A new public lands bill includes a provision to save historic landmarks.

President Obama signed the bill into law Monday. It includes a provision from U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, a Raleigh Democrat, to preserve landmarks around the country. 

Miller and Republican Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio have pushed a preservation bill for the past year. It would have put congressional authority behind two existing programs, Save America's Treasures and Preserve America.

After the bill was blocked in the Senate, its provisions were added to the public lands bill.

The provision authorizes $300 million during the next four years for two grants programs: One on preserving historic buildings, the other for tourism and education.

In North Carolina, a Save America's Treasures grant is already being used to preserve the Woolworth building that was home of the Greensboro sit-in. (N&O)

U.S. Rep. Brad Miller, a Raleigh Democrat, has introduced a bill to maintain a federal program using tax dollars to preserve historic properties.

The legislation would make permanent two competitive federal grant programs, Preserve America and Save America’s Treasures, reports Barb Barrett.

Previous grants have gone to Gastonia and the state historic preservation office and a rural heritage project in northeastern North Carolina. Money also has been used for the Pope House Museum in Raleigh and the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, is a co-sponsor of a Senate version of the bill.