Congressional Record, Volume 166 Issue 204 (Thursday, December 3, 2020)

[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;

(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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