[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 92 (Tuesday, June 5, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H4750-H4752]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 SUSQUEHANNA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 2991) to establish the Susquehanna National Heritage 
Area in the State of Pennsylvania, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2991

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Susquehanna National 
     Heritage Area Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
     Susquehanna National Heritage Area established by section 
     3(a).
       (2) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``local 
     coordinating entity'' means the local coordinating entity for 
     the Heritage Area designated by section 4(a).
       (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the plan developed by the local coordinating 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 
     Pennsylvania.

     SEC. 3. SUSQUEHANNA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the Susquehanna 
     National Heritage Area in the State.
       (b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall include Lancaster 
     and York Counties, Pennsylvania.

     SEC. 4. DESIGNATION OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.

       (a) Local Coordinating Entity.--The Susquehanna Heritage 
     Corporation, a nonprofit organization established under the 
     laws of the State, shall be the local coordinating entity for 
     the Heritage Area.
       (b) Authorities of Local Coordinating Entity.--The local 
     coordinating entity may, for purposes of preparing and 
     implementing the management plan--
       (1) prepare reports, studies, interpretive exhibits and 
     programs, historic preservation projects, and other 
     activities recommended in the management plan for the 
     Heritage Area;
       (2) make grants to the State, political subdivisions of the 
     State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons;
       (3) enter into cooperative agreements with the State, 
     political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, 
     and other organizations;
       (4) hire and compensate staff;
       (5) obtain funds or services from any source, including 
     funds and services provided under any Federal program or law, 
     in which case the Federal share of the cost of any activity 
     assisted using Federal funds provided for National Heritage 
     Areas shall not be more than 50 percent; and
       (6) contract for goods and services.
       (c) Duties of Local Coordinating Entity.--To further the 
     purposes of the Heritage Area, the local coordinating 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 provided 
     for National Heritage Areas are expended for the Heritage 
     Area--
       (A) submit to the Secretary an annual report that 
     describes--
       (i) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity;
       (ii) the expenses and income of the local coordinating 
     entity; and
       (iii) the entities to which the local coordinating 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 local coordinating entity shall not 
     use Federal funds provided for National Heritage Areas to 
     acquire real property or any interest in real property.
       (2) Other sources.--Nothing in this Act precludes the local 
     coordinating entity from using 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 local coordinating entity shall prepare and submit 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) include a description of actions and commitments that 
     governments, private organizations, and citizens will take to 
     protect, enhance, and interpret the natural, historic, 
     scenic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area;
       (3) describe a program of implementation for the management 
     plan that includes--
       (A) performance goals and ongoing performance evaluation;
       (B) plans for resource protection, enhancement and 
     interpretation; and

[[Page H4751]]

       (C) specific commitments for implementation that have been 
     made by the local coordinating entity or any government, 
     organization, business or individual;
       (4) include an interpretative plan for the Heritage Area;
       (5) take into consideration existing State, county, and 
     local plans;
       (6) specify the existing and potential sources of funding 
     to protect, manage, and develop the Heritage Area;
       (7) include an inventory of the natural, historic, 
     cultural, educational, 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
       (8) include an analysis of, and recommendations for, ways 
     in which Federal, State, and local programs, may best be 
     coordinated to further the purposes of this Act, including 
     recommendations for the role of the National Park Service in 
     the Heritage Area.
       (c) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date on 
     which the local coordinating 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 local coordinating 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 local coordinating entity has provided adequate 
     opportunities (including public meetings) 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 local coordinating 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.
       (d) Approval of Amendments.--The Secretary shall review and 
     approve or disapprove substantial amendments to the 
     management plan in accordance with subsection (c).

     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 local coordinating 
     entity to the 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 local coordinating entity;
       (4) authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation 
     of water or water rights;
       (5) affects the licensing or relicensing of facilities by 
     the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission within the proposed 
     Heritage Area or upstream or downstream from the proposed 
     Heritage Area on the Susquehanna River, including FERC 
     Project No. 405-104;
       (6) diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish 
     and wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting 
     within the Heritage Area; or
       (7) 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 
     specified under section 9, 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 local coordinating 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) 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. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from the Northern Mariana Islands 
(Mr. Sablan) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Utah.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Utah?
  There was no objection.

                              {time}  1700

  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Smucker), the author of this 
particular bill.
  Mr. SMUCKER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding, but, 
more importantly, for moving this bill through committee and allowing 
it to be brought up for a vote today on the floor.
  I rise today as the lead sponsor of H.R. 2991, the Susquehanna 
National Heritage Area Act. I am glad the House is taking up this 
important bill with bipartisan support from the Pennsylvania 
delegation.
  The concept of the bill is simple. It would make two counties in 
Pennsylvania, Lancaster and York Counties, both located in south 
central Pennsylvania, a national heritage area.
  National heritage areas are a congressional designation where 
``natural, cultural, historic, and recreational resources form a 
cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from human activity 
shaped by geography,'' which describes this area very well. According 
to the National Park Service, there are currently 49 national heritage 
areas in 32 States.
  I am very proud of the natural beauty that we find in our 
Pennsylvania communities, particularly in these two counties. We want 
to ensure we maintain that safe and clean environment into the future 
for residents and visitors.
  The Susquehanna River and its surrounding landscape have played a 
starring role in American history. Our region's heritage reflects 
events and causes that exemplify the American experience, many flowing 
from the central historical role of the river.
  Along the Susquehanna, a tradition of public and private 
collaboration has

[[Page H4752]]

helped our region prosper from heritage and outdoor tourism, and this 
national heritage area designation will attract more visitors, 
stimulate our local economy, and preserve natural resources and 
historical landmarks.
  I want to thank the countless local officials and Members of Congress 
who have worked on this legislation for many years. Without their 
tireless work and the sustained input and support from the residents of 
York and Lancaster Counties, we would not be here right now. This was a 
bottom-up effort led by grassroots support from these communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a list of the dozens of local 
organizations that support this legislation.

       The following local organizations support the Susquehanna 
     National Heritage Area Act:
       Amishview Inn & Suites/Miller's Smorgasbord/Plain & Fancy 
     Farm; Borough of Columbia; Bube's Brewery; Colony Packaging & 
     Machine; Downtown Inc.; Discover Lancaster; Farm & Natural 
     Lands Trust of York County; Historic Preservation Trust of 
     Lancaster County; Historic York, Inc.; Lancaster Chamber of 
     Commerce & Industry; Lancaster County Board of Commissioners; 
     Lancaster County Conservancy; Lancaster County Parks & 
     Recreation; Lancaster County Planning Commission; Lancaster 
     Farmland Trust; Landis Valley Museum.
       LancasterHistory.org; Long Level Marina; Northern York 
     County Historical & Preservation Society; PPL Corporation; 
     Pennsylvania State Grange; Preservation Pennsylvania; 
     Rivertownes PA USA; Shank's Mare Outfitters; Susquehanna 
     Glass; Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce; York County 
     Board of Commissioners; York County Convention & Visitors 
     Bureau; York County Department of Parks & Recreation; York 
     County Economic Alliance; York County History Center.

  Mr. SMUCKER. Again, I urge passage of H.R. 2991.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this bill to establish the Susquehanna 
National Heritage Area in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  Seen as ``a new kind of national park'' that leverages public-private 
partnerships with a focus on regional economic development, the first 
national heritage area was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan 
in 1984. Since then, Congress has authorized many successful heritage 
areas throughout the country, and this model makes a lot of sense for 
certain regions. However, it has been a while since the House passed a 
standalone bill to establish a new national heritage area, so this is 
an encouraging sign.
  We appreciate the renewed interest in national heritage areas, 
particularly since some of my fellow Democratic colleagues have 
introduced heritage area proposals. We are eager to bring those 
proposals forward as well.
  That said, this is a good bill, and I encourage my colleagues to 
support its adoption. The communities of Lancaster and York Counties 
have clearly demonstrated that their region deserves recognition as a 
national heritage area. I would like to congratulate Representative 
Smucker for his leadership on this proposal and Chairman Bishop for 
guiding this bill to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I am in favor of this particular bill. Heritage areas have been, for 
us, somewhat problematic in the past. There have been some of those who 
have looked simply on the Federal Government as a deep pocket to be 
robbed and used year after year after year. Some of them have ignored 
private property rights. Some of them have actually superseded legal 
governments' prerogatives and initiatives.
  In each of these areas, Mr. Smucker has done an incredibly good job 
to make sure those problems will not exist. The idea of simply being a 
funnel for money is not necessarily a part of this particular bill, and 
he has specifically included the rights of property protection in this 
bill.
  What Mr. Smucker has done here is a national heritage area done the 
right way for the right purpose and the right intent, and I hope, 
because of the way he has done that, it will not tend to be a problem 
in the future as heritage areas are re-looked at and renewed at some 
particular point. I want to commend him not only for taking up the 
specific issue that is important to his area, but for doing it the 
right way. That is why I am very happy to support this particular piece 
of legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, again, I encourage support for this bill, 
and having no further speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I ask my fellow Members to vote 
``yes'' on this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Collins of New York). The question is on 
the motion offered by the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) that the 
House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2991, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

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