[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 146 (Monday, September 11, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1193-E1194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2018

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2017

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3354) making 
     appropriations for the Department of the Interior, 
     environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2018, and for other purposes:

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Chair, thank you for this opportunity to speak 
in support of the Jackson Lee Amendment and to commend Chairman Calvert 
and Ranking Member McCollum for their leadership in shepherding this 
bill to the floor.
  Among other agencies, this legislation funds the U.S. Forest Service, 
the National Park System, and the Smithsonian Institution.
  Most Americans do not know that this bill also funds a very special 
program, the National Recreation and Preservation.
  Mr. Chair, the Jackson Lee Amendment is simple but it sends a very 
important message from the Congress of the United States.
  The Jackson Lee Amendment provides:
  Sec.__. None of the funds made available by this Act for the 
``DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR--NATIONAL PARK SERVICE--NATIONAL RECREATION 
AND PRESERVATION'' may be used in contravention of section 461 of title 
16, United States Code.
  And 16 U.S. Code Sec. 461 provides that:
  It is declared that it is a national policy to preserve for public 
use historic sites, buildings, and objects of national significance for 
the inspiration and benefit of the people of the United States.
  This is important, especially as it relates to National Heritage 
Areas (NHAs).
  NHAs both preserve our national heritage and provide economic 
benefits to communities and regions through their commitment to 
heritage conservation and economic development.
  Through public-private partnerships, NHA entities support historic 
preservation, natural resource conservation, recreation, heritage 
tourism, and educational projects.
  Leveraging funds and long-term support for projects, NHA partnerships 
generate increased economic impact for regions in which they are 
located.
  In 2012, a nationally respected consulting firm (Tripp Umbach) 
completed a comprehensive economic impact study of six NHA sites in the 
Northeast Region that also included an extrapolation of the economic 
benefit of all 49 NHA sites on the national economy.
  The annual economic impact was estimated to be $12.9 billion.
  The economic activity supports approximately 148,000 jobs and 
generates $1.2 billion annually in Federal revenues from sources

[[Page E1194]]

such as employee compensation, proprietor income, indirect business 
tax, households, and corporations.
  The study quantified the economic impacts of individual NHAs based 
upon a case study approach and found that the economic impact of the 
three National Historic Areas in Arizona, Massachusetts, and 
Pennsylvania showed:
  1. Essex National Heritage Area (MA) generates $153.8 million in 
economic impact, supports 1,832 jobs, and generates $14.3 million in 
tax revenue.
  2. Oil Region National Heritage Area (PA) generates $21.2 million in 
economic impact, supports 314 jobs, and generates $1.5 million in tax 
revenue; and
  3. Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area (AZ) $22.7 million in 
economic impact, supports 277 jobs, and generates $1.3 million in tax 
revenue.
  Mr. Chair, as I said there are 49 NHA across the nation but, 
surprisingly, none in my state of Texas.
  We hope to rectify this in the not too distant future.
  Texas is the largest and second most populous state in the nation and 
has a unique story in American history with its diverse geographic 
landscape, natural resources, and population.
  From Galveston's port, East Texas' farms and forestry, and the 
Buffalo Soldiers, Texas has a rich multi-cultured heritage and history.
  To honor Texas' heritage, I will be working with my colleagues to 
establish the ``Emancipation Trail National Heritage Area Corridor'' 
that stretches across historically significant and landmark sites from 
Galveston to Houston and East Texas into Central Texas.
  The Emancipation Trail National Heritage Area will be a corridor 
focusing on and highlighting the area's rich history and culturally 
significant events, places, and natural sites, as well as roadways, 
businesses, residential and farm districts that unite Texas' heritage 
from the first settlers to modern times.
  Mr. Chair, as we approach the 51st anniversary of the passage of the 
1966 National Historic Preservation Act, we want to preserve and unite 
the legacy stories of some of our state's most revered sites.
  Currently underway in Houston is the revitalization of the historic 
Emancipation Park, a pivotal site in the state's social and cultural 
development and African American legacy.
  The future Emancipation Park, when brought to fruition and designated 
as a part of the proposed Emancipation Trail National Heritage 
Corridor, represents a unique opportunity to tell a comprehensive story 
about the great State of Texas.
  Of course, there is much work to do to bring this project to 
fruition, including necessary reclamation and restoration operations in 
areas adversely affected by Hurricane Harvey.
  That is why H.R. 3686, the Hurricane Harvey Supplemental 
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which I introduced earlier 
this week allocates $800 million to the National Park Service Historic 
Preservation Fund.
  To conclude, National Heritage Areas (NHAs) are both a good 
investment and national treasure providing economic benefits to 
communities and regions through their commitment to heritage 
conservation and economic development.
  For all these reasons, Mr. Chair, I urge adoption of the Jackson Lee 
Amendment.
  I thank Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum for their work 
in putting together this legislation.

                          ____________________