Congressional Record, Volume 168 Issue 118 (Monday, July 18, 2022)

[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 118 (Monday, July 18, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H6691-H6693]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

ALABAMA BLACK BELT NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT

Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 3222) to establish the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage
Area, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:

H.R. 3222

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 ``Alabama Black Belt National
Heritage Area Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) National heritage area.--The term ``National Heritage
Area'' means the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area
established by section 3(a).
(2) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``local
coordinating entity'' means the local coordinating entity for
the National Heritage Area.
(3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means
the management plan for the National Heritage Area prepared
under section 5(a).
(4) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled ``Alabama
Black Belt Proposed National Heritage Area'', numbered 258/
177,272, and dated September 2021.

[[Page H6692]]

(5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of the Interior.
(6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Alabama.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF ALABAMA BLACK BELT NATIONAL HERITAGE
AREA.

(a) In General.--There is established the Alabama Black
Belt National Heritage Area in the State of Alabama, to
consist of land in Bibb, Bullock, Butler, Choctaw, Clarke,
Conecuh, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo,
Monroe, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Sumter, Washington, and
Wilcox counties in the State, as generally depicted on the
map.
(b) Local Coordinating Entity.--The Center for the Study of
the Black Belt at the University of West Alabama shall serve
as the local coordinating entity for the National Heritage
Area.

SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION.

(a) Authorities.--For purposes of carrying out the
management plan for the National Heritage Area, the Secretary
acting through the local coordinating entity may use amounts
made available under this Act--
(1) to make grants to the State or a political subdivision
of the State, Indian Tribes, nonprofit organizations, and
other persons;
(2) to enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide
technical assistance to, the State or a political subdivision
of the State, 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 Area and
is consistent with the approved management plan.
(b) Duties.--The local coordinating entity for the National
Heritage Area shall--
(1) in accordance with section 5, prepare and submit a
management plan for the National Heritage Area to the
Secretary;
(2) assist Federal agencies, the State or a political
subdivision of the State, 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 Area;
(B) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and
programs in the National Heritage Area;
(C) developing recreational, interpretive, and educational
opportunities in the National Heritage Area;
(D) increasing public awareness of, and appreciation for,
natural, historical, scenic, and cultural resources of the
National Heritage Area;
(E) protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings
in the National Heritage Area that are consistent with the
themes of the National Heritage Area;
(F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and appropriate signs
identifying points of public access and sites of interest are
posted throughout the National Heritage Area; 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 Area;
(3) consider the interests of diverse units of government,
businesses, organizations, and individuals in the National
Heritage Area 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;
(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 Area.
(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 of the
National Heritage Area shall submit to the Secretary for
approval a proposed management plan for the National Heritage
Area.
(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 Area;
(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 Area;
and
(ii) any other property in the National Heritage Area
that--

(I) is related to the themes of the National Heritage Area;
and
(II) should be preserved, restored, managed, or maintained
because of the significance of the property;

(B) comprehensive policies, strategies, and recommendations
for the conservation, funding, management, and development of
the National Heritage Area;
(C) a description of activities that the Federal
Government, State, Tribal, and local governments, private
organizations, and individuals have agreed to carry out to
protect the natural, historical, cultural, scenic, and
recreational resources of the National Heritage Area;
(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 National Heritage
Area, may best be coordinated to carry out this Act; and
(G) an interpretive plan for the National Heritage Area;
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 Area.
(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 on which the Secretary 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 this section, the
Secretary, in consultation with State 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 Area, including
the Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, natural
and historic resource protection organizations, educational
institutions, businesses, and 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 protection and interpretation strategies
contained in the management plan, if implemented, would
adequately protect the natural, historical, and cultural
resources of the National Heritage Area.
(3) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary
disapproves the management plan under paragraph (1), the
Secretary shall--
(A) advise the local coordinating entity in writing 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 amendment to the
management plan until the date on which the Secretary has
approved the amendment.

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 Area 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 Act--
(1) modifies, alters, or amends any law or regulations
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 Area; 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 Area;
(2) requires any property owner--

[[Page H6693]]

(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;
(6) enlarges or diminishes the treaty rights of any Indian
Tribe within the National Heritage Area;
(7) diminishes--
(A) the authority of the State to manage fish and wildlife,
including the regulation of fishing and hunting, within the
National Heritage Area; 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 Area, 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 Area; 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
Area; and
(B) achieving the goals and objectives of the approved
management plan for the National Heritage Area;
(2) analyze the investments of the Federal Government,
State, Tribal, and local governments, and private entities in
the National Heritage Area to determine the impact of the
investments; and
(3) review the management structure, partnership
relationships, and funding of the National Heritage Area for
purposes of identifying the critical components for
sustainability of the National Heritage Area.
(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 Area.

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 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. 3222, the Alabama Black
Belt National Heritage Area Act.
This bill would establish the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage
Area, consisting of land in 19 counties in the State of Alabama,
including Montgomery County, as a national heritage area.
The region's identity is rooted in its cultural geography and
historical development. During the mid-1900s, Alabama's Black Belt area
gave rise to the civil rights movement emerging in the South.
Montgomery County witnessed the bus boycotts in the 1950s. Dallas,
Lowndes, and Montgomery Counties also gave way for the famous march for
equal rights from Selma to Montgomery in 1965, led by the Reverend
Martin Luther King, Jr.
National heritage areas leverage private funding for long-term
projects that have substantial economic and environmental benefits. The
protection, conservation, and restoration of Alabama's Black Belt area,
in partnership with the National Park Service, will ensure that the
powerful history of this area is preserved for posterity. These are
stories that need to be told.
I thank my colleague, Representative Sewell, for introducing this
important legislation and championing this bill on behalf of her
constituents.
I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 3222, 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. 3222, a bipartisan bill
sponsored by Representative Sewell of Alabama.
This bill establishes the Alabama Black Belt National Heritage Area,
comprised of land in 19 Alabama counties, and designates the Center for
the Study of the Black Belt at the University of West Alabama as the
management entity.
The Black Belt region of Alabama stretches across the lower central
portion of Alabama, from the eastern border of Mississippi to the
western border of southern Georgia. The region is recognized by many as
the center of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Several pivotal events in the civil rights movement took place in the
region, including the Montgomery bus boycott and the march from Selma
to Montgomery, which helped lead to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and
the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
The Black Belt region is a special area of our country that deserves
national recognition.
Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this bill, and I yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I too, urge my colleagues to vote ``yes''
on 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 California (Mr. Huffman) that the House suspend the
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3222, 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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