Reps. Cleaver, Davids Call for Release of Delayed Funding Supporting Local History and Tourism

July 17, 2026 Press Release Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area warns delayed federal funding may force imminent staff layoffs. (Kansas City, MO) – Today, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Sharice Davids (D-KS), are calling on the Trump Administration to immediately release overdue federal funding approved by Congress more than five months ago that supports museums, historic sites, classrooms, and tourism throughout western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Despite Congress approving the funding earlier this year, National Heritage Areas across the country, including the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA), have yet to receive the resources they rely on to keep staff employed, preserve historic sites, expand educational programming, and support local economies. “These repeated delays in funding are causing significant strain on our [National Heritage Areas] - many of which rely on small staffs and robust volunteer networks,” wrote the Members . “[The Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area] is facing this shortfall - and on the verge of having to lay off staff - while servicing a record number of grant applications, providing opportunities to 122 percent more students compared to the last fiscal year, and meeting increased tourism demand from the semiquincentennial and the FIFA World Cup 2026.” Federal investments in National Heritage Areas help preserve historic landmarks, support museums and cultural organizations, provide grants to local communities, expand education opportunities for students, and attract visitors whose spending strengthens local businesses. Every federal dollar invested through National Heritage Areas is matched by at least one dollar in private funding and generates more than five dollars in additional nonfederal investment. Established in 2006, the FFNHA connects more than 300 museums, historic sites, libraries, trails, and cultural organizations across 41 counties in Missouri and Kansas. Together, these partners tell the story of the western frontier, Bleeding Kansas, the Civil War, Brown v. Board of Education , Native American history, and influential Americans such as President Harry Truman and Amelia Earhart. Annual federal funding also enables Freedom’s Frontier to award grants to local organizations, preserve historic sites, develop classroom programming, support heritage tourism, and coordinate projects that many smaller museums and nonprofit organizations could not undertake on their own. Read the Members’ full letter to OMB Director Vought here . Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Greenwood, Blue Springs, North Kansas City, Gladstone, and Claycomo. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee and Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance. Issues : Budget and Appropriations Holding the White House Accountable