[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 30 (Monday, March 14, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H1381-H1383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                WESTERN RESERVE HERITAGE AREAS STUDY ACT

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 412) to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to conduct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of 
establishing the Western Reserve Heritage Area.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                H.R. 412

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

[[Page H1382]]

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Western Reserve Heritage 
     Areas Study Act''.

     SEC. 2. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING THE WESTERN 
                   RESERVE, OHIO.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
       (1) The area that encompasses the modern-day counties of 
     Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, 
     Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and 
     Ashland in Ohio with the rich history in what was once the 
     Western Reserve, has made a unique contribution to the 
     cultural, political and industrial development of the United 
     States.
       (2) The Western Reserve is distinctive as the land settled 
     by the people of Connecticut after the Revolutionary War. The 
     Western Reserve holds a unique mark as the original 
     wilderness land of the West that many settlers migrated to in 
     order to begin life outside of the original 13 colonies.
       (3) The Western Reserve played a significant role in 
     providing land to the people of Connecticut whose property 
     and land was destroyed during the Revolution. These settlers 
     were descendants of the brave immigrants who came to the 
     Americas in the 17th century.
       (4) The Western Reserve offered a new destination for those 
     who moved west in search of land and prosperity. The 
     agricultural and industrial base that began in the Western 
     Reserve still lives strong in these prosperous and historical 
     counties.
       (5) The heritage of the Western Reserve remains transfixed 
     in the counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, 
     Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, 
     Ottawa, and Ashland in Ohio. The people of these counties are 
     proud of their heritage as shown through the unwavering 
     attempts to preserve agricultural land and the industrial 
     foundation that has been embedded in this region since the 
     establishment of the Western Reserve. Throughout these 
     counties, historical sites, and markers preserve the unique 
     traditions and customs of its original heritage.
       (6) The counties that encompass the Western Reserve 
     continue to maintain a strong connection to its historic past 
     as seen through its preservation of its local heritage, 
     including historic homes, buildings, and centers of public 
     gatherings.
       (7) There is a need for assistance for the preservation and 
     promotion of the significance of the Western Reserve as the 
     natural, historic and cultural heritage of the counties of 
     Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, 
     Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa and 
     Ashland in Ohio.
       (8) The Department of the Interior is responsible for 
     protecting the Nation's cultural and historical resources. 
     There are significant examples of such resources within these 
     counties and what was once the Western Reserve to merit the 
     involvement of the Federal Government in the development of 
     programs and projects, in cooperation with the State of Ohio 
     and other local governmental entities, to adequately 
     conserve, protect, and interpret this heritage for future 
     generations, while providing opportunities for education and 
     revitalization.
       (b) Study.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the National 
     Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance 
     Program, Midwest Region, and in consultation with the State 
     of Ohio, the counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, 
     Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, 
     Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and Ashland, and other appropriate 
     organizations, shall carry out a study regarding the 
     suitability and feasibility of establishing the Western 
     Reserve Heritage Area in these counties in Ohio.
       (2) Contents.--The study shall include analysis and 
     documentation regarding whether the Study Area--
       (A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural 
     resources that together represent distinctive aspects of 
     American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation, 
     interpretation, and continuing use, and are best managed 
     through partnerships among public and private entities and by 
     combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and 
     active communities;
       (B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife 
     that are a valuable part of the national story;
       (C) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, 
     historic, cultural, or scenic features;
       (D) provides outstanding recreational and educational 
     opportunities;
       (E) contains resources important to the identified theme or 
     themes of the Study Area that retain a degree of integrity 
     capable of supporting interpretation;
       (F) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit 
     organizations, and local and State governments that are 
     involved in the planning, have developed a conceptual 
     financial plan that outlines the roles for all participants, 
     including the Federal Government, and have demonstrated 
     support for the concept of a national heritage area;
       (G) has a potential management entity to work in 
     partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit 
     organizations, and local and State governments to develop a 
     national heritage area consistent with continued local and 
     State economic activity;
       (H) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the 
     public; and
       (I) has potential or actual impact on private property 
     located within or abutting the Study Area.
       (c) Boundaries of the Study Area.--The Study Area shall be 
     comprised of the counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, 
     Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, 
     Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and Ashland in Ohio.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Jones) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands 
(Mrs. Christensen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones).


                             General Leave

  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 412.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from North Carolina?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 412 introduced by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Ryan), would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study 
to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing the 
Western Reserve Heritage Area. The proposed study area under this bill 
would encompass 14 modern-day counties in Ohio which throughout history 
have made a unique contribution to the cultural, political, and 
industrial development of the United States.
  The Western Reserve is every bit as distinctive as the land settled 
by the people of Connecticut after the Revolutionary War and holds a 
unique mark as the original wilderness in the West that many settlers 
migrated to in order to begin life outside the original 13 colonies.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 412 mirrors legislation that was supported by the 
majority and minority of the committee and the administration and 
passed the House during the 108th Congress. I urge adoption of the 
bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, National Heritage areas are grassroots projects where 
business and community leaders, local residents and State and local 
governments come together as neighbors to conserve and interpret the 
valuable historic and scenic resources in their communities.
  Through the National Heritage Area Program, the National Park Service 
provides seed money and technical expertise to get these local projects 
off the ground and to leverage private, long-term funding for these 
areas.
  H.R. 412, sponsored by our colleague, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Ryan), will authorize a study to determine whether or not an area in 
Ohio once known as the Western Reserve would qualify as a National 
Heritage Area.
  The House approved this legislation during the 108th Congress, but 
the measure was never taken up in the other body.
  The gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) is to be commended for his efforts 
on behalf of the communities that would be included in this new area.
  Despite being a relatively new Member of Congress, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Ryan) is already demonstrating a willingness to work 
tirelessly on behalf of communities in need of the kind of Federal 
support the Heritage Area Program can provide.
  We look forward to working with the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) to 
create the Western Reserve Heritage Area should the study we are 
authorizing today support such a move. The gentleman from West Virginia 
(Mr. Rahall) and I congratulate the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ryan) on 
this important legislation and urge our colleagues to support H.R. 412.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Ryan).
  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, in 1792 citizens came to northern Ohio 
to find a place to call their own after the American Revolution forced 
many out of house and home. They called this place the Western Reserve. 
It was a place of new beginnings, and these fervent and industrious 
people made Ohio

[[Page H1383]]

strong and prosperous. These settlers, mostly from Connecticut, were 
descendants of the brave immigrants who came to the Americas in the 
17th century.
  It is with great honor that by passing this legislation we will 
preserve the integrity of the cultural landscape for future generations 
to call home.
  The Western Reserve is significant to our Nation's history, and it 
will be through education and public investment that we will help 
redefine our communities with the designation they so deserve.
  The Western Reserve holds the distinction of being home to three U.S. 
Presidents and three U.S. Supreme Court Justices. This was home to the 
foundation of the steel industry and the world's rubber capital. The 
Western Reserve had the first U.S. newspaper for African Americans and 
the oldest labor newspaper. We are an inventive people, with many 
firsts in the automotive and electrical worlds. This is the birthplace 
of Thomas Edison and John Brown, the famous abolitionist.
  We have regional strengths that set us apart from other areas, from 
our respected universities to our diverse business community to a wide 
range of natural and recreational resources. The agricultural and 
industrial base that began in the Western Reserve still lives strong in 
these prosperous and historical counties. These counties include 
Trumbull, Mahoning, Summit, Portage, Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Medina, 
Ottawa, Ashland, Lake, Geauga, Lorain, Huron, and Erie.
  The Western Reserve Heritage Area will unite northern Ohio and will 
help develop a plan focused on conserving the special qualities of the 
local culture and landscape that will once again define these 
communities as a good place to settle and make new beginnings.
  We are already starting to see some of the benefits. The original 
Packard car was developed in this Western Reserve and the annual event 
that we have brings $5 million to Trumbull County in travel tourism 
money.
  I would just like to share a quote because now, not only with the 
Western Reserve Heritage Area coming together, the counties in the old 
Western Reserve are coming together economically as well. The 
foundations are coming together to focus their efforts and their money 
and certain aspects that will help transform our economy. I would just 
like to share a quote from the fund of all of these, the Fund For Our 
Economic Future and the fund chairman, Robert Briggs, says that ``most 
of the pieces needed to make northeast Ohio a global economic 
powerhouse are in place. One of the missing pieces, however, is a 
shared vision and understanding that the residents in these counties in 
northeast Ohio are interconnected in a regional economy. By breaking 
down jurisdictional boundaries created by cities and counties and 
thinking regionally, we will think economic transformation to stimulate 
exponential growth.''
  The Western Reserve Heritage Area can be the organizing principle of 
this area and lead to the transformation of our economy.
  I thank my colleagues for the opportunity to share these views today.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests 
for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 412.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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