[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 955 Reported in Senate (RS)]






                                                       Calendar No. 375
110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 955

                          [Report No. 110-177]

To establish the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 21, 2007

 Mr. Durbin (for himself and Mr. Obama) introduced the following bill; 
   which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                           Natural Resources

                           September 17, 2007

              Reported by Mr. Bingaman, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as ``Abraham Lincoln National 
Heritage Area Act''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. FINDINGS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Congress finds that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area is 
        a cohesive assemblage of natural, historic, cultural, and 
        recreational resources that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) together represent distinctive aspects 
                of the heritage of the United States worthy of 
                recognition, conservation, interpretation, and 
                continuing use; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) are best managed through partnerships 
                between private and public entities;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) the Heritage Area reflects traditions, 
        customs, beliefs, folklife, or a combination of those 
        attributes that are a valuable part of the heritage of the 
        United States;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) the Heritage Area provides outstanding 
        opportunities to conserve natural features, historic feature, 
        cultural features, or a combination of those 
        features;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) the Heritage Area provides outstanding 
        recreational and interpretive opportunities;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) the Heritage Area has an identifiable theme, 
        and resources important to the theme, that retain integrity 
        capable of supporting interpretation;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) residents, nonprofit organizations, other 
        private entities, and units of local government throughout the 
        Heritage Area demonstrate support for--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) designation of the Heritage Area as a 
                national heritage area; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) management of the Heritage Area in a 
                manner appropriate for the designation;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) there is a compelling need to educate and 
        cultivate among the citizens of the United States, particularly 
        youth, an understanding appreciation for, and a renewed 
        commitment to integrity, courage, self-initiative, and 
        principled leadership in public and private life;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (8) few individuals in the history of the United 
        States have as broadly exemplified such qualities, and so 
        profoundly influenced the history and character of the United 
        States, as Abraham Lincoln;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (9) the story and example of the life of Abraham 
        Lincoln, including his inspiring rise from humble origins to 
        the highest office in the land and his decisive leadership 
        through the most harrowing and dangerous time in the history of 
        the United States, continues to bring hope and inspiration to 
        millions in the United States and around the world;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (10) the great issues during the lifetime of 
        Abraham Lincoln, including national unity, equality and race 
        relations, the capacity for democratic government, and the 
        ideals to address those and related issues, continue to this 
        day to define the challenges facing the United 
        States;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (11) the ideals espoused by Lincoln, and the 
        sentiments expressed by Lincoln with respect to keeping the 
        United States together, are as relevant today as the ideals and 
        sentiment were in Lincoln's troubled time;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (12) Illinois is known throughout the world as the 
        land of Abraham Lincoln;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (13) unquestionably, the physical, social, and 
        cultural landscape of Illinois helped mold the character of 
        Lincoln;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (14) ``Here I have lived a quarter of a century, 
        and have passed from a young to an old man,'' Lincoln remarked 
        on leaving Illinois. ``To this place and the kindness of these 
        people I owe everything'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (15) Lincoln, in turn, left his own traces across 
        the Illinois landscape;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (16) the traces remain today in the form of 
        stories, folklore, artifacts, buildings, streetscapes, and 
        landscapes;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (17) though scattered geographically and in 
        varying states of development and interpretation, together the 
        traces of Lincoln bring an immediacy and tangible quality to 
        the powerful Lincoln legacy;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (18) individually and collectively, the traces of 
        Lincoln in Illinois constitute an important national cultural 
        and historic resource;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (19) in particular, the stories and cultural 
        resources of the Lincoln legacy of the region--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) reflect the values and attitudes, 
                obstacles and ingenuity, failures and accomplishments, 
                human frailties, and strength of character of the men 
                and women who made up the diverse people of Lincoln's 
                generation, including upland Southerners and 
                Northeastern Yankees, Anglo-settlers and American 
                Indians, ``free'' blacks, abolitionists, and critics of 
                abolitionists;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) reflect the material culture and 
                relative levels of technical sophistication in the 
                United States in the lifetime of Lincoln;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) recreate the physical environment 
                during the lifetime of Lincoln, revealing the impact of 
                the environment on agriculture, transportation, trade, 
                business, and social and cultural patterns in urban and 
                rural settings; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) interpret the effect of the democratic 
                ethos of the era on the development of the legal and 
                political institutions and distinctive political 
                culture of the United States;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (20) 3 previous studies entitled ``Abraham Lincoln 
        Research and Interpretive Center Suitability/Feasibility 
        Study'' by the National Park Service (1991), ``Looking for 
        Lincoln Illinois Heritage Tourism Project'' commissioned by the 
        State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs 
        in cooperation with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency 
        (1998), and the ``Feasibility Study for the Proposed Abraham 
        Lincoln National Heritage Area'', revised in 2003, help 
        document a sufficient assemblage of nationally distinctive 
        historic resources to demonstrate the feasibility of, and need 
        to establish, the Heritage Area;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (21) the National Park Service--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) operates and maintains the Lincoln 
                Home National Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) is responsible for--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) advocating the protection and 
                        interpretation of the cultural and historic 
                        resources of the United States; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) encouraging the development 
                        of interpretive context for those resources 
                        through appropriate planning and 
                        preservation;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (22) the Heritage Area can strengthen, complement, 
        and support the Lincoln Home National Historic Site through the 
        interpretation and conservation of the associated living 
        landscapes outside of the boundaries of the historic 
        site;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (23) there is a Federal interest in supporting the 
        development of a regional framework and context to partner with 
        and assist the National Park Service, the State of Illinois, 
        local organizations, units of local government, and private 
        citizens to conserve, protect, and bring recognition to the 
        resources of the Heritage Area for the educational and 
        recreational benefit of the present generation and future 
        generations;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (24) communities throughout the region--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) know the value of their Lincoln 
                legacy; but</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) need to expand upon an existing 
                cooperative framework and technical assistance to 
                achieve important goals by working together;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (25) the Department of Commerce and Economic 
        Opportunity and Bureau of Tourism of the State of Illinois--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) officially designated ``Looking for 
                Lincoln'' as a State Heritage Tourism Area; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) has identified the story of Lincoln as 
                a key destination driver for the State;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (26) the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, 
        the management entity for the Heritage Area--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) is a nonprofit corporation created for 
                the purposes of preserving, interpreting, developing, 
                promoting, and making available to the public the story 
                and resources relating to--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) the story of the adult life of 
                        Abraham Lincoln in Illinois; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) the contributions of Abraham 
                        Lincoln to society; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) would be an appropriate entity to 
                oversee the development of the Heritage Area; 
                and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (27) the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition 
        has completed a business plan that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) describes in detail the role, 
                operation, financing, and functions of the Looking For 
                Lincoln Heritage Coalition as the management entity for 
                the Heritage Area; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) provides adequate assurances that the 
                Looking For Lincoln Heritage Coalition is likely to 
                have the financial resources necessary to implement the 
                management plan for the Heritage Area, including 
                resources to meet matching requirement for 
                grants.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    In this Act:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) Coalition.--The term ``Coalition'' means the 
        Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition, an entity recognized by 
        the Secretary, in consultation with the chief executive officer 
        of the State, that has agreed to perform the duties of the 
        management entity under this Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' 
        means the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area established by 
        section 4(a).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Management entity.--The term ``management 
        entity'' means the management entity for the Heritage Area 
        designated by section 5(a).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' 
        means the plan developed by the management entity under section 
        6(a).</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the 
        Secretary of the Interior.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of 
        Illinois.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) Unit of local government.--The term ``unit of 
        local government'' means the government of the State, a 
        political subdivision of the State, or an Indian 
        tribe.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE 
              AREA.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--There is established in the State the 
Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall include--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) a core area located in central Illinois, 
        consisting of Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, 
        Christian, Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Dewitt, Douglas, Edgar, 
        Fayette, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Henderson, Jersey, Knox, 
        LaSalle, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Mason, McDonough, 
        McLean, Menard, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, 
        Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Tazwell, Vermillion, 
        Warren, and Woodford counties;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) any sites, buildings, and districts within the 
        core area that are recommended for inclusion in the management 
        plan; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) each of the following sites:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) Lincoln Home National Historic 
                Site.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Lincoln Tomb State Historic 
                Site.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) Lincoln's New Salem State Historic 
                Site.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & 
                Museum.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) Thomas and Sara Bush Lincoln Log Cabin 
                and Living History Farm State Historic Site.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) Mt. Pulaski, Postville State Historic 
                Sites and Metamora Courthouse.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State 
                Historic Site.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (H) David Davis Mansion State Historic 
                Site.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (I) Vandalia Statehouse State Historic 
                Site.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (J) Lincoln Douglas Debate 
                Museum.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (K) Macon County Log Court 
                House.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (L) Richard J. Oglesby Mansion.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (M) Lincoln Trail Homestead State 
                Memorial.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (N) Governor John Wood Mansion.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (O) Beardstown Courthouse.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (P) Old Main at Knox College.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (Q) Carl Sandburg Home State Historic 
                Site.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (R) Bryant Cottage State Historic 
                Site.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (S) Dr. William Fithian Home.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (T) Vermillion County Museum.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Map.--A map of the Heritage Area shall be--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) included in the management plan; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) on file in the appropriate offices of the 
        National Park Service.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. DESIGNATION OF COALITION AS MANAGEMENT 
              ENTITY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Management Entity.--The Coalition shall be the 
management entity for the Heritage Area.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Authorities of Management Entity.--The management 
entity may, for purposes of preparing and implementing the management 
plan, use Federal funds made available under this Act--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) to prepare reports, studies, interpretive 
        exhibits and programs, historic preservation projects, and 
        other activities recommended in the management plan for the 
        Heritage Area;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) to pay for operational expenses of the 
        management entity incurred during the first 10 fiscal years 
        beginning after the date of enactment of this Act;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) to make grants or loans to the State, units of 
        local government, nonprofit organizations, and other 
        persons;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) to enter into cooperative agreements with the 
        State, units of local government, nonprofit organizations, and 
        other organizations;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) to hire and compensate staff;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) to obtain funds from any source under any 
        program or law requiring the recipient of funds to make a 
        contribution in order to receive the funds; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) to contract for goods and services.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Duties of Management Entity.--For any fiscal year for 
which Federal funds are received under this Act, the management entity 
shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) submit to the Secretary a report that 
        describes--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the accomplishments of the management 
                entity;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the expenses and income of the 
                management entity; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) the entities to which the management 
                entity made any grants;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) make available for audit by Congress, the 
        Secretary, and appropriate units of local government, all 
        records relating to the expenditure of the Federal funds and 
        any matching funds; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) require, with respect to all agreements 
        authorizing the expenditure of Federal funds by any entity, 
        that the receiving entity make available for audit all records 
        relating to the expenditure of the Federal funds.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Prohibition on Acquisition of Real Property.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The management entity shall not 
        use Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real 
        property or any interest in real property.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Other sources.--Nothing in this Act precludes 
        the management entity from using Federal funds from other 
        sources for authorized purposes, including the acquisition of 
        real property or any interest in real property.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. MANAGEMENT PLAN.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
which funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the 
management entity shall prepare and submit for review to the Secretary 
a management plan for the Heritage Area.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Requirements for Preparation and Implementation.--The 
management entity shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) collaborate with and consider the interests of 
        diverse units of local government, businesses, tourism 
        officials, private property owners, and nonprofit groups within 
        the Heritage Area in preparing and implementing the management 
        plan;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) ensure regular public involvement regarding 
        the implementation of the management plan for the Heritage 
        Area; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) submit the proposed management plan to 
        participating units of local governments within the Heritage 
        Area for review.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Contents.--The management plan for the Heritage Area 
shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) present a comprehensive program for the 
        conservation, interpretation, funding, management, and 
        development of the Heritage Area (including the natural, 
        historic, and cultural resources and the recreational and 
        educational opportunities of the Heritage Area) in a manner 
        consistent with--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) existing Federal, State, and local 
                land use laws; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the compatible economic viability of 
                the Heritage Area;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) involve residents, public agencies, and 
        private organizations in the Heritage Area;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) specify and coordinate, as of the date of the 
        management plan, existing and potential sources of technical 
        and financial assistance under this Act and other Federal laws 
        for the protection, management, and development of the Heritage 
        Area; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) include--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) actions to be undertaken by units of 
                local government and private organizations to protect, 
                conserve, and interpret the resources of the Heritage 
                Area;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) an inventory of resources in the 
                Heritage Area that includes a list of property in the 
                Heritage Area that--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) is related to the themes of 
                        the Heritage Area; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) merits preservation, 
                        restoration, management, development, or 
                        maintenance because of the natural, historic, 
                        cultural, or recreational significance of the 
                        property;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) a recommendation of policies for 
                resource management that consider the application of 
                appropriate land and water management techniques, 
                including policies for the development of 
                intergovernmental cooperative agreements, private 
                sector agreements, or any combination of agreements, to 
                protect the natural, historic, cultural, and 
                recreational resources of the Heritage Area in a manner 
                that is consistent with the support of appropriate and 
                compatible economic viability;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) a program for implementation of the 
                management plan by the management entity, in 
                cooperation with partners of the management entity and 
                units of local government;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) evidence that relevant State, county, 
                and local plans applicable to the Heritage Area have 
                been taken into consideration;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (F) an analysis of means by which Federal, 
                State, and local programs may best be coordinated to 
                promote the purposes of this Act; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (G) a business plan for the Heritage Area 
                that--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) describes in detail--
                        </DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (I) the role, operation, 
                                financing, and functions of the 
                                management entity; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    (II) each activity 
                                included in the recommendations in the 
                                management plan; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) provides, to the satisfaction 
                        of the Secretary, adequate assurances that the 
                        management entity is likely to have the 
                        financial resources necessary to implement the 
                        management plan, including the resources 
                        necessary to meet matching requirement for 
                        grants awarded under this Act.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Consideration of Interests of Local Groups.--In 
preparing and implementing the management plan, the management entity 
shall consider the interests of diverse units of local government, 
businesses, private property owners, and nonprofit groups in the 
Heritage Area.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Public Meetings.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The management entity shall 
        conduct public meetings at least quarterly regarding the 
        development and implementation of the management 
        plan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Public notice.--The management entity shall--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) place a notice of each public meeting 
                in a newspaper of general circulation in the Heritage 
                Area; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) make the minutes of each public 
                meeting available to the public.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Disqualification From Funding.--If a proposed 
management plan is not submitted to the Secretary by the date that is 3 
years after the date on which funds are first made available to carry 
out this Act, the management entity may not receive additional funding 
under this Act until the date on which the Secretary receives the 
proposed management plan.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (g) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        date on which the management entity submits the management plan 
        to the Secretary, the Secretary, in consultation with the 
        Governor of the State or a designee of the Governor, shall 
        approve or disapprove the proposed management plan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Disapproval and revisions.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--If the Secretary 
                disapproves a proposed management plan, the Secretary 
                shall--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) advise the management entity, 
                        in writing, of the reasons for the disapproval; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) make recommendations for 
                        revision of the proposed management 
                        plan.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Approval or disapproval.--The 
                Secretary shall approve or disapprove a revised 
                management plan not later than 90 days after the date 
                on which the revised management plan is 
                submitted.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Approval of amendments.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) In general.--The Secretary shall 
                review and approve or disapprove substantial amendments 
                to the management plan.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) Funding.--Funds appropriated under 
                this Act may not be expended to implement any changes 
                made by an amendment to the management plan until the 
                Secretary approves the amendment.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (h) Priorities.--The management entity shall give priority 
to the implementation of actions, goals, and strategies set forth in 
the management plan, including assisting units of local government and 
other persons in--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) carrying out programs that recognize and 
        protect important resource values in the Heritage 
        Area;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) encouraging economic viability in the Heritage 
        Area in accordance with the goals of the management 
        plan;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) establishing and maintaining interpretive 
        exhibits in the Heritage Area;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) developing heritage-based recreational and 
        educational opportunities for residents and visitors in the 
        Heritage Area;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (5) increasing public awareness of and 
        appreciation for the natural, historic, and cultural resources 
        of the Heritage Area;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (6) restoring historic buildings that are--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) located in the Heritage Area; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) related to the themes of the Heritage 
                Area; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (7) installing throughout the Heritage Area clear, 
        consistent, and appropriate signs to identify public access 
        points and sites of interest.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; OTHER FEDERAL 
              AGENCIES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--On request of the management 
        entity, the Secretary may provide technical and financial 
        assistance for the development and implementation of the 
        management plan.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Priority for assistance.--In providing 
        assistance under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give 
        priority to actions that assist in--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) conserving the significant natural, 
                historic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) providing educational, interpretive, 
                and recreational opportunities consistent with the 
                purposes of the Heritage Area.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Spending for non-federal property.--The 
        management entity may expend Federal funds made available under 
        this Act on non-Federal property that is--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) identified in the management plan; 
                or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) listed, or eligible for listing, on 
                the National Register of Historic Places.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) Other assistance.--The Secretary may enter 
        into cooperative agreements with public and private 
        organizations to carry out this subsection.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Other Federal Agencies.--Any Federal entity conducting 
or supporting an activity that directly affects the Heritage Area 
shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) consider the potential effects of the activity 
        on--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) the purposes of the Heritage Area; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) the management plan;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) consult with the management entity with 
        respect to the activity; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or 
        support the activity to avoid adverse effects on the Heritage 
        Area.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Other Assistance Not Affected.--Nothing in this Act 
affects the authority of any Federal official to provide technical or 
financial assistance under any other law.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Notification of Other Federal Activities.--The head of 
each Federal agency shall provide to the Secretary and the management 
entity for the Heritage Area, to the extent practicable, advance notice 
of all activities that may have an impact on the Heritage 
Area.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--Nothing in this Act--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) requires any private property owner to allow 
        public access (including access by the Federal Government, 
        State government, or units of local government) to the private 
        property; or</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) modifies any provision of Federal, State, or 
        local law with respect to public access to, or use of, private 
        property.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Area shall not 
be considered to create any liability, or have any effect on any 
liability under any other law, of any private property owner with 
respect to any persons injured on the private property.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) Recognition of Authority To Control Land Use.--Nothing 
in this Act modifies any authority of the Federal Government, State 
government, or units of local governments to regulate land 
use.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Participation of Private Property Owners in Heritage 
Area.--Nothing in this Act requires the owner of any private property 
located within the boundaries of the Heritage Area to participate in, 
or be associated with, the Heritage Area.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (e) Land Use Regulation.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The management entity shall 
        provide assistance and encouragement to State and local 
        governments, private organizations, and persons to protect and 
        promote the resources and values of the Heritage 
        Area.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Effect.--Nothing in this Act grants any power 
        of zoning or land use to the management entity.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (f) Private Property.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--The management entity shall be an 
        advocate for land management practices that are consistent with 
        the purposes of the Heritage Area.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Effect.--Nothing in this Act--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) abridges the rights of any person with 
                respect to private property;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) affects the authority of the State or 
                unit of local government relating to private property; 
                or</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) imposes any additional burden on any 
                property owner.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 9. EFFECT.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Rules, Regulations, Standards, and Permit Processes.--
Nothing in this Act imposes any environmental, occupational, safety, or 
other rule, regulation, standard, or permit process in the Heritage 
Area that is different from the rule, regulation, standard, or process 
that would be applicable if the Heritage Area had not been 
established.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Water and Water Rights.--Nothing in this Act 
authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or 
water rights.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) No Diminishment of State Authority.--Nothing in this 
Act diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish and wildlife, 
including the regulation of fishing and hunting within the Heritage 
Area.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Existing National Heritage Areas.--Nothing in this Act 
affects any national heritage area designated before the date of 
enactment of this Act.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
carry out this Act $10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 may 
be authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The Federal share of the 
total cost of any activity carried out using funds made available under 
this Act shall be not more than 50 percent.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 11. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as ``Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
        Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area established by section 
        3(a).
            (2) Management entity.--The term ``management entity'' 
        means the management entity for the Heritage Area designated by 
        section 4(a).
            (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
        the plan developed by the management entity under section 5(a).
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
            (5) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Illinois.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

    (a) In General.--There is established in the State the Abraham 
Lincoln National Heritage Area.
    (b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall include--
            (1) a core area located in central Illinois, consisting of 
        Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, 
        Coles, Cumberland, Dewitt, Douglas, Edgar, Fayette, Fulton, 
        Greene, Hancock, Henderson, Jersey, Knox, LaSalle, Logan, 
        Macon, Macoupin, Madison, Mason, McDonough, McLean, Menard, 
        Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Peoria, Piatt, Pike, Sangamon, 
        Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Tazwell, Vermillion, Warren, and 
        Woodford counties;
            (2) any sites, buildings, and districts within the core 
        area that are recommended in the management plan; and
            (3) each of the following sites:
                    (A) Lincoln Home National Historic Site.
                    (B) Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site.
                    (C) Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site.
                    (D) Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum.
                    (E) Thomas and Sara Bush Lincoln Log Cabin and 
                Living History Farm State Historic Site.
                    (F) Mt. Pulaski, Postville State Historic Sites and 
                Metamora Courthouse.
                    (G) Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic 
                Site.
                    (H) David Davis Mansion State Historic Site.
                    (I) Vandalia Statehouse State Historic Site.
                    (J) Lincoln Douglas Debate Museum.
                    (K) Macon County Log Court House.
                    (L) Richard J. Oglesby Mansion.
                    (M) Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial.
                    (N) Governor John Wood Mansion.
                    (O) Beardstown Courthouse.
                    (P) Old Main at Knox College.
                    (Q) Carl Sandburg Home State Historic Site.
                    (R) Bryant Cottage State Historic Site.
                    (S) Dr. William Fithian Home.
                    (T) Vermillion County Museum.
    (c) Map.--A map of the Heritage Area shall be--
            (1) included in the management plan; and
            (2) on file in the appropriate offices of the National Park 
        Service.

SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF COALITION AS MANAGEMENT ENTITY.

    (a) Management Entity.--The Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition 
shall be the management entity for the Heritage Area.
    (b) Authorities of Management Entity.--The management entity may, 
for purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, use 
Federal funds made available under this Act--
            (1) to prepare reports, studies, interpretive exhibits and 
        programs, historic preservation projects, and other activities 
        recommended in the management plan for the Heritage Area;
            (2) to pay for operational expenses of the management 
        entity;
            (3) to make grants to the State, political subdivisions of 
        the State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons;
            (4) to enter into cooperative agreements with the State, 
        political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, 
        and other organizations;
            (5) to hire and compensate staff;
            (6) to obtain funds or services from any source, including 
        funds and services provided under any other Federal program or 
        law; and
            (7) to contract for goods and services.
    (c) Duties of Management Entity.--To further the purposes of the 
Heritage Area, the management entity shall--
            (1) prepare a management plan for the Heritage Area in 
        accordance with section 5;
            (2) give priority to the implementation of actions, goals, 
        and strategies set forth in the management plan, including 
        assisting units of government and other persons in--
                    (A) carrying out programs and projects that 
                recognize and protect important resource values in the 
                Heritage Area;
                    (B) encouraging economic viability in the Heritage 
                Area in accordance with the goals of the management 
                plan;
                    (C) establishing and maintaining interpretive 
                exhibits in the Heritage Area;
                    (D) developing heritage-based recreational and 
                educational opportunities for residents and visitors in 
                the Heritage Area;
                    (E) increasing public awareness of and appreciation 
                for the natural, historic, and cultural resources of 
                the Heritage Area;
                    (F) restoring historic buildings that are--
                            (i) located in the Heritage Area; and
                            (ii) related to the themes of the Heritage 
                        Area; and
                    (G) installing throughout the Heritage Area clear, 
                consistent, and appropriate signs identifying public 
                access points and sites of interest;
            (3) consider the interests of diverse units of government, 
        businesses, tourism officials, private property owners, and 
        nonprofit groups within the Heritage Area in developing and 
        implementing the management plan;
            (4) conduct public meetings at least semiannually regarding 
        the development and implementation of the management plan; and
            (5) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds are 
        received under this Act--
                    (A) submit to the Secretary an annual report that 
                describes--
                            (i) the accomplishments of the management 
                        entity;
                            (ii) the expenses and income of the 
                        management entity; and
                            (iii) the entities to which the management 
                        entity made any grants;
                    (B) make available for audit all records relating 
                to the expenditure of the Federal funds and any 
                matching funds; and
                    (C) require, with respect to all agreements 
                authorizing the expenditure of Federal funds by other 
                organizations, that the receiving organizations make 
                available for audit all records relating to the 
                expenditure of the Federal funds.
    (d) Prohibition on Acquisition of Real Property.--
            (1) In general.--The management entity shall not use 
        Federal funds received under this Act to acquire real property 
        or any interest in real property.
            (2) Other sources.--Nothing in this Act precludes the 
        management entity from using Federal funds from other sources 
        for authorized purposes, including the acquisition of real 
        property or any interest in real property.

SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on which 
funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the management 
entity shall prepare and submit for review to the Secretary a 
management plan for the Heritage Area.
    (b) Contents.--The management plan for the Heritage Area shall--
            (1) include comprehensive policies, strategies, and 
        recommendations for the conservation, funding, management, and 
        development of the Heritage Area;
            (2) take into consideration existing State, county, and 
        local plans;
            (3) specify the existing and potential sources of funding 
        to protect, manage, and develop the Heritage Area during the 
        first 5 years of implementation of the management plan;
            (4) include--
                    (A) a description of actions that governments, 
                private organizations, and individuals have agreed to 
                take to protect the natural, historic, and cultural 
                resources of the Heritage Area;
                    (B) an inventory of the natural, historic, 
                cultural, education, scenic, and recreational resources 
                of the Heritage Area relating to the themes of the 
                Heritage Area that should be preserved, restored, 
                managed, developed or maintained; and
                    (C) an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area; and
            (5) describe a program of implementation for the management 
        plan, including--
                    (A) plans for resource protection, restoration, and 
                construction; and
                    (B) specific commitments for implementation during 
                the first 5 years of implementation.
    (c) Disqualification From Funding.--If a proposed management plan 
is not submitted to the Secretary by the date that is 3 years after the 
date on which funds are first made available to carry out this Act, the 
management entity may not receive additional funding under this Act 
until the date on which the Secretary receives the proposed management 
plan.
    (d) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date on 
        which the management entity submits the management plan to the 
        Secretary, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the 
        proposed management plan.
            (2) Considerations.--In determining whether to approve or 
        disapprove the management plan, the Secretary shall consider 
        whether--
                    (A) the management entity is representative of the 
                diverse interests of the Heritage Area, including 
                governments, natural and historic resource protection 
                organizations, educational institutions, businesses, 
                and recreational organizations;
                    (B) the management entity has provided adequate 
                opportunities (including public hearings) for public 
                and governmental involvement in the preparation of the 
                management plan;
                    (C) the resource protection and interpretation 
                strategies contained in the management plan, if 
                implemented, would adequately protect the natural, 
                historic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; 
                and
                    (D) the management plan is supported by the 
                appropriate State and local officials, the cooperation 
                of which is needed to ensure the effective 
                implementation of the State and local aspects of the 
                management plan.
            (3) Disapproval and revisions.--
                    (A) In general.--If the Secretary disapproves a 
                proposed management plan, the Secretary shall--
                            (i) advise the management entity, in 
                        writing, of the reasons for the disapproval; 
                        and
                            (ii) make recommendations for revision of 
                        the proposed management plan.
                    (B) Approval or disapproval.--The Secretary shall 
                approve or disapprove a revised management plan not 
                later than 180 days after the date on which the revised 
                management plan is submitted.
    (e) Approval of Amendments.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall review and approve or 
        disapprove substantial amendments to the management plan in 
        accordance with subsection (d).
            (2) Funding.--Funds appropriated under this Act may not be 
        expended to implement any changes made by an amendment to the 
        management plan until the Secretary approves the amendment.

SEC. 6. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.

    (a) In General.--Nothing in this Act affects the authority of a 
Federal agency to provide technical or financial assistance under any 
other law.
    (b) Consultation and Coordination.--The head of any Federal agency 
planning to conduct activities that may have an impact on the Heritage 
Area is encouraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the 
Secretary and the management entity to the maximum extent practicable.
    (c) Other Federal Agencies.--Nothing in this Act--
            (1) modifies, alters, or amends any law or regulation 
        authorizing a Federal agency to manage Federal land under the 
        jurisdiction of the Federal agency;
            (2) limits the discretion of a Federal land manager to 
        implement an approved land use plan within the boundaries of 
        the Heritage Area; or
            (3) modifies, alters, or amends any authorized use of 
        Federal land under the jurisdiction of a Federal agency.

SEC. 7. PRIVATE PROPERTY AND REGULATORY PROTECTIONS.

    Nothing in this Act--
            (1) abridges the rights of any property owner (whether 
        public or private), including the right to refrain from 
        participating in any plan, project, program, or activity 
        conducted within the Heritage Area;
            (2) requires any property owner to permit public access 
        (including access by Federal, State, or local agencies) to the 
        property of the property owner, or to modify public access or 
        use of property of the property owner under any other Federal, 
        State, or local law;
            (3) alters any duly adopted land use regulation, approved 
        land use plan, or other regulatory authority of any Federal, 
        State, or local agency, or conveys any land use or other 
        regulatory authority to the management entity;
            (4) authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation 
        of water or water rights;
            (5) diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish 
        and wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting 
        within the Heritage Area; or
            (6) creates any liability, or affects any liability under 
        any other law, of any private property owner with respect to 
        any person injured on the private property.

SEC. 8. EVALUATION; REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years before the date on which 
authority for Federal funding terminates for the Heritage Area, the 
Secretary shall--
            (1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the 
        Heritage Area; and
            (2) prepare a report in accordance with subsection (c).
    (b) Evaluation.--An evaluation conducted under subsection (a)(1) 
shall--
            (1) assess the progress of the management entity with 
        respect to--
                    (A) accomplishing the purposes of this Act for the 
                Heritage Area; and
                    (B) achieving the goals and objectives of the 
                approved management plan for the Heritage Area;
            (2) analyze the Federal, State, local, and private 
        investments in the Heritage Area to determine the leverage and 
        impact of the investments; and
            (3) review the management structure, partnership 
        relationships, and funding of the Heritage Area for purposes of 
        identifying the critical components for sustainability of the 
        Heritage Area.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Based on the evaluation conducted under 
        subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall prepare a report that 
        includes recommendations for the future role of the National 
        Park Service, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area.
            (2) Required analysis.--If the report prepared under 
        paragraph (1) recommends that Federal funding for the Heritage 
        Area be reauthorized, the report shall include an analysis of--
                    (A) ways in which Federal funding for the Heritage 
                Area may be reduced or eliminated; and
                    (B) the appropriate time period necessary to 
                achieve the recommended reduction or elimination.
            (3) Submission to congress.--On completion of the report, 
        the Secretary shall submit the report to--
                    (A) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
                of the Senate; and
                    (B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House 
                of Representatives.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to carry 
out this Act $10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be 
authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year.
    (b) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The Federal share of the cost of any 
activity carried out using funds made available under this Act shall be 
not more than 50 percent.

SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

    The authority of the Secretary to provide financial assistance 
under this Act terminates on the date that is 15 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act.
                                                       Calendar No. 375

110th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                 S. 955

                          [Report No. 110-177]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To establish the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, and for other 
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           September 17, 2007

                       Reported with an amendment