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U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver II and Sharice Davids are urging the Trump Administration to immediately release long-overdue funding for National Heritage Areas (NHAs), including the Freedom’s Frontier National Heritage Area (FFNHA), which spans western Missouri and eastern Kansas.

Though funding was approved in March, it has yet to be distributed, according to a release. This delay is impacting local efforts to preserve historic landmarks, retain staff, and continue educational programs. NHAs, including FFNHA, are public-private partnerships that celebrate culturally significant regions. Each federal dollar invested returns more than $5 in local and private funding.

Established in 2006, FFNHA supports 323 partners across 41 counties, including museums, libraries, and cultural sites. In Missouri, notable partners include the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and Truman Library; in Kansas, they include the Old Quindaro Museum and John Brown Museum. Without federal support, these efforts are at risk.