[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 204 (Thursday, December 3, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H6092-H6096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT OF 2020

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1049) to authorize a National Heritage Area Program, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1049

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National 
     Heritage Area Act of 2020''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
Sec. 3. National Heritage Area System.
Sec. 4. National Heritage Area System management.
Sec. 5. Study areas.
Sec. 6. Local coordinating entities.
Sec. 7. Property owners and regulatory protections.
Sec. 8. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 9. Statutory Clarification.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Feasibility study.--The term ``feasibility study'' 
     means a study conducted by the Secretary, or conducted by one 
     or more other interested parties and reviewed and approved by 
     the Secretary, in accordance with the criteria and processes 
     required by section 5, to determine whether a study area 
     meets the criteria to be designated by Federal statute as a 
     National Heritage Area.
       (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' means any 
     Indian or Alaska Native tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, 
     or other community the name of which is included on the list 
     most recently published by the Secretary of the Interior 
     pursuant to section 104 of the Federally Recognized Indian 
     Tribe List Act of 1994 (25 U.S.C. 5131).
       (3) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``local 
     coordinating entity'' means the entity designated by Federal 
     statute to--
       (A) carry out, in partnership with other individuals and 
     entities, the management plan for a National Heritage Area; 
     and
       (B) operate a National Heritage Area, including through the 
     implementation of projects and programs among diverse 
     partners in a National Heritage Area.
       (4) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the management plan for a National Heritage Area required 
     under this Act.
       (5) National heritage area.--The term ``National Heritage 
     Area'' means--
       (A) each National Heritage Area, National Heritage 
     Corridor, Natural Preservation Commission, National Heritage 
     Canalway, National Heritage Route, Heritage Corridor, 
     Cultural Heritage Corridor, Heritage Partnership, and 
     National Heritage Partnership, the Shenandoah Valley 
     Battlefields National Historic District, or other area 
     designated by Federal statute with the explicit purpose of 
     establishing a national heritage area designated by Congress 
     before or on the date of enactment of this Act; and
       (B) each National Heritage Area designated by Federal 
     statute after the date of enactment of this Act, unless the 
     law designating the area exempts that area from the National 
     Heritage Area System by specific reference to this Act.
       (6) National heritage area system.--The term ``National 
     Heritage Area System'' means the system of National Heritage 
     Areas established by this Act.
       (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (8) Study area.--The term ``study area'' means a specific 
     geographic area that is the subject of a feasibility study 
     under section 5.
       (9) Tribal government.--The term ``Tribal government'' 
     means the governing body of an Indian Tribe.

     SEC. 3. NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA SYSTEM.

       (a) In General.--In order to recognize certain areas of the 
     United States that tell nationally significant stories and to 
     conserve, enhance, and interpret the areas' natural, 
     historic, scenic, and cultural resources that together 
     illustrate significant aspects of our country's heritage, 
     there is established a National Heritage Area System through 
     which the Secretary may provide technical and financial 
     assistance to local coordinating entities to support the 
     establishment, development, and continuity of National 
     Heritage Areas.
       (b) National Heritage Area System.--The National Heritage 
     Area System shall be composed of all National Heritage Areas.
       (c) Relationship to the National Park System.--
       (1) Relationship to national park units.--The Secretary 
     shall encourage participation and assistance by any unit of 
     the National Park System located near or encompassed by any 
     National Heritage Area in local initiatives for that National 
     Heritage Area that conserve and interpret resources 
     consistent with an approved management plan for the National 
     Heritage Area.
       (2) Applicability of laws.--National Heritage Areas shall 
     not be--
       (A) considered to be units of the National Park System; or
       (B) subject to the authorities applicable to units of the 
     National Park System.

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA SYSTEM MANAGEMENT.

       (a) Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after a National 
     Heritage Area is included in the National Heritage Area 
     System outlined by this Act, the local coordinating entity of 
     the National Heritage Area shall submit to the Secretary for 
     approval a management plan for the National Heritage Area.
       (2) Requirements.--The management plan shall--
       (A) incorporate an integrated and cooperative approach for 
     the protection, enhancement, and interpretation of the 
     natural, cultural, historic, scenic, and recreational 
     resources of the National Heritage Area;
       (B) be developed using a comprehensive planning approach 
     that includes--
       (i) opportunities for stakeholders, including community 
     members, local and regional governments, Tribal governments, 
     businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested 
     parties--

       (I) to be involved in the planning process; and
       (II) to review and comment on draft management plans; and

       (ii) documentation of the planning and public participation 
     processes, including a description of--

       (I) the means by which the management plan was prepared;
       (II) the stakeholders involved in the process; and
       (III) the timing and method of stakeholder involvement;

       (C) include--
       (i) an inventory of--

       (I) the resources located in the National Heritage Area; 
     and
       (II) any other property in the National Heritage Area 
     that--

       (aa) is related to the themes of the National Heritage 
     Area; and
       (bb) should be preserved, restored, managed, or maintained 
     because of the significance of the property;
       (ii) comprehensive policies, strategies and recommendations 
     for the conservation, funding, management, and development of 
     the National Heritage Area;
       (iii) a description of actions that the Federal, Tribal, 
     State, and local governments, private organizations, and 
     individuals have agreed to take to protect the natural, 
     historical, cultural, scenic, and recreational resources of 
     the National Heritage Area;
       (iv) a program of implementation for the management plan by 
     the local coordinating entity that includes a description 
     of--

       (I) actions to facilitate ongoing collaboration among 
     partners to promote plans for resource protection, 
     restoration, and construction; and

[[Page H6093]]

       (II) specific commitments for implementation that have been 
     made by the local coordinating entity or any government, 
     organization, or individual for the first 5 years of 
     operation;

       (v) the identification of sources of funding for carrying 
     out the management plan;
       (vi) analysis and recommendations for means by which 
     Federal, Tribal, State, and local programs, including the 
     role of the National Park Service in the National Heritage 
     Area, may best be coordinated to carry out this subsection; 
     and
       (vii) an interpretive plan for the National Heritage Area; 
     and
       (D) recommend policies and strategies for resource 
     management that consider and detail the application of 
     appropriate land and water management techniques, including 
     the development of intergovernmental and interagency 
     cooperative agreements to protect the natural, historical, 
     cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of 
     the National Heritage Area.
       (3) Exceptions.--The requirements in paragraph (2) shall 
     not apply to management plans in effect on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act.
       (b) Evaluations.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year before the 
     authorization for Federal funding expires for a National 
     Heritage Area, the Secretary shall--
       (A) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of that 
     National Heritage Area; and
       (B) prepare and submit a report detailing the evaluation 
     required by subparagraph (A) to--
       (i) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (ii) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
     Senate.
       (2) Evaluation components.--An evaluation prepared under 
     paragraph (1) shall--
       (A) assess the progress of the local coordinating entity 
     with respect to--
       (i) accomplishing the purposes of the authorizing 
     legislation for the National Heritage Area; and
       (ii) achieving the goals and objectives of the approved 
     management plan for the National Heritage Area;
       (B) analyze the Federal, Tribal, State, local, and private 
     investments in the National Heritage Area to assess the 
     impact of the investments; and
       (C) review the management structure, partnership 
     relationships, and funding of the National Heritage Area.
       (3) Results of evaluation.--Based upon the evaluation under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall prepare a report with 
     recommendations for the National Park Service's continued 
     role, if any, with respect to the National Heritage Area. If 
     the report recommends that Federal funding for the National 
     Heritage Area be--
       (A) continued, the report shall include an analysis of--
       (i) ways in which Federal funding for the National Heritage 
     Area may be reduced or eliminated over time;
       (ii) the appropriate time period necessary to achieve the 
     recommended reduction or elimination; and
       (iii) justification for the continued funding in light of 
     other National Park Service core responsibilities and 
     priorities; or
       (B) eliminated, the report shall include a description of 
     potential impacts on conservation, interpretation, and 
     sustainability of the National Heritage Area.
       (4) Updates; additional evaluations.--
       (A) Updates.--The Secretary may satisfy the requirement 
     under paragraph (1) for a National Heritage Area by updating 
     an evaluation that was completed for that National Heritage 
     Area not more than 5 years before another evaluation would 
     otherwise be required under paragraph (1).
       (B) Additional evaluations.--The Secretary may conduct 
     additional evaluations as the Secretary deems appropriate.
       (c) Coordination.--The head of any Federal agency planning 
     to conduct activities that may have an impact on a designated 
     National Heritage Area is encouraged to consult and 
     coordinate these activities with the Secretary and the local 
     coordinating entity to the maximum extent practicable.

     SEC. 5. STUDY AREAS.

       (a) Feasibility Studies.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may carry out or certify a 
     study to assess the suitability and feasibility of 
     designating a specific geographic area as a National Heritage 
     Area to be included in the National Heritage Area System.
       (2) Preparation.--The feasibility study shall be carried 
     out--
       (A) by the Secretary in consultation with Tribal, State, 
     and local historic preservation officers, State and local 
     historical societies, State and local tourism offices, and 
     other appropriate organizations and governmental agencies; or
       (B) by interested individuals or entities, if the Secretary 
     certifies that the completed study meets the requirements of 
     paragraph (4).
       (3) Certification.--Not later than 1 year after receiving a 
     study carried out by interested individuals or entities under 
     paragraph (2)(B) the Secretary shall review and certify 
     whether the study meets the requirements of paragraph (4).
       (4) Requirements.--A study under paragraph (1) shall 
     include analysis, documentation, and determination on whether 
     the study area--
       (A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural 
     resources that--
       (i) represent distinct aspects of the heritage of the 
     United States;
       (ii) are worthy of recognition, conservation, 
     interpretation, and continuing use; and
       (iii) would be best managed--

       (I) through partnerships among public and private entities; 
     and
       (II) by linking diverse and sometimes noncontiguous 
     resources;

       (B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife 
     that are a valuable part of the story of the United States;
       (C) provides outstanding opportunities--
       (i) to conserve natural, historic, cultural, or scenic 
     features; and
       (ii) for recreation and education;
       (D) contains resources that--
       (i) are important to any identified themes of the study 
     area; and
       (ii) retain a degree of integrity capable of supporting 
     interpretation;
       (E) includes Tribal governments, residents, business 
     interests, nonprofit organizations, and State and local 
     governments that--
       (i) are involved in the planning of the study area;
       (ii) have developed a conceptual financial plan that 
     outlines the roles of all participants in the study area, 
     including the Federal Government; and
       (iii) have demonstrated support for the designation of the 
     study area;
       (F) has a potential local coordinating entity to work in 
     partnership with the individuals and entities described in 
     paragraph (1) to develop the study area while encouraging 
     State and local economic activity; and
       (G) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the 
     public.
       (b) Report.--
       (1) In general.--For each study carried out under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
     on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 
     report that describes--
       (A) the findings of the study described in subsection (a) 
     for that study area; and
       (B) any conclusions and recommendations of the Secretary.
       (2) Timing.--
       (A) With respect to a study carried out by the Secretary in 
     accordance with paragraph (2)(A)(i), the Secretary shall 
     submit a report under subparagraph (A) not later than 3 years 
     after the date on which funds are first made available to 
     carry out the study.
       (B) With respect to a study carried out by interested 
     individuals or entities in accordance with paragraph 
     (2)(A)(ii), the Secretary shall submit a report under 
     subparagraph (A) not later than 180 days after the date on 
     which the Secretary certifies under paragraph (2)(B) that the 
     study meets the requirements of paragraph (3).

     SEC. 6. LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITIES.

       (a) Duties.--For any year that Federal funds have been made 
     available under this Act for a National Heritage Area, the 
     local coordinating entity for that National Heritage Area 
     shall--
       (1) submit to the Secretary an annual report that describes 
     the activities, expenses, and income of the local 
     coordinating entity (including grants to any other entities 
     during the year that the report is made);
       (2) make available to the Secretary for audit all records 
     relating to the expenditure of Federal funds and any matching 
     funds; and
       (3) require, with respect to all agreements authorizing 
     expenditure of Federal funds by other organizations, that the 
     organizations receiving the funds make available to the 
     Secretary for audit all records concerning the expenditure of 
     the funds.
       (b) Authorities.--The local coordinating entity may, 
     subject to the prior approval of the Secretary, for the 
     purposes of preparing and implementing the approved 
     management plan for the National Heritage Area, use Federal 
     funds made available through this Act to--
       (1) make grants to Indian Tribes, a State, a local 
     government, nonprofit organizations, and other parties within 
     the National Heritage Area;
       (2) enter into cooperative agreements with or provide 
     technical assistance to the Indian Tribes, State, a local 
     government, nonprofit organizations, Federal agencies, and 
     other interested parties;
       (3) hire and compensate staff, which may include 
     individuals with expertise in natural, cultural, and historic 
     resources conservation; economic and community development; 
     and heritage planning;
       (4) obtain money or services, including those provided 
     under other Federal laws or programs;
       (5) contract for goods or services; and
       (6) support activities of partners and any other activities 
     that further the purposes of the National Heritage Area and 
     are consistent with the approved management plan.
       (c) Prohibitions on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The 
     local coordinating entity may not use Federal funds received 
     under this Act to acquire real property or any interest in 
     real property.
       (d) Heritage Area Commissions.--
       (1) Section 804(j) of division B of H.R. 5666 (Appendix D) 
     as enacted into law by section 1(a)(4) of Public Law 106-554 
     (54 U.S.C. 320101 note; 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A- 295; 123 Stat. 
     1294; 128 Stat. 3802) is amended by striking ``shall 
     terminate'' and all that follows through the period and 
     inserting ``shall terminate on September 30, 2034.''.

[[Page H6094]]

       (2) Section 295D(d) of Public Law 109-338 (120 Stat. 1833; 
     130 Stat. 962) is amended by striking ``shall terminate'' and 
     all that follows through the period and inserting ``shall 
     terminate on September 30, 2034.''.

     SEC. 7. PROPERTY OWNERS AND REGULATORY PROTECTIONS.

       Nothing in this Act shall be construed to--
       (1) abridge 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 National Heritage Area;
       (2) require any property owner to permit public access 
     (including Federal, Tribal, State, or local government 
     access) to such property or to modify any provisions of 
     Federal, Tribal, State, or local law with regard to public 
     access or use of private lands;
       (3) alter any duly adopted land use regulation or any 
     approved land use plan or any other regulatory authority of 
     any Federal, Tribal, or State, or local government, or to 
     convey any land use or other regulatory authority to any 
     local coordinating entity;
       (4) authorize or imply the reservation or appropriation of 
     water or water rights;
       (5) diminish the authority of the State to manage fish and 
     wildlife including the regulation of fishing and hunting 
     within the National Heritage Area;
       (6) 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 such private property;
       (7) affect the authority of any Federal official to provide 
     technical or financial assistance under any other law;
       (8) modify any law or regulation authorizing Federal 
     officials to manage Federal land under their control or limit 
     the discretion of Federal land managers to implement approved 
     land use plans within the boundaries of a National Heritage 
     Area, nor shall this Act be construed to modify, alter, or 
     amend any authorized uses of these Federal lands; or
       (9) enlarge or diminish the treaty rights of any Indian 
     Tribe within the National Heritage Area.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2034, there is 
     authorized to be appropriated not more than $750,000 for each 
     National Heritage Area.
       (b) Availability.--Amounts made available under subsection 
     (a) shall remain available until expended.
       (c) Cost-sharing Requirement.--
       (1) Federal share.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
     law, including any law designating a National Heritage Area, 
     the Federal share of the total cost of any activity funded 
     with appropriations authorized by subsection (a) shall not be 
     more than 50 percent.
       (2) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of 
     the total cost of any activity funded with appropriations 
     authorized by subsection (a) may be in the form of in-kind 
     contributions of goods or services fairly valued.
       (3) Exception.--Notwithstanding section 9(b), for each 
     National Heritage Area established before the date of the 
     enactment of this Act without a non-Federal cost share 
     requirement or with a non-Federal cost share requirement of 
     less than 50 percent--
       (A) the non-Federal cost share requirement, or lack 
     thereof, shall remain at the previously enacted level for 2 
     full fiscal years after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act; and
       (B) after the period referred to in subparagraph (A), the 
     non-Federal cost share requirement shall increase by 10 
     percent annually until the non-Federal share is consistent 
     with paragraph (1).
       (c) Authority to Provide Assistance.--Notwithstanding any 
     other provision of law, the Secretary may provide assistance 
     to a National Heritage Area during any fiscal year for which 
     appropriations are authorized under subsection (a).

     SEC. 9. STATUTORY CLARIFICATION.

       (a) Authorization Limitations.--Any provision of law 
     enacted before the date of the enactment of this Act that 
     provides for a termination, expiration, or other time 
     limitation on the authorization for a National Heritage Area 
     is hereby superceded and shall have no effect.
       (b) Funding Limitations.--Any provision of law enacted 
     before the date of the enactment of this Act that provides 
     for a termination, expiration, or other limitation on the 
     time or amount of an authorization of appropriations for a 
     National Heritage Area is hereby superceded and shall have no 
     effect.
       (c) Evaluations.--Any provision of law enacted before the 
     date of the enactment of this Act that requires the Secretary 
     to conduct an evaluation of or submit a report on the 
     accomplishments of a National Heritage Area is hereby 
     superceded and shall have no effect.
       (d) Other Authorities.--Any provision of law enacted before 
     the date of the enactment of this Act that provides for the 
     establishment, management, administration, operation, or 
     otherwise affects a National Heritage Area and is not 
     explicitly otherwise provided for in this Act shall not be 
     affected by this Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Hawaii (Mr. Case) and the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Bishop) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Hawaii.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Hawaii?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1049, sponsored by my friend, 
Representative Tonko of New York, a fellow member of the Natural 
Resources Committee.
  Mr. Speaker, since 1984, Congress has established 55 National 
Heritage Areas. These incredible sites protect our diverse historical, 
cultural, and environmental treasures, from the Erie Canalway to the 
Great Basin of Utah and beyond, preserving and interpreting unique 
aspects of our American story.
  Heritage Areas are also a major boon for local economies, supporting 
cultural tourism and driving investment. They are also a great deal for 
the taxpayer, ensuring that every Federal dollar spent on the program 
is matched with at least $1 of non-Federal funding.
  However, Congress has so far failed to pass a law standardizing the 
management of this important program, meaning that each site operates 
under its own authorization.
  Both the Obama and Trump administrations have asked Congress to enact 
a programmatic bill to improve site management and ensure a continued 
consistent commitment to our National Heritage Areas.
  The bill offered today by our colleague would address that need by 
providing a standard under which these sites would be designated, 
reviewed, funded, and overseen.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Tonko for his continued work in 
support of our National Heritage Area program, and I thank Ranking 
Member Bishop for working with us to improve this bill in committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote in support of H.R. 
1049, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  With that mask, it is a lot easier to do that, too.
  I appreciate the offer to be involved in this lameduck session here 
today. It is one of those things that you have to take in some kind of 
stride.
  One assumes that if you are coming back here for a lameduck session, 
there are major issues that need to be done before we actually go back 
and the next session of Congress can actually take up. Although, I do 
remember the first time I was elected here, we were voting in January 
on the budget from the last session of Congress that they had failed to 
do.
  But in all of that, we look at the things that are still before us 
today, and they are huge issues: what we are going to do with the 
coronavirus, funding to help with that problem, national defense 
authorization still yet having to be done, appropriations bills still 
yet to be passed.
  Instead of dealing with those this week, we find ourselves here with 
these suspensions, most of which will not have a chance of actually 
going all the way through the system. Many of them should start over 
again and be done separately. But, at any rate, this is what we have 
been called back to do.
  The Germans had a good word for it: kleinigkeiten.
  It is those little things. It is not the major issues of the day. It 
is the small stuff. Now, admittedly, kleinigkeiten, those little 
things, sometimes can enable one to get a victory and they can also 
cause a problem that stops one from success. But what we are dealing 
with today here on the floor is a whole bunch of kleinigkeiten. So I am 
happy to be invited to be part of this effort that is here.
  I also want to say one another thing, too, as well, because the bills 
that are on the floor, when they are printed, when they are talked 
about, will have the sponsors' names, Members of the House, sometimes 
Senators who are involved in this, and what is never listed

[[Page H6095]]

on here is actually the people who make this possible.

                              {time}  1715

  I want to make one mention of the staff that we have. It is the staff 
that does the research. It is they who actually write the bills. It is 
they who actually conduct the talking points. It is they who organize 
the session so it can run smoothly.
  So the staff that is sitting to your left over there does a huge 
amount of work that will never be credited in any way, shape, or form, 
but it should be; working into the night to make sure that what we do 
here on the floor is possible, and we should recognize them and be 
grateful.
  The staff on my right over here has done the same thing. Lisa 
Pittman, to my right, has been here for 33 years working in this body, 
making sure that we do things the right way. She will have forgotten 
more than--no offense to the Parliamentarians--the Parliamentarians 
will ever know about how to do things properly, effectively, and with 
civility. She works tirelessly without asking for the limelight or the 
effort.
  Lisa, at one time, I got you on C-SPAN when you had to come down in 
the well and hand me a piece of paper. I hope to get you in the 
Congressional Record right now.
  To realize that in a month from now I am going to be gone and no one 
cares; but a month from now, you will also be gone, and there will 
never be--it will be decades before somebody can actually replace you.
  So to the staff that is here, the staff that is on the floor, the 
staff that has worked on the committee, they should be recognized as 
best we can for the work that they do to make everything possible. Even 
though we get the headlines and we get the names in bold type in the 
articles, there should be given some recognition to staff.
  We have a bill that is before us that deals with heritage areas. I 
congratulate the sponsor of this for taking on something that needs to 
be done and, even if this does not happen, or if it does happen, still 
has work that needs to be done on this topic area.
  The idea of heritage areas was actually pushed on us by the National 
Park Service, who wanted to find a way of stopping all the Members from 
trying to create more national parks in their areas; giving them an 
alternative.
  The idea was to get local governments coming together and forming a 
cooperative so that they could actually use and increase the tourism 
and the opportunities for getting people to come and visit these 
particular areas.
  Now, everything that is done in a national heritage area does not 
need the Federal Government to be involved. Every heritage area could 
simply, by an interlocal cooperation agreement, simply come to do 
everything that happens in a heritage area.
  The two problems that heritage areas have had in the past are dealing 
with: number one, ignoring property rights of individuals. The local 
government can solve that problem by themselves. They don't need us to 
do it.
  Or the idea of assuming responsibilities and powers from local 
governments. Local governments in an interlocal cooperation agreement 
can do that by themselves. They don't need a heritage area to 
accomplish that.
  But one thing that heritage areas do that local governments can't do 
by themselves is give themselves money and that, unfortunately, is why 
most heritage areas exist, because they will get $700,000 to $800,000 a 
year just to run these.
  See, this was the nice part about it. When this was established in 
1994, the chairman of the Parks Subcommittee was from Minnesota, and he 
claimed that the amount of support is going to be limited. There is a 
limit of time or the amount of money that the Federal Government can be 
in a heritage area; 10 years, we are out of there. And then they are on 
their own, and they will get all the benefits of that conservation.
  The idea was heritage areas would be for a limited time with a 
limited amount of money. And as the gentleman from Hawaii suggested, 
there are still 55 heritage areas. Not one of them has ever 
disappeared. Years after the time has gone by, they are still there and 
still they are getting that $700,000 to $800,000 to run their programs.
  The heritage areas are no longer there to try and get the people so 
they can make things for themselves and handle it. Heritage areas are 
simply a drain on the budget that no one wants to control. 
Appropriators don't try and control the spending; authorizers don't try 
and control the spending. Even the administration, though they talk and 
complain about it, don't try and do it.
  The Clinton administration had a problem with this. The Bush 
administration asked us to quit doing heritage areas. The Obama 
administration cut the funding for heritage areas in their proposed 
budget by 50 percent. And the Trump administration also tried to limit 
what we were doing with heritage areas.
  That is the problem. What we do with heritage areas makes no sense. 
It doesn't have value to it. It doesn't have responsibility and we are 
not even rational.
  Tennessee has a heritage area for Civil War--what is it really 
called? Civil War something. The heritage area is the entire State of 
Tennessee. That is illogical. That is not what it was intended to do.
  We have corrupted the idea of heritage areas. And I compliment Mr. 
Tonko for what he is trying do. He is saying, look, if we are going to 
have these stupid heritage areas--and it looks like no one has the 
responsibility to actually go back and do what we originally intended 
to do; appropriators won't, and we don't seem to do it by ourselves--
then at least have some rational reason for why heritage areas are 
established. Have some kind of standard.
  Now, what Mr. Tonko is doing is the first step in coming up with some 
way of doing this appropriately. It is not near enough. The bill does 
nothing about the root problem of heritage areas just sucking up 
$700,000 to $800,000 a year and never, never going away, never getting 
off the Federal dole. That still needs to be addressed. It doesn't 
happen in here.
  But that is why I appreciate Mr. Tonko going forward with this 
particular bill because, for once, we need to sit back and say, why are 
we doing these heritage areas? What is their purpose? What is their 
value?
  If we are not doing it in an intelligent way, then all this becomes 
is simply pork barrel for certain people to take the money back home to 
their district, pound themselves on the chest and say, look what I have 
done, even though it sets the country on a dangerous precedent.
  The Federal Government and our Federal spending are in trouble, not 
because we spend too much, but we spend money on too many things. And 
that is why we, as a Federal Government, have to prioritize, and so 
should heritage areas be part of that priority process, and we don't do 
that.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I say to the gentleman, I appreciate this. Whether 
this gets all the way through, I doubt it. But I hope the gentleman 
will pick it up again in the next Congress and continue to work forward 
so we try and look at these heritage areas and say, why are we doing 
this? What is the purpose? And how can we avoid the objections, the 
obsessive, the abuse that has happened in many of these areas in the 
future; so that Tennessee cannot be one heritage area.
  So the gentleman is really trying to get local people to work for 
their own local advantage to appreciate it, and make sure that we do it 
right way.
  So, with that, having tried to emphasize the fact that this is a huge 
problem, I do want to be very clear that I support this particular bill 
and I support the gentleman's effort.
  We haven't gone far enough, to be honest. There is an amendment we 
tried to make in the committee which would force heritage areas to 
lower the amount of money they keep getting from the Federal Government 
until they are finally weaned off the system. I still think that is the 
right thing to do. We can talk about that in the future because that is 
an issue still before us.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I certainly appreciate the overview of the ranking member in his 
initial remarks today. I would note that the bills before us today, 
these 12 bills, are all coming to the floor from the Natural Resources 
Committee. They are

[[Page H6096]]

critical bills in many areas, from natural resources to indigenous 
peoples and beyond.
  Many of these bills actually come to us from the Senate and, if 
passed here, will go on directly to the President, so this is a 
productive agenda that we have here with every expectation that these 
bills will advance.
  I also want to say, on behalf of the majority, that I fully endorse 
the ranking member's commendations to the staff that are with us today 
and in our Natural Resources Committee. He makes an important and vital 
point. We all appreciate our staff. We are blessed by their service. We 
are blessed by their expertise, and I would be remiss if I did not say, 
on behalf of our chair, Chair Grijalva, that we all endorse those 
comments, and I thank him for those very kind comments.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Tonko).
  Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Hawaii for 
yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1049, the National 
Heritage Area Act. I thank Chairman Grijalva and the staff of the 
committee for their longtime support and effort here. And I thank 
Ranking Member Bishop for recognizing the value of this legislation and 
working with us on this.
  The national heritage areas connect us, and perhaps more importantly, 
future generations with the voices and places that have shaped who we 
are as Americans. These sites deliver more than just a significant 
economic return; they help us reveal the diverse and sometimes hidden 
gems of our cultural heritage and fill us with a sense of place that 
brings our complex history to life.
  For the first time, this bill establishes a standardized set of 
criteria for the designation of new national heritage areas and a 
rigorous process for existing national heritage areas to ensure 
accountability.
  H.R. 1049 has 221 cosponsors, and strong bipartisan, and wide 
geographic support that speaks to the value of this program locally and 
nationally. Members recognize what heritage area investment means to 
their given communities and regions, and similar proposals have been 
introduced and championed by both the Bush and Obama administrations.
  The National Heritage Area, or NHA, program is one of the Department 
of the Interior's most cost-effective initiatives, relying on public-
private partnerships in which every Federal dollar is matched with an 
average of $5.50 in other funding.
  For my part, I greatly appreciate the good that the Erie Canalway 
National Heritage Corridor and the Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River 
Valley National Heritage Corridor have done for my district and for 
upstate New York.
  I commend the Alliance of National Heritage Areas and the National 
Parks Conservation Association for their hard work on this critical 
legislation.
  I also want to thank my friends, our former colleague, Charlie Dent, 
and Congressmembers McKinley and G.T. Thompson, for their hard work on 
this legislation and continued support for heritage areas.
  While the ranking member cited staff on both sides, I would endorse 
that. I also add to the compliments my legislative person, Emily 
Silverberg, for the outstanding work she has done and her longtime 
dedication and devotion to the effort.
  H.R. 1049 is a bipartisan, commonsense bill, and I urge my colleagues 
to support this legislation.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the gentlewoman from 
Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon) will control the balance of the time.
  There was no objection.
  Miss GONZALEZ-COLON of Puerto Rico. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode 
Island (Mr. Cicilline).

  Mr. CICILLINE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1049, 
the National Heritage Area Act.
  Since 1984, the National Heritage Area program has played a vital 
role in preserving the history, culture and natural beauty of our 
Nation's most historically and naturally significant communities. It 
has worked closely with those communities to help make them vibrant and 
ensure their place as part of the national landscape.
  In my home State of Rhode Island, the Blackstone River Valley 
National Heritage Corridor plays a vital role in preserving the history 
of communities in Blackstone Valley, the birthplace of the American 
Industrial Revolution.
  In addition to preserving this history, the coordinating entity for 
the Blackstone Valley Heritage Corridor works hand in hand with the 
National Park Service to support the continued development of the 
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, which runs from 
Providence and Pawtucket through Worcester, Massachusetts.
  I was proud to lead the House effort to establish this national park 
in 2014 and look forward to seeing its continued growth and development 
in close coordination with the Blackstone Heritage Corridor.
  The relationship between the Blackstone Heritage Corridor and the 
Blackstone Valley National Historical Park plays a vital role in 
telling the story of how America became a prosperous nation through its 
mills and factories, and the immigrant communities in Rhode Island and 
Massachusetts that worked in those industries and that helped build the 
foundation of our country.
  The National Heritage Area Act will ensure that this relationship can 
continue by authorizing funds for heritage areas through 2034 and 
fostering new opportunities for relationships between heritage areas 
and the National Park Service to grow.
  While the Trump administration has proposed eliminating this critical 
program year after year, I am grateful for the work of my colleague 
from New York, Congressman Paul Tonko, for his leadership on this 
issue. And I thank Chairman Grijalva and the Natural Resources 
Committee for their efforts to bring this legislation to the floor.
  I urge passage of H.R. 1049, to support the National Heritage Area 
program and to continue preserving our Nation's history and natural 
beauty.

                              {time}  1730

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Case) that the House suspend the rules and 
pass the bill, H.R. 1049, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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