[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H1227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to highlight 
the importance of our Nation's National Heritage Areas. These sites are 
rich with history, culture, and the marvels of our Nation's natural 
resources.
  In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed the first National Heritage 
Area into law, calling it ``a new kind of national park.'' Today, 
nearly 40 years later, our Nation touts 55 National Heritage Areas 
across the country.
  I am proud of the 12 National Heritage Areas in Pennsylvania, more 
than any other State in the Nation. National Heritage Areas in 
Pennsylvania span 57 of our 67 counties, and these areas are truly an 
economic development powerhouse.
  In 2014, tourists spent an estimated $2 billion worth of goods and 
services during their travels to Pennsylvania's National Heritage 
Areas. That is $2 billion back into our rural communities.
  One of those areas, the Oil Region National Heritage Area, is in my 
district. The oil region was established as a Pennsylvania Heritage 
Area in 1994. Ten years later it became a National Heritage Area.
  Pennsylvania's oil region is rich with history. In 1859, Edwin Drake 
changed our Nation's energy future forever when he drilled the world's 
first commercial oil well in Titusville, Pennsylvania, which is in my 
congressional district, establishing Pennsylvania's oil region as the 
birthplace of the world's petroleum industry.
  Recently, I had the pleasure of joining the Alliance of National 
Heritage Areas for their annual Heart & Soul Breakfast, where I was 
reminded of the positive impact that these areas have on our 
communities.
  Mr. Speaker, National Heritage Areas represent one of the finest 
public public-private partnership models in the country. It is for that 
reason and their unwavering commitment to preserving our Nation's 
history that I am so proud to stand beside them as they tirelessly 
promote our Nation's rich history.
  National Heritage Areas are preserving our Nation's history, not only 
to celebrate it, but to learn from it and, quite frankly, to create 
economic development and opportunity utilizing it.

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