as Padilla and Schiff have done, thank them and ask them to hold for the final vote.
Contact your U.S. Senators and Representative. Tell them to oppose BAAJA and defend Section 106. Tell Congress: NO ON BAAJA. PROTECT SECTION 106.
Call the Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121
Find legislators’ social media posts and comment
We fought for California’s CEQA protections, and we won. Now our nation’s historic and cultural heritage is on the line.
We cannot afford to be silent. We cannot afford to sit this one out. And we cannot allow Congress to make the public’s voice optional.
Let’s make some noise. Let’s flood those congressional offices with calls and messages.
The fight is not over. Let’s kill this bill!
