[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 23, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXTENSION OF MANAGEMENT PLANNING DEADLINE FOR NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS 
                 DESIGNATION UNDER THE 2019 DINGELL ACT

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                          HON. JOHN GARAMENDI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 2021

  Mr. GARAMENDI. Madam Speaker, today I introduced a bill to extend the 
statutory deadline for submitting a management plan for the six 
National Heritage Areas designated under the John D. Dingell Jr. 
Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-
9).
  Current law directs the local coordinating entity for each National 
Heritage Area to submit a management plan to the National Park Service 
within three years of the date of enactment: March 12, 2022. However, 
due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the local coordinating entities 
need additional time to finalize their management plans, including 
completing a robust public engagement process not possible during much 
of 2020.
  As Deputy Secretary of the Interior during the Clinton 
Administration, I know that local coordinating entities for National 
Heritage Areas need sufficient time to prepare effective management 
plans that reflect substantial public feedback. The John D. Dingell Jr. 
Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019 (Public Law 116-9) 
included the House sponsor of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta National 
Heritage Area Act, of which I sponsored with Senator Dianne Feinstein 
(D-CA). More time will allow California's first and the other newly 
designated National Heritage Areas to conduct greater public 
engagement, preform fulsome tribal consultations, and complete all 
necessary field work to ensure these new National Heritage Areas are 
set up for success.
  Madam Speaker, I thank Representatives McKinley (R-WV), Smith (D-WA), 
Schrier (D-WA), Kilmer (D-WA), Jayapal (D-WA), Grijalva (D-AZ), and 
Strickland (D-WA) for their support as original cosponsors. I look 
forward to working with Natural Resources Chairman Raul Grijalva to 
ensure this critical piece of legislation becomes law.

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