[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 118 (Monday, July 18, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H6687-H6690]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN OF THE REVOLUTION NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR ACT OF
2021
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1286) to establish in the States of North Carolina and South
Carolina the Southern Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage
Corridor, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1286
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 ``Southern Campaign of the
Revolution National Heritage Corridor Act of 2021''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) National heritage corridor.--The term ``National
Heritage Corridor'' means the Southern Campaign of the
Revolution National Heritage Corridor established by section
3(a).
(2) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``Local
Coordinating Entity'' means the local coordinating entity for
the National Heritage Corridor.
(3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means
the management plan for the National Heritage Corridor
required under section 5(a).
(4) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled
``Southern Campaign of the Revolution Proposed National
Heritage Corridor'', numbered 257/177,271, and dated
September 2021.
(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(6) States.--The term ``States'' means the States of South
Carolina and North Carolina.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN OF THE REVOLUTION
NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR.
(a) In General.--There is established the Southern Campaign
of the Revolution National
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Heritage Corridor in the States of North Carolina and South
Carolina, as generally depicted on the map.
(b) Local Coordinating Entity.--The University of South
Carolina shall serve as the local coordinating entity for the
National Heritage Corridor.
SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) Authorities.--For purposes of carrying out the
management plan for the National Heritage Corridor, the
Secretary acting through the local coordinating entity may
use amounts made available under this Act--
(1) to make grants to the States or a political subdivision
of the States, Indian Tribes, nonprofit organizations, and
other persons;
(2) to enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide
technical assistance to, the States or a political
subdivision of the States, Indian Tribes, nonprofit
organizations, and other interested parties;
(3) to hire and compensate staff, which shall include
individuals with expertise in natural, cultural, and
historical resources protection and heritage programming;
(4) to obtain money or services from any source, including
any money or services that are provided under any other
Federal law or program, provided that any money specifically
authorized for National Heritage areas shall be subject to a
50 percent cost-share requirement;
(5) to contract for goods or services; and
(6) to undertake or be a catalyst for any other activity
that furthers the purposes of the National Heritage Corridor
and is consistent with the approved management plan.
(b) Duties.--The local coordinating entity for the National
Heritage Corridor shall--
(1) in accordance with section 5, prepare and submit a
management plan for the National Heritage Corridor to the
Secretary;
(2) assist Federal agencies, the States or a political
subdivision of the States, Indian Tribes, regional planning
organizations, nonprofit organizations, and other interested
parties in carrying out the approved management plan by--
(A) carrying out programs and projects that recognize,
protect, and enhance important resource values in the
National Heritage Corridor;
(B) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and
programs in the National Heritage Corridor;
(C) developing recreational, interpretive, and educational
opportunities in the National Heritage Corridor;
(D) increasing public awareness of, and appreciation for,
natural, historical, scenic, and cultural resources of the
National Heritage Corridor;
(E) protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings
in the National Heritage Corridor that are consistent with
the themes of the National Heritage Corridor;
(F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and appropriate signs
identifying points of public access and sites of interest are
posted throughout the National Heritage Corridor; and
(G) promoting a wide range of partnerships among the
Federal Government, State, Tribal, and local governments,
organizations, and individuals to further the purposes of the
National Heritage Corridor;
(3) consider the interests of diverse units of government,
businesses, organizations, and individuals in the National
Heritage Corridor in the preparation and implementation of
the management plan;
(4) conduct meetings open to the public not less frequently
than semiannually regarding the development and
implementation of the management plan; and
(5) for any year that Federal funds have been received
under this Act--
(A) 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);
(B) make available to the Secretary for audit all records
relating to the expenditure of the funds and any matching
funds; and
(C) encourage by appropriate means economic viability that
is consistent with the National Heritage Corridor.
(c) Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The
local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds to
acquire real property or any interest in real property.
SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN.
(a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the local coordinating entity shall
submit to the Secretary for approval a proposed management
plan for the National Heritage Corridor.
(b) Requirements.--The management plan shall--
(1) 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 Corridor;
(2) take into consideration Federal, State, local, and
Tribal plans and treaty rights;
(3) include--
(A) an inventory of--
(i) the resources located in the National Heritage
Corridor; and
(ii) any other property in the National Heritage Corridor
that--
(I) is related to the themes of the National Heritage
Corridor; and
(II) should be preserved, restored, managed, or maintained
because of the significations of the property;
(B) comprehensive policies, strategies, and recommendations
for conservation, funding, management, and development of the
National Heritage Corridor;
(C) a description of the actions that the Federal
Government, State, Tribal, 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 Corridor;
(D) 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
(ii) specific commitments for implementation that have been
made by the local coordinating entity or any unit of
government, organization, or individual for the first 5 years
of operation;
(E) the identification of sources of funding for carrying
out the management plan;
(F) analysis and recommendations for means by which
Federal, State, local, and Tribal programs, including the
role of the National Park Service in the Corridor, may best
be coordinated to carry out this Act; and
(G) an interpretative plan for the National Heritage
Corridor; and
(4) 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 Corridor.
(c) Deadline.--If a proposed management plan is not
submitted to the Secretary by the date that is 3 years after
the date of enactment of this Act, the local coordinating
entity shall be ineligible to receive additional funding
under this Act until the date that the Secretary receives and
approves the management plan.
(d) Approval or Disapproval of Management Plan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
receipt of the management plan under section 5, the
Secretary, in consultation with States and Tribal
governments, shall approve or disapprove the management plan.
(2) Criteria for approval.--In determining whether to
approve the management plan, the Secretary shall consider
whether--
(A) the local coordinating entity is representative of the
diverse interests of the National Heritage Corridor,
including Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments,
natural and historic resources protection organizations,
educational institutions, businesses, recreational
organizations;
(B) the local coordinating entity has afforded adequate
opportunity, including public hearings, for public and
governmental involvement in the preparation of the management
plan; and
(C) the resource preservation and interpretation strategies
contained in the management plan would adequately protect the
natural, historical, and cultural resources of the National
Heritage Corridor.
(3) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary
disapproves the management plan, the Secretary shall--
(A) advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the
reasons for the disapproval;
(B) make recommendations for revisions to the management
plan; and
(C) not later than 180 days after the receipt of any
proposed revision of the management plan from the local
coordinating entity, approve or disapprove the proposed
revision.
(4) Amendments.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall approve or disapprove
each amendment to the management plan that the Secretary
determines make a substantial change to the management plan.
(B) Use of funds.--The local coordinating entity shall not
use Federal funds to carry out any amendments to the
management plan until the Secretary has approved the
amendments.
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 National Heritage Corridor is encouraged to consult
and coordinate the activities with the Secretary and the
local coordinating entity to the maximum extent practicable.
(c) Other Federal Agencies.--Nothing in this section--
(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 National Heritage Corridor; 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 National Heritage Corridor;
(2) requires any property owner--
(A) to permit public access (including access by Federal,
State, or local agencies) to the property of the property
owner; or
(B) 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, Tribal, or local agency;
(4) conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to
the local coordinating entity;
(5) authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation
of water or water rights;
[[Page H6689]]
(6) enlarges or diminishes the treaty rights of any Indian
Tribe within the National Heritage Corridor;
(7) diminishes--
(A) the authority of the States to manage fish and
wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting,
within the National Heritage Corridor; or
(B) the authority of Indian Tribes to regulate members of
Indian Tribes with respect to fishing, hunting, and gathering
in the exercise of treaty rights; or
(8) 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 AND REPORT.
(a) In General.--For the National Heritage Corridor, not
later than 3 years before the date specified under section 9,
the Secretary shall--
(1) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the
National Heritage Corridor; 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 the National Heritage
Corridor; and
(B) achieving the goals and objectives of the approved
management plan for the National Heritage Corridor;
(2) analyze the investments of the Federal Government,
State, Tribal, and local governments, and private entities in
the National Heritage Corridor to determine the impact of the
investments; and
(3) review the management structure, partnership
relationships, and funding of the National Heritage Corridor
for purposes of identifying the critical components for
sustainability of the National Heritage Corridor.
(c) Report.--Based on the evaluation conducted under
subsection (a)(1), the Secretary shall submit to the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of
Representatives a report that includes recommendations for
the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with
respect to the National Heritage Corridor.
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
California (Mr. Huffman) and the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms.
Herrell) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
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 California?
There was no objection.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1286, the Southern
Campaign of the Revolution National Heritage Corridor Act, introduced
by our esteemed colleague, Majority Whip Clyburn.
H.R. 1286 would establish in the States of North Carolina and South
Carolina the Southern Campaign of the Revolution national heritage
corridor.
The Revolution national heritage corridor is an 8-mile-wide area
filled with an abundance of the Carolinas' Revolutionary War sites and
historic resources, including battlefields, historic communities,
farmsteads, and landscapes. These Revolutionary War sites are critical
to the preservation of the Carolinas' history, as they reflect the
cultural and natural environments of North Carolina and South Carolina
in the late 18th century.
The protection, conservation, and restoration of these sites ensure
that the story of these sites is preserved so that residents of and
visitors to the corridor can have the opportunity to learn from and
understand its rich history.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, Representative Clyburn, for
introducing this important legislation and championing this bill on
behalf of my constituents.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 1286, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HERRELL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1286, a bipartisan bill
sponsored by Congressman James Clyburn of South Carolina, which would
establish the Southern Campaign of the Revolution national heritage
corridor.
The corridor established by this legislation would connect the
greatest concentration of the Carolinas' Revolutionary War sites,
including battlefields, historic communities, farmsteads, and
landscapes.
A study was conducted regarding the suitability and feasibility of
designating the Southern Campaign of the Revolution national heritage
corridor, and the National Park Service determined that the study area
met each of the criteria for designation as a heritage corridor.
The Southern Campaign of the Revolution national heritage corridor
will serve to educate the public about our national identity and the
ideals of liberty, natural and civil rights, equality, and responsible
citizenship.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn).
Mr. CLYBURN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me the
time.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on this august body to vote in
favor of H.R. 1286, the Southern Campaign of the Revolution National
Heritage Corridor Act.
The American victory at Kings Mountain in South Carolina was once
described by a British commander as ``the first link in a chain of
evils that . . . ended in the total loss of America.''
When we hear the story of the American Revolution, we don't often
learn of the war's Southern Campaign or applaud the dramatic impact
that campaign had on the Revolution. Significant American victories in
the Carolinas between 1775 and 1783, such as at Kings Mountain and the
Guilford Courthouse, paved the way for America's final victory in the
War for Independence.
Today, there are historical landmarks and battlefields that mark this
rich history throughout the Carolinas. This legislation seeks to
connect these sites to tell this under-recognized story and acknowledge
the enduring significance of the Southern Campaign on our Nation's
history by establishing this heritage corridor.
As a former teacher and lifelong student of history, it is a personal
mission of mine to increase public awareness of and appreciation for
our Nation's tremendous natural, historical, scenic, and cultural
resources. It is my hope that the creation of this Southern Campaign of
the American Revolution national heritage corridor will attract
visitors to learn more about both Carolinas' contributions to this
country and further fulfill South Carolina's lesser-known motto:
Prepared in Mind and Resources.
I thank former Congressman John Spratt, who spearheaded this effort
and secured a feasibility study for this heritage corridor back in
2006. I also salute and commemorate Jayne Scarborough, the late
executive director of the Olde English District Tourism Commission, who
was a tireless advocate for this project. I am proud to continue their
great work and to be joined by the entire South Carolina delegation as
we finally bring this legislation to the House floor for a vote.
I commend the South Carolina Battlefield Preservation Trust for their
help in informing this process and the University of South Carolina for
its commitment to managing this heritage corridor.
Mr. Speaker, I respectfully ask my colleagues to vote in favor of
this bill.
Ms. HERRELL. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on
this important 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 California (Mr. Huffman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1286, 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. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution
8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion
are postponed.
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