[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21415-21441]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS ACT OF 2006

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate 
a message from the House of Representatives on the bill (S. 203) to 
reduce temporarily the royalty required to be paid for sodium produced, 
to establish certain National Heritage Areas, and for other purposes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the House of Representatives:

[[Page 21416]]



                                 S. 203

       Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. 203) entitled 
     ``An Act to reduce temporarily the royalty required to be 
     paid for sodium produced, to establish certain National 
     Heritage Areas, and for other purposes'', do pass with the 
     following amendment:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National 
     Heritage Areas Act of 2006''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                  TITLE I--SODA ASH ROYALTY REDUCTION

Sec. 101. Short title.
Sec. 102. Reduction in royalty rate on soda ash.
Sec. 103. Study.

           TITLE II--ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS

         Subtitle A--Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area

Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. Congressional findings.
Sec. 203. Definitions.
Sec. 204. Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area.
Sec. 205. Authority and duties of the Management Entity.
Sec. 206. Duties of the Secretary.
Sec. 207. Private property protections; savings provisions.
Sec. 208. Sunset.
Sec. 209. Authorization of appropriations.

             Subtitle B--Atchafalaya National Heritage Area

Sec. 211. Short title.
Sec. 212. Definitions.
Sec. 213. Atchafalaya National Heritage Area.
Sec. 214. Authorities and duties of the local coordinating entity.
Sec. 215. Management Plan.
Sec. 216. Requirements for inclusion of private property.
Sec. 217. Private property protection.
Sec. 218. Effect of subtitle.
Sec. 219. Reports.
Sec. 220. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 221. Termination of authority.

           Subtitle C--Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

Sec. 231. Short title.
Sec. 232. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 233. Definitions.
Sec. 234. Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area.
Sec. 235. Authorities and duties of the local coordinating entity.
Sec. 236. Management Plan.
Sec. 237. Technical and financial assistance.
Sec. 238. Effect on certain authority.
Sec. 239. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 240. Termination of authority.
Sec. 241. Requirements for inclusion of private property.
Sec. 242. Private property protection.

           Subtitle D--Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area

Sec. 251. Short title.
Sec. 252. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 253. Definitions.
Sec. 254. Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area.
Sec. 255. Designation of Alliance as local coordinating entity.
Sec. 256. Management of the Heritage Area.
Sec. 257. Duties and authorities of Federal agencies.
Sec. 258A. Requirements for inclusion of private property.
Sec. 258B. Private property protection.
Sec. 259. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 260. Termination of authority.

         Subtitle E--Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area

Sec. 261. Short title.
Sec. 262. Purpose.
Sec. 263. Definitions.
Sec. 264. Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area.
Sec. 265. Technical and financial assistance; other Federal agencies.
Sec. 266. Private property protection.
Sec. 267. Savings provisions.
Sec. 268. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 269. Termination of authority.

       Subtitle F--Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area

Sec. 271. Short title.
Sec. 272. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 273. Definitions.
Sec. 274. Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.
Sec. 275. Authorities, prohibitions, and duties of the Management 
              Entity.
Sec. 276. Management Plan.
Sec. 277. Duties and authorities of the Secretary.
Sec. 278. Duties of other Federal agencies.
Sec. 279. Requirements for inclusion of private property.
Sec. 280. Private property protection.
Sec. 280A. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 280B. Sunset.

       Subtitle G--Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership

Sec. 281. Short title.
Sec. 282. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 283. Definitions.
Sec. 284. Heritage Partnership.
Sec. 285. Requirements for inclusion of private property.
Sec. 286. Private property protection.
Sec. 287. Effect.
Sec. 288. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 109. Termination of authority.

            Subtitle H--Great Basin National Heritage Route

Sec. 291. Short title.
Sec. 291A. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 291B. Definitions.
Sec. 291C. Great Basin National Heritage Route.
Sec. 291D. Memorandum of understanding.
Sec. 291E. Management Plan.
Sec. 291F. Authority and duties of local coordinating entity.
Sec. 291G. Duties and authorities of Federal agencies.
Sec. 291H. Land use regulation; applicability of Federal law.
Sec. 291I. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 291J. Termination of authority.
Sec. 291K. Requirements for inclusion of private property.
Sec. 291L. Private property protection.

              Subtitle I--Gullah/Geechee Heritage Corridor

Sec. 295. Short title.
Sec. 295A. Purposes.
Sec. 295B. Definitions.
Sec. 295C. Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor.
Sec. 295D. Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission.
Sec. 295E. Operation of the local coordinating entity.
Sec. 295F. Management Plan.
Sec. 295G. Technical and financial assistance.
Sec. 295H. Duties of other Federal agencies.
Sec. 295I. Coastal Heritage Centers.
Sec. 295J. Private property protection.
Sec. 295K. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 295L. Termination of authority.

  Subtitle J--Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage 
                                  Area

Sec. 297. Short title.
Sec. 297A. Findings and purposes.
Sec. 297B. Definitions.
Sec. 297C. Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage 
              Area.
Sec. 297D. Management Plan.
Sec. 297E. Authorities, duties, and prohibitions applicable to the 
              local coordinating entity.
Sec. 297F. Technical and financial assistance; other Federal agencies.
Sec. 297G. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 297H. Termination of authority.
Sec. 297I. Requirements for inclusion of private property.
Sec. 297J. Private property protection.

               TITLE III--NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDIES

            Subtitle A--Western Reserve Heritage Area Study

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. National Park Service study regarding the Western Reserve, 
              Ohio.

           Subtitle B--St. Croix National Heritage Area Study

Sec. 311. Short title.
Sec. 312. Study.

            Subtitle C--Southern Campaign of the Revolution

Sec. 321. Short title.
Sec. 322. Southern Campaign of the Revolution Heritage Area study.
Sec. 323. Private property.

 TITLE IV--ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR ACT 
                               AMENDMENTS

Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Transition and provisions for new local coordinating entity.
Sec. 403. Private property protection.
Sec. 404. Technical amendments.

               TITLE V--MOKELUMNE RIVER FEASIBILITY STUDY

Sec. 501. Authorization of Mokelumne River Regional Water Storage and 
              Conjunctive Use Project Study.
Sec. 502. Use of reports and other information.
Sec. 503. Cost shares.
Sec. 504. Water rights.
Sec. 505. Authorization of appropriations.

      TITLE VI--DELAWARE NATIONAL COASTAL SPECIAL RESOURCES STUDY

Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Study.
Sec. 603. Themes.
Sec. 604. Report.

  TITLE VII--JOHN H. CHAFEE BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE 
                        CORRIDOR REAUTHORIZATION

Sec. 701. Short title.
Sec. 702. John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage 
              Corridor.

 TITLE VIII--CALIFORNIA RECLAMATION GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION INITIATIVE

Sec. 801. Short title.
Sec. 802. Definitions.
Sec. 803. California basins remediation.
Sec. 804. Sunset of authority.

                 TITLE IX--NATIONAL COAL HERITAGE AREA

Sec. 901. National Coal Heritage Area amendments.

                  TITLE I--SODA ASH ROYALTY REDUCTION

     SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Soda Ash Royalty Reduction 
     Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 102. REDUCTION IN ROYALTY RATE ON SODA ASH.

       Notwithstanding section 102(a)(9) of the Federal Land 
     Policy Management Act of 1976 (43

[[Page 21417]]

     U.S.C. 1701(a)(9)), section 24 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 
     U.S.C. 262), and the terms of any lease under that Act, the 
     royalty rate on the quantity or gross value of the output of 
     sodium compounds and related products at the point of 
     shipment to market from Federal land in the 5-year period 
     beginning on the date of enactment of this Act shall be 2 
     percent.

     SEC. 103. STUDY.

       After the end of the 4-year period beginning on the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and before the end of the 5-year 
     period beginning on that date, the Secretary of the Interior 
     shall report to Congress on the effects of the royalty 
     reduction under this title, including--
       (1) the amount of sodium compounds and related products at 
     the point of shipment to market from Federal land during that 
     4-year period;
       (2) the number of jobs that have been created or maintained 
     during the royalty reduction period;
       (3) the total amount of royalty paid to the United States 
     on the quantity or gross value of the output of sodium 
     compounds and related products at the point of shipment to 
     market produced during that 4-year period, and the portion of 
     such royalty paid to States; and
       (4) a recommendation of whether the reduced royalty rate 
     should apply after the end of the 5-year period beginning on 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

           TITLE II--ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS

         Subtitle A--Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Northern Rio Grande 
     National Heritage Area Act''.

     SEC. 202. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.

       The Congress finds that--
       (1) northern New Mexico encompasses a mosaic of cultures 
     and history, including 8 Pueblos and the descendants of 
     Spanish ancestors who settled in the area in 1598;
       (2) the combination of cultures, languages, folk arts, 
     customs, and architecture make northern New Mexico unique;
       (3) the area includes spectacular natural, scenic, and 
     recreational resources;
       (4) there is broad support from local governments and 
     interested individuals to establish a National Heritage Area 
     to coordinate and assist in the preservation and 
     interpretation of these resources;
       (5) in 1991, the National Park Service study Alternative 
     Concepts for Commemorating Spanish Colonization identified 
     several alternatives consistent with the establishment of a 
     National Heritage Area, including conducting a comprehensive 
     archaeological and historical research program, coordinating 
     a comprehensive interpretation program, and interpreting a 
     cultural heritage scene; and
       (6) establishment of a National Heritage Area in northern 
     New Mexico would assist local communities and residents in 
     preserving these unique cultural, historical and natural 
     resources.

     SEC. 203. DEFINITIONS.

       As used in this subtitle--
       (1) the term ``heritage area'' means the Northern Rio 
     Grande Heritage Area; and
       (2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of the 
     Interior.

     SEC. 204. NORTHERN RIO GRANDE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established the 
     Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area in the State of 
     New Mexico.
       (b) Boundaries.--The heritage area shall include the 
     counties of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Taos.
       (c) Management Entity.--
       (1) The Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area, Inc., a 
     non-profit corporation chartered in the State of New Mexico, 
     shall serve as the management entity for the heritage area.
       (2) The Board of Directors for the management entity shall 
     include representatives of the State of New Mexico, the 
     counties of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Taos, tribes and pueblos 
     within the heritage area, the cities of Santa Fe, Espanola 
     and Taos, and members of the general public. The total number 
     of Board members and the number of Directors representing 
     State, local and tribal governments and interested 
     communities shall be established to ensure that all parties 
     have appropriate representation on the Board.

     SEC. 205. AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF THE MANAGEMENT ENTITY.

       (a) Management Plan.--
       (1) Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, the management entity shall develop and forward to 
     the Secretary a management plan for the heritage area.
       (2) The management entity shall develop and implement the 
     management plan in cooperation with affected communities, 
     tribal and local governments and shall provide for public 
     involvement in the development and implementation of the 
     management plan.
       (3) The management plan shall, at a minimum--
       (A) provide recommendations for the conservation, funding, 
     management, and development of the resources of the heritage 
     area;
       (B) identify sources of funding;
       (C) include an inventory of the cultural, historical, 
     archaeological, natural, and recreational resources of the 
     heritage area;
       (D) provide recommendations for educational and 
     interpretive programs to inform the public about the 
     resources of the heritage area; and
       (E) include an analysis of ways in which local, State, 
     Federal, and tribal programs may best be coordinated to 
     promote the purposes of this subtitle.
       (4) If the management entity fails to submit a management 
     plan to the secretary as provided in paragraph (1), the 
     heritage area shall no longer be eligible to receive Federal 
     funding under this subtitle until such time as a plan is 
     submitted to the Secretary.
       (5) The Secretary shall approve or disapprove the 
     management plan within 90 days after the date of submission. 
     If the Secretary disapproves the management plan, the 
     Secretary shall advise the management entity in writing of 
     the reasons therefore and shall make recommendations for 
     revisions to the plan.
       (6) The management entity shall periodically review the 
     management plan and submit to the Secretary any 
     recommendations for proposed revisions to the management 
     plan. Any major revisions to the management plan must be 
     approved by the Secretary.
       (b) Authority.--The management entity may make grants and 
     provide technical assistance to tribal and local governments, 
     and other public and private entities to carry out the 
     management plan.
       (c) Duties.--The management entity shall--
       (1) give priority in implementing actions set forth in the 
     management plan;
       (2) encourage by appropriate means economic viability in 
     the heritage area consistent with the goals of the management 
     plan; and
       (3) assist local and tribal governments and non-profit 
     organizations in--
       (A) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits in 
     the heritage area;
       (B) developing recreational resources in the heritage area;
       (C) increasing public awareness of, and appreciation for, 
     the cultural, historical, archaeological and natural 
     resources and sits in the heritage area;
       (D) the restoration of historic structures related to the 
     heritage area; and
       (E) carrying out other actions that the management entity 
     determines appropriate to fulfill the purposes of this 
     subtitle, consistent with the management plan.
       (d) Prohibition on Acquiring Real Property.--The management 
     entity may not use Federal funds received under this subtitle 
     to acquire real property or an interest in real property.
       (e) Public Meetings.--The management entity shall hold 
     public meetings at least annually regarding the 
     implementation of the management plan.
       (f) Annual Reports and Audits.--
       (1) For any year in which the management entity receives 
     Federal funds under this subtitle, the management entity 
     shall submit an annual report to the Secretary setting forth 
     accomplishments, expenses and income, and each entity to 
     which any grant was made by the management entity.
       (2) The management entity shall make available to the 
     Secretary for audit all records relating to the expenditure 
     of Federal funds and any matching funds. The management 
     entity shall also require, for all agreements authorizing 
     expenditure of Federal funds by other organizations, that the 
     receiving organization make available to the Secretary for 
     audit all records concerning the expenditure of those funds.

     SEC. 206. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.

       (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--The Secretary may, 
     upon request of the management entity, provide technical and 
     financial assistance to develop and implement the management 
     plan.
       (b) Priority.--In providing assistance under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall give priority to actions that 
     facilitate--
       (1) the conservation of the significant natural, cultural, 
     historical, archaeological, scenic, and recreational 
     resources of the heritage area; and
       (2) the provision of educational, interpretive, and 
     recreational opportunities consistent with the resources and 
     associated values of the heritage area.

     SEC. 207. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTIONS; SAVINGS PROVISIONS.

       (a) Private Property Protection.--
       (1) Notification and consent of property owners required.--
     No privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or 
     promoted by the management plan for the Heritage Area until 
     the owner of that private property has been notified in 
     writing by the management entity and has given written 
     consent for such preservation, conservation or promotion to 
     the management entity.
       (2) Landowner withdrawal.--Any owner of private property 
     included within the boundary of the heritage area, shall have 
     their property immediately removed from within the boundary 
     by submitting a written request to the management entity.
       (3) Access to private property.--Nothing in this subtitle 
     shall be construed to require any private property owner to 
     permit public access (including Federal, State, or local 
     government access) to such private property. Nothing in this 
     subtitle shall be construed to modify any provision of 
     Federal, State, or local law with regard to public access to 
     or use of private lands.
       (4) Liability.--Designation of the heritage area shall not 
     be considered to create any liability, or to 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.
       (5) Recognition of authority to control land use.--Nothing 
     in this subtitle shall be construed to modify any authority 
     of Federal, State, or local governments to regulate land use.

[[Page 21418]]

       (6) Participation of private property owners in heritage 
     area.--Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to require 
     the owner of any private property located within the 
     boundaries of the heritage area to participate in or be 
     associated with the heritage area.
       (b) Effect of Establishment.--The boundaries designated for 
     the heritage area represent the area within which Federal 
     funds appropriated for the purpose of this subtitle shall be 
     expended. The establishment of the heritage area and its 
     boundaries shall not be construed to provide any nonexisting 
     regulatory authority on land use within the heritage area or 
     its viewshed by the Secretary, the National Park Service, or 
     the management entity.
       (c) Tribal Lands.--Nothing in this subtitle shall restrict 
     or limit a tribe from protecting cultural or religious sites 
     on tribal lands.
       (d) Trust Responsibilities.--Nothing in this subtitle shall 
     diminish the Federal Government's trust responsibilities or 
     government-to-government obligations to any federally 
     recognized Indian tribe.

     SEC. 208. SUNSET.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
     this subtitle terminates on the date that is 15 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 209. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this subtitle $10,000,000, of which not more than 
     $1,000,000 may be authorized to be appropriated for any 
     fiscal year.
       (b) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The Federal share of the 
     total cost of any activity assisted under this subtitle shall 
     be not more than 50 percent.

             Subtitle B--Atchafalaya National Heritage Area

     SEC. 211. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Atchafalaya National 
     Heritage Area Act''.

     SEC. 212. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
     Atchafalaya National Heritage Area established by section 
     213(a).
       (2) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``local 
     coordinating entity'' means the local coordinating entity for 
     the Heritage Area designated by section 213(c).
       (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the management plan for the Heritage Area developed under 
     section 215.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (5) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of 
     Louisiana.

     SEC. 213. ATCHAFALAYA NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the State the 
     Atchafalaya National Heritage Area.
       (b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall consist of the 
     whole of the following parishes in the State: St. Mary, 
     Iberia, St. Martin, St. Landry, Avoyelles, Pointe Coupee, 
     Iberville, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafayette, West Baton 
     Rouge, Concordia, East Baton Rouge, and Ascension Parish.
       (c) Local Coordinating Entity.--
       (1) In general.--The Atchafalaya Trace Commission shall be 
     the local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area.
       (2) Composition.--The local coordinating entity shall be 
     composed of 14 members appointed by the governing authority 
     of each parish within the Heritage Area.

     SEC. 214. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE LOCAL COORDINATING 
                   ENTITY.

       (a) Authorities.--For the purposes of developing and 
     implementing the management plan and otherwise carrying out 
     this subtitle, the local coordinating entity may--
       (1) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements 
     with, the State, units of local government, and private 
     organizations;
       (2) hire and compensate staff; and
       (3) enter into contracts for goods and services.
       (b) Duties.--The local coordinating entity shall--
       (1) submit to the Secretary for approval a management plan;
       (2) implement the management plan, including providing 
     assistance to units of government and others in--
       (A) carrying out programs that recognize important resource 
     values within the Heritage Area;
       (B) encouraging sustainable economic development within the 
     Heritage Area;
       (C) establishing and maintaining interpretive sites within 
     the Heritage Area; and
       (D) increasing public awareness of, and appreciation for 
     the natural, historic, and cultural resources of, the 
     Heritage Area;
       (3) adopt bylaws governing the conduct of the local 
     coordinating entity; and
       (4) for any year for which Federal funds are received under 
     this subtitle, submit to the Secretary a report that 
     describes, for the year--
       (A) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity; 
     and
       (B) the expenses and income of the local coordinating 
     entity.
       (c) Acquisition of Real Property.--The local coordinating 
     entity shall not use Federal funds received under this 
     subtitle to acquire real property or an interest in real 
     property.
       (d) Public Meetings.--The local coordinating entity shall 
     conduct public meetings at least quarterly.

     SEC. 215. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

       (a) In General.--The local coordinating entity shall 
     develop a management plan for the Heritage Area that 
     incorporates an integrated and cooperative approach to 
     protect, interpret, and enhance the natural, scenic, 
     cultural, historic, and recreational resources of the 
     Heritage Area.
       (b) Consideration of Other Plans and Actions.--In 
     developing the management plan, the local coordinating entity 
     shall--
       (1) take into consideration State and local plans; and
       (2) invite the participation of residents, public agencies, 
     and private organizations in the Heritage Area.
       (c) Contents.--The management plan shall include--
       (1) an inventory of the resources in the Heritage Area, 
     including--
       (A) a list of property in the Heritage Area that--
       (i) relates to the purposes of the Heritage Area; and
       (ii) should be preserved, restored, managed, or maintained 
     because of the significance of the property; and
       (B) an assessment of cultural landscapes within the 
     Heritage Area;
       (2) provisions for the protection, interpretation, and 
     enjoyment of the resources of the Heritage Area consistent 
     with this subtitle;
       (3) an interpretation plan for the Heritage Area; and
       (4) a program for implementation of the management plan 
     that includes--
       (A) actions to be carried out by units of government, 
     private organizations, and public-private partnerships to 
     protect the resources of the Heritage Area; and
       (B) the identification of existing and potential sources of 
     funding for implementing the plan.
       (d) Submission to Secretary for Approval.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this subtitle, 
     the local coordinating entity shall submit the management 
     plan to the Secretary for approval.
       (2) Effect of failure to submit.--If a management plan is 
     not submitted to the Secretary by the date specified in 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall not provide any additional 
     funding under this subtitle until a management plan for the 
     Heritage Area is submitted to the Secretary.
       (e) Approval.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after receiving the 
     management plan submitted under subsection (d)(1), the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the State, shall approve or 
     disapprove the management plan.
       (2) Action following disapproval.--
       (A) In general.--If the Secretary disapproves a management 
     plan under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
       (i) advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the 
     reasons for the disapproval;
       (ii) make recommendations for revisions to the management 
     plan; and
       (iii) allow the local coordinating entity to submit to the 
     Secretary revisions to the management plan.
       (B) Deadline for approval of revision.--Not later than 90 
     days after the date on which a revision is submitted under 
     subparagraph (A)(iii), the Secretary shall approve or 
     disapprove the revision.
       (f) Revision.--
       (1) In general.--After approval by the Secretary of a 
     management plan, the local coordinating entity shall 
     periodically--
       (A) review the management plan; and
       (B) submit to the Secretary, for review and approval by the 
     Secretary, the recommendations of the local coordinating 
     entity for any revisions to the management plan that the 
     local coordinating entity considers to be appropriate.
       (2) Expenditure of funds.--No funds made available under 
     this subtitle shall be used to implement any revision 
     proposed by the local coordinating entity under paragraph 
     (1)(B) until the Secretary approves the revision.

     SEC. 216. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.

       (a) Notification and Consent of Property Owners Required.--
     No privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or 
     promoted by the management plan for the Heritage Area until 
     the owner of that private property has been notified in 
     writing by the local coordinating entity and has given 
     written consent to the local coordinating entity for such 
     preservation, conservation, or promotion.
       (b) Landowner Withdrawal.--Any owner of private property 
     included within the boundary of the Heritage Area shall have 
     that private property immediately removed from the boundary 
     by submitting a written request to the local coordinating 
     entity.

     SEC. 217. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

       (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this subtitle 
     shall be construed to--
       (1) require any private property owner to allow public 
     access (including Federal, State, or local government access) 
     to such private property; or
       (2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law 
     with regard to public access to or use of private property.
       (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Area shall not 
     be considered to create any liability, or to have any effect 
     on any liability under any other law, of any private property 
     owner with respect to any persons injured on that private 
     property.
       (c) Participation of Private Property Owners in Heritage 
     Area.--Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to require 
     the owner of any private property located within the 
     boundaries of the Heritage Area to participate in or be 
     associated with the Heritage Area.

[[Page 21419]]



     SEC. 218. EFFECT OF SUBTITLE.

       Nothing in this subtitle or in establishment of the 
     Heritage Area--
       (1) grants any Federal agency regulatory authority over any 
     interest in the Heritage Area, unless cooperatively agreed on 
     by all involved parties;
       (2) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes any authority of the 
     Federal Government or a State or local government to regulate 
     any use of land as provided for by law (including 
     regulations) in existence on the date of enactment of this 
     Act;
       (3) grants any power of zoning or land use to the local 
     coordinating entity;
       (4) imposes any environmental, occupational, safety, or 
     other rule, standard, or permitting process that is different 
     from those in effect on the date of enactment of this Act 
     that would be applicable had the Heritage Area not been 
     established;
       (5)(A) imposes any change in Federal environmental quality 
     standards; or
       (B) authorizes designation of any portion of the Heritage 
     Area that is subject to part C of title I of the Clean Air 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 7470 et seq.) as class 1 for the purposes of 
     that part solely by reason of the establishment of the 
     Heritage Area;
       (6) authorizes any Federal or State agency to impose more 
     restrictive water use designations, or water quality 
     standards on uses of or discharges to, waters of the United 
     States or waters of the State within or adjacent to the 
     Heritage Area solely by reason of the establishment of the 
     Heritage Area;
       (7) abridges, restricts, or alters any applicable rule, 
     standard, or review procedure for permitting of facilities 
     within or adjacent to the Heritage Area; or
       (8) affects the continuing use and operation, where located 
     on the date of enactment of this Act, of any public utility 
     or common carrier.

     SEC. 219. REPORTS.

       For any year in which Federal funds have been made 
     available under this subtitle, the local coordinating entity 
     shall submit to the Secretary a report that describes--
       (1) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity; 
     and
       (2) the expenses and income of the local coordinating 
     entity.

     SEC. 220. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this subtitle $10,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be 
     authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year.
       (b) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The Federal share of the 
     total cost of any activity assisted under this subtitle shall 
     be not more than 50 percent unless the Secretary determines 
     that no reasonable means are available through which the 
     local coordinating entity can meet its cost sharing 
     requirement for that activity.

     SEC. 221. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance to the 
     local coordinating entity under this subtitle terminates on 
     the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this 
     Act.

           Subtitle C--Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area

     SEC. 231. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Arabia Mountain 
     National Heritage Area Act''.

     SEC. 232. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The Arabia Mountain area contains a variety of natural, 
     cultural, historical, scenic, and recreational resources that 
     together represent distinctive aspects of the heritage of the 
     United States that are worthy of recognition, conservation, 
     interpretation, and continuing use.
       (2) The best methods for managing the resources of the 
     Arabia Mountain area would be through partnerships between 
     public and private entities that combine diverse resources 
     and active communities.
       (3) Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, a 535-acre 
     park in DeKalb County, Georgia--
       (A) protects granite outcrop ecosystems, wetland, and pine 
     and oak forests; and
       (B) includes federally-protected plant species.
       (4) Panola Mountain, a national natural landmark, located 
     in the 860-acre Panola Mountain State Conservation Park, is a 
     rare example of a pristine granite outcrop.
       (5) The archaeological site at Miners Creek Preserve along 
     the South River contains documented evidence of early human 
     activity.
       (6) The city of Lithonia, Georgia, and related sites of 
     Arabia Mountain and Stone Mountain possess sites that display 
     the history of granite mining as an industry and culture in 
     Georgia, and the impact of that industry on the United 
     States.
       (7) The community of Klondike is eligible for designation 
     as a National Historic District.
       (8) The city of Lithonia has 2 structures listed on the 
     National Register of Historic Places.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this subtitle are as 
     follows:
       (1) To recognize, preserve, promote, interpret, and make 
     available for the benefit of the public the natural, 
     cultural, historical, scenic, and recreational resources in 
     the area that includes Arabia Mountain, Panola Mountain, 
     Miners Creek, and other significant sites and communities.
       (2) To assist the State of Georgia and the counties of 
     DeKalb, Rockdale, and Henry in the State in developing and 
     implementing an integrated cultural, historical, and land 
     resource management program to protect, enhance, and 
     interpret the significant resources within the heritage area.

     SEC. 233. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Heritage area.--The term ``heritage area'' means the 
     Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area established by section 
     234(a).
       (2) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``local 
     coordinating entity'' means the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area 
     Alliance or a successor of the Arabia Mountain Heritage Area 
     Alliance.
       (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the management plan for the heritage area developed under 
     section 236.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (5) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Georgia.

     SEC. 234. ARABIA MOUNTAIN NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the Arabia 
     Mountain National Heritage Area in the State.
       (b) Boundaries.--The heritage area shall consist of certain 
     parcels of land in the counties of DeKalb, Rockdale, and 
     Henry in the State, as generally depicted on the map entitled 
     ``Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area'', numbered AMNHA-
     80,000, and dated October 2003.
       (c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (d) Local Coordinating Entity.--The Arabia Mountain 
     Heritage Area Alliance shall be the local coordinating entity 
     for the heritage area.

     SEC. 235. AUTHORITIES AND DUTIES OF THE LOCAL COORDINATING 
                   ENTITY.

       (a) Authorities.--For purposes of developing and 
     implementing the management plan, the local coordinating 
     entity may--
       (1) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements 
     with, the State, political subdivisions of the State, and 
     private organizations;
       (2) hire and compensate staff; and
       (3) enter into contracts for goods and services.
       (b) Duties.--
       (1) Management plan.--
       (A) In general.--The local coordinating entity shall 
     develop and submit to the Secretary the management plan.
       (B) Considerations.--In developing and implementing the 
     management plan, the local coordinating entity shall consider 
     the interests of diverse governmental, business, and 
     nonprofit groups within the heritage area.
       (2) Priorities.--The local coordinating entity shall give 
     priority to implementing actions described in the management 
     plan, including the following:
       (A) Assisting units of government and nonprofit 
     organizations in preserving resources within the heritage 
     area.
       (B) Encouraging local governments to adopt land use 
     policies consistent with the management of the heritage area 
     and the goals of the management plan.
       (3) Public meetings.--The local coordinating entity shall 
     conduct public meetings at least quarterly on the 
     implementation of the management plan.
       (4) Annual report.--For any year in which Federal funds 
     have been made available under this title, the local 
     coordinating entity shall submit to the Secretary an annual 
     report that describes the following:
       (A) The accomplishments of the local coordinating entity.
       (B) The expenses and income of the local coordinating 
     entity.
       (5) Audit.--The local coordinating entity shall--
       (A) make available to the Secretary for audit all records 
     relating to the expenditure of Federal funds and any matching 
     funds; and
       (B) require, with respect to all agreements authorizing 
     expenditure of Federal funds by other organizations, that the 
     receiving organizations make available to the Secretary for 
     audit all records concerning the expenditure of those funds.
       (c) Use of Federal Funds.--
       (1) In general.--The local coordinating entity shall not 
     use Federal funds made available under this title to acquire 
     real property or an interest in real property.
       (2) Other sources.--Nothing in this title precludes the 
     local coordinating entity from using Federal funds made 
     available under other Federal laws for any purpose for which 
     the funds are authorized to be used.

     SEC. 236. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

       (a) In General.--The local coordinating entity shall 
     develop a management plan for the heritage area that 
     incorporates an integrated and cooperative approach to 
     protect, interpret, and enhance the natural, cultural, 
     historical, scenic, and recreational resources of the 
     heritage area.
       (b) Basis.--The management plan shall be based on the 
     preferred concept in the document entitled ``Arabia Mountain 
     National Heritage Area Feasibility Study'', dated February 
     28, 2001.
       (c) Consideration of Other Plans and Actions.--The 
     management plan shall--
       (1) take into consideration State and local plans; and
       (2) involve residents, public agencies, and private 
     organizations in the heritage area.
       (d) Requirements.--The management plan shall include the 
     following:
       (1) An inventory of the resources in the heritage area, 
     including--
       (A) a list of property in the heritage area that--
       (i) relates to the purposes of the heritage area; and
       (ii) should be preserved, restored, managed, or maintained 
     because of the significance of the property; and

[[Page 21420]]

       (B) an assessment of cultural landscapes within the 
     heritage area.
       (2) Provisions for the protection, interpretation, and 
     enjoyment of the resources of the heritage area consistent 
     with the purposes of this subtitle.
       (3) An interpretation plan for the heritage area.
       (4) A program for implementation of the management plan 
     that includes--
       (A) actions to be carried out by units of government, 
     private organizations, and public-private partnerships to 
     protect the resources of the heritage area; and
       (B) the identification of existing and potential sources of 
     funding for implementing the plan.
       (5) A description and evaluation of the local coordinating 
     entity, including the membership and organizational structure 
     of the local coordinating entity.
       (e) Submission to Secretary for Approval.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this subtitle, 
     the local coordinating entity shall submit the management 
     plan to the Secretary for approval.
       (2) Effect of failure to submit.--If a management plan is 
     not submitted to the Secretary by the date specified in 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall not provide any additional 
     funding under this subtitle until such date as a management 
     plan for the heritage area is submitted to the Secretary.
       (f) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after receiving the 
     management plan submitted under subsection (e), the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the State, shall approve or 
     disapprove the management plan.
       (2) Action following disapproval.--
       (A) Revision.--If the Secretary disapproves a management 
     plan submitted under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
       (i) advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the 
     reasons for the disapproval;
       (ii) make recommendations for revisions to the management 
     plan; and
       (iii) allow the local coordinating entity to submit to the 
     Secretary revisions to the management plan.
       (B) Deadline for approval of revision.--Not later than 90 
     days after the date on which a revision is submitted under 
     subparagraph (A)(iii), the Secretary shall approve or 
     disapprove the revision.
       (g) Revision of Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--After approval by the Secretary of a 
     management plan, the local coordinating entity shall 
     periodically--
       (A) review the management plan; and
       (B) submit to the Secretary, for review and approval by the 
     Secretary, the recommendations of the local coordinating 
     entity for any revisions to the management plan that the 
     local coordinating entity considers to be appropriate.
       (2) Expenditure of funds.--No funds made available under 
     this subtitle shall be used to implement any revision 
     proposed by the local coordinating entity under paragraph 
     (1)(B) until the Secretary approves the revision.

     SEC. 237. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--At the request of the local coordinating 
     entity, the Secretary may provide technical and financial 
     assistance to the heritage area to develop and implement the 
     management plan.
       (b) Priority.--In providing assistance under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary shall give priority to actions that 
     facilitate--
       (1) the conservation of the significant natural, cultural, 
     historical, scenic, and recreational resources that support 
     the purposes of the heritage area; and
       (2) the provision of educational, interpretive, and 
     recreational opportunities that are consistent with the 
     resources and associated values of the heritage area.

     SEC. 238. EFFECT ON CERTAIN AUTHORITY.

       (a) Occupational, Safety, Conservation, and Environmental 
     Regulation.--Nothing in this subtitle--
       (1) imposes an occupational, safety, conservation, or 
     environmental regulation on the heritage area that is more 
     stringent than the regulations that would be applicable to 
     the land described in section 234(b) but for the 
     establishment of the heritage area by section 234(a); or
       (2) authorizes a Federal agency to promulgate an 
     occupational, safety, conservation, or environmental 
     regulation for the heritage area that is more stringent than 
     the regulations applicable to the land described in section 
     234(b) as of the date of enactment of this Act, solely as a 
     result of the establishment of the heritage area by section 
     234(a).
       (b) Land Use Regulation.--Nothing in this subtitle--
       (1) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes any authority of the 
     Federal Government or a State or local government to regulate 
     any use of land as provided for by law (including 
     regulations) in existence on the date of enactment of this 
     Act; or
       (2) grants powers of zoning or land use to the local 
     coordinating entity.

     SEC. 239. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this subtitle $10,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be 
     authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year.
       (b) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of any 
     project or activity carried out using funds made available 
     under this subtitle shall not exceed 50 percent.

     SEC. 240. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
     this subsubtitle terminates on the date that is 15 years 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 241. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.

       (a) Notification and Consent of Property Owners Required.--
     No privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or 
     promoted by the management plan for the Heritage Area until 
     the owner of that private property has been notified in 
     writing by the management entity and has given written 
     consent for such preservation, conservation, or promotion to 
     the management entity.
       (b) Landowner Withdraw.--Any owner of private property 
     included within the boundary of the Heritage Area shall have 
     their property immediately removed from the boundary by 
     submitting a written request to the management entity.

     SEC. 242. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

       (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this subtitle 
     shall be construed to--
       (1) require any private property owner to allow public 
     access (including Federal, State, or local government access) 
     to such private property; or
       (2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law 
     with regard to public access to or use of private property.
       (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Area shall not 
     be considered to create any liability, or to 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.
       (c) Recognition of Authority to Control Land Use.--Nothing 
     in this subtitle shall be construed to modify the authority 
     of Federal, State, or local governments to regulate land use.
       (d) Participation of Private Property Owners in Heritage 
     Area.--Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to require 
     the owner of any private property located within the 
     boundaries of the Heritage Area to participate in or be 
     associated with the Heritage Area.
       (e) Effect of Establishment.--The boundaries designated for 
     the Heritage Area represent the area within which Federal 
     funds appropriated for the purpose of this subtitle may be 
     expended. The establishment of the Heritage Area and its 
     boundaries shall not be construed to provide any nonexisting 
     regulatory authority on land use within the Heritage Area or 
     its viewshed by the Secretary, the National Park Service, or 
     the management entity.

           Subtitle D--Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area

     SEC. 251. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Mormon Pioneer National 
     Heritage Area Act''.

     SEC. 252. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the historical, cultural, and natural heritage legacies 
     of Mormon colonization and settlement are nationally 
     significant;
       (2) in the area starting along the Highway 89 corridor at 
     the Arizona border, passing through Kane, Garfield, Piute, 
     Sevier, Wayne, and Sanpete Counties in the State of Utah, and 
     terminating in Fairview, Utah, there are a variety of 
     heritage resources that demonstrate--
       (A) the colonization of the western United States; and
       (B) the expansion of the United States as a major world 
     power;
       (3) the great relocation to the western United States was 
     facilitated by--
       (A) the 1,400-mile trek from Illinois to the Great Salt 
     Lake by the Mormon pioneers; and
       (B) the subsequent colonization effort in Nevada, Utah, the 
     southeast corner of Idaho, the southwest corner of Wyoming, 
     large areas of southeastern Oregon, much of southern 
     California, and areas along the eastern border of California;
       (4) the 250-mile Highway 89 corridor from Kanab to 
     Fairview, Utah, contains some of the best features of the 
     Mormon colonization experience in the United States;
       (5) the landscape, architecture, traditions, beliefs, folk 
     life, products, and events along Highway 89 convey the 
     heritage of the pioneer settlement;
       (6) the Boulder Loop, Capitol Reef National Park, Zion 
     National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, and the Highway 89 
     area convey the compelling story of how early settlers--
       (A) interacted with Native Americans; and
       (B) established towns and cities in a harsh, yet 
     spectacular, natural environment;
       (7) the colonization and settlement of the Mormon settlers 
     opened up vast amounts of natural resources, including coal, 
     uranium, silver, gold, and copper;
       (8) the Mormon colonization played a significant role in 
     the history and progress of the development and settlement of 
     the western United States; and
       (9) the artisans, crafters, innkeepers, outfitters, 
     farmers, ranchers, loggers, miners, historic landscape, 
     customs, national parks, and architecture in the Heritage 
     Area make the Heritage Area unique.
       (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this subtitle is to establish 
     the Heritage Area to--
       (1) foster a close working relationship with all levels of 
     government, the private sector, residents, business 
     interests, and local communities in the State;
       (2) empower communities in the State to conserve, preserve, 
     and enhance the heritage of the

[[Page 21421]]

     communities while strengthening future economic 
     opportunities;
       (3) conserve, interpret, and develop the historical, 
     cultural, natural, and recreational resources within the 
     Heritage Area; and
       (4) expand, foster, and develop heritage businesses and 
     products relating to the cultural heritage of the Heritage 
     Area.

     SEC. 253. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Alliance.--The term ``Alliance'' means the Utah 
     Heritage Highway 89 Alliance.
       (2) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
     Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area established by section 
     254(a).
       (3) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``local 
     coordinating entity'' means the local coordinating entity for 
     the Heritage Area designated by section 255(a).
       (4) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the plan developed by the local coordinating entity under 
     section 256(a).
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of Utah.

     SEC. 254. MORMON PIONEER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the Mormon Pioneer 
     National Heritage Area.
       (b) Boundaries.--
       (1) In general.--The boundaries of the Heritage Area shall 
     include areas in the State --
       (A) that are related to the corridors--
       (i) from the Arizona border northward through Kanab, Utah, 
     and to the intersection of Highway 89 and Highway 12, 
     including Highway 12 and Highway 24 as those highways loop 
     off Highway 89 and rejoin Highway 89 at Sigurd;
       (ii) from Highway 89 at the intersection of Highway 12 
     through Panguitch, Junction, Marysvale, and Sevier County to 
     Sigurd;
       (iii) continuing northward along Highway 89 through Axtell 
     and Sterling, Sanpete County, to Fairview, Sanpete County, at 
     the junction with Utah Highway 31; and
       (iv) continuing northward along Highway 89 through Fairview 
     and Thistle Junction, to the junction with Highway 6; and
       (B) including the following communities: Kanab, Mt. Carmel, 
     Orderville, Glendale, Alton, Cannonville, Tropic, 
     Henrieville, Escalante, Boulder, Teasdale, Fruita, 
     Hanksville, Torrey, Bicknell, Loa, Hatch, Panquitch, 
     Circleville, Antimony, Junction, Marysvale, Koosharem, 
     Sevier, Joseph, Monroe, Elsinore, Richfield, Glenwood, 
     Sigurd, Aurora, Salina, Mayfield, Sterling, Gunnison, 
     Fayette, Manti, Ephraim, Spring City, Mt. Pleasant, Moroni, 
     Fountain Green, and Fairview.
       (2) Map.--The Secretary shall prepare a map of the Heritage 
     Area, which shall be on file and available for public 
     inspection in the office of the Director of the National Park 
     Service.
       (3) Notice to local governments.--The local coordinating 
     entity shall provide to the government of each city, town, 
     and county that has jurisdiction over property proposed to be 
     included in the Heritage Area written notice of the proposed 
     inclusion.
       (c) Administration.--The Heritage Area shall be 
     administered in accordance with this subtitle.

     SEC. 255. DESIGNATION OF ALLIANCE AS LOCAL COORDINATING 
                   ENTITY.

       (a) In General.--The Board of Directors of the Alliance 
     shall be the local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area.
       (b) Federal Funding.--
       (1) Authorization to receive funds.--The local coordinating 
     entity may receive amounts made available to carry out this 
     subtitle.
       (2) Disqualification.--If a management plan is not 
     submitted to the Secretary as required under section 256 
     within the time period specified in that section, the local 
     coordinating entity may not receive Federal funding under 
     this subtitle until a management plan is submitted to the 
     Secretary.
       (c) Use of Federal Funds.--The local coordinating entity 
     may, for the purposes of developing and implementing the 
     management plan, use Federal funds made available under this 
     subtitle--
       (1) to make grants to the State, political subdivisions of 
     the State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons;
       (2) to enter into cooperative agreements with or provide 
     technical assistance to the State, political subdivisions of 
     the State, nonprofit organizations, and other organizations;
       (3) to hire and compensate staff;
       (4) to obtain funds from any source under any program or 
     law requiring the recipient of funds to make a contribution 
     in order to receive the funds; and
       (5) to contract for goods and services.
       (d) Prohibition of Acquisition of Real Property.--The local 
     coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds received 
     under this subtitle to acquire real property or any interest 
     in real property.

     SEC. 256. MANAGEMENT OF THE HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Heritage Area Management Plan.--
       (1) Development and submission for review.--Not later than 
     3 years after the date on which funds are made available to 
     carry out the subtitle, the local coordinating entity, with 
     public participation, shall develop and submit for review to 
     the Secretary a management plan for the Heritage Area.
       (2) Contents.--The management plan shall--
       (A) present comprehensive recommendations for the 
     conservation, funding, management, and development of the 
     Heritage Area;
       (B) take into consideration Federal, State, county, and 
     local plans;
       (C) involve residents, public agencies, and private 
     organizations in the Heritage Area;
       (D) include a description of actions that units of 
     government and private organizations are recommended to take 
     to protect the resources of the Heritage Area;
       (E) specify existing and potential sources of Federal and 
     non-Federal funding for the conservation, management, and 
     development of the Heritage Area; and
       (F) include--
       (i) an inventory of resources in the Heritage Area that--

       (I) includes a list of property in the Heritage Area that 
     should be conserved, restored, managed, developed, or 
     maintained because of the historical, cultural, or natural 
     significance of the property as the property relates to the 
     themes of the Heritage Area; and
       (II) does not include any property that is privately owned 
     unless the owner of the property consents in writing to the 
     inclusion;

       (ii) a recommendation of policies for resource management 
     that consider the application of appropriate land and water 
     management techniques, including policies for the development 
     of intergovernmental cooperative agreements to manage the 
     historical, cultural, and natural resources and recreational 
     opportunities of the Heritage Area in a manner that is 
     consistent with the support of appropriate and compatible 
     economic viability;
       (iii) a program for implementation of the management plan, 
     including plans for restoration and construction;
       (iv) a description of any commitments that have been made 
     by persons interested in management of the Heritage Area;
       (v) an analysis of means by which Federal, State, and local 
     programs may best be coordinated to promote the purposes of 
     this subtitle; and
       (vi) an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area.
       (3) Approval or disapproval of the management plan.--
       (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after submission 
     of the management plan by the local coordinating entity, the 
     Secretary shall approve or disapprove the management plan.
       (B) Disapproval and revisions.--
       (i) In general.--If the Secretary disapproves the 
     management plan, the Secretary shall--

       (I) advise the local coordinating entity, in writing, of 
     the reasons for the disapproval; and
       (II) make recommendations for revision of the management 
     plan.

       (ii) Approval or disapproval.--The Secretary shall approve 
     or disapprove proposed revisions to the management plan not 
     later than 60 days after receipt of the revisions from the 
     local coordinating entity.
       (b) Priorities.--The local coordinating entity shall give 
     priority to the implementation of actions, goals, and 
     policies set forth in the management plan, including--
       (1) assisting units of government, regional planning 
     organizations, and nonprofit organizations in--
       (A) conserving the historical, cultural, and natural 
     resources of the Heritage Area;
       (B) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits in 
     the Heritage Area;
       (C) developing recreational opportunities in the Heritage 
     Area;
       (D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for the 
     historical, cultural, and natural resources of the Heritage 
     Area;
       (E) restoring historic buildings that are--
       (i) located within the boundaries of the Heritage Area; and
       (ii) related to the theme of the Heritage Area; and
       (F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and environmentally 
     appropriate signs identifying access points and sites of 
     interest are put in place throughout the Heritage Area; and
       (2) consistent with the goals of the management plan, 
     encouraging economic viability in the affected communities by 
     appropriate means, including encouraging and soliciting the 
     development of heritage products.
       (c) Consideration of Interests of Local Groups.--In 
     developing and implementing the management plan, the local 
     coordinating entity shall consider the interests of diverse 
     units of government, businesses, private property owners, and 
     nonprofit organizations in the Heritage Area.
       (d) Public Meetings.--The local coordinating entity shall 
     conduct public meetings at least annually regarding the 
     implementation of the management plan.
       (e) Annual Reports.--For any fiscal year in which the local 
     coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this 
     subtitle, the local coordinating entity shall submit to the 
     Secretary an annual report that describes--
       (1) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity;
       (2) the expenses and income of the local coordinating 
     entity; and
       (3) the entities to which the local coordinating entity 
     made any grants during the year for which the report is made.
       Cooperation With Audits.--For any fiscal year in which the 
     local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this 
     subtitle, the local coordinating entity shall--
       (1) make available for audit by Congress, the Secretary, 
     and appropriate units of government all records and other 
     information relating to the expenditure of the Federal funds 
     and any matching funds; and
       (2) require, with respect to all agreements authorizing 
     expenditure of the Federal funds by

[[Page 21422]]

     other organizations, that the receiving organizations make 
     available for audit all records and other information 
     relating to the expenditure of the Federal funds.
       (g) Delegation.--
       (1) In general.--The local coordinating entity may delegate 
     the responsibilities and actions under this subtitle for each 
     area identified in section 254(b)(1).
       (2) Review.--All delegated responsibilities and actions are 
     subject to review and approval by the local coordinating 
     entity.

     SEC. 257. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.

       (a) Technical Assistance and Grants.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may provide technical 
     assistance and, subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, grants to--
       (A) units of government, nonprofit organizations, and other 
     persons, at the request of the local coordinating entity; and
       (B) the local coordinating entity, for use in developing 
     and implementing the management plan.
       (2) Prohibition of certain requirements.--The Secretary may 
     not, as a condition of the award of technical assistance or 
     grants under this subtitle, require any recipient of the 
     technical assistance or a grant to enact or modify any land 
     use restriction.
       (3) Determinations regarding assistance.--The Secretary 
     shall determine whether a unit of government, nonprofit 
     organization, or other person shall be awarded technical 
     assistance or grants and the amount of technical assistance--
       (A) based on the extent to which the assistance--
       (i) fulfills the objectives of the management plan; and
       (ii) achieves the purposes of this subtitle; and
       (B) after giving special consideration to projects that 
     provide a greater leverage of Federal funds.
       (b) Provision of Information.--In cooperation with other 
     Federal agencies, the Secretary shall provide the public with 
     information concerning the location and character of the 
     Heritage Area.
       (c) Other Assistance.--The Secretary may enter into 
     cooperative agreements with public and private organizations 
     for the purposes of implementing this subtitle.
       (d) Duties of Other Federal Agencies.--A Federal entity 
     conducting any activity directly affecting the Heritage Area 
     shall--
       (1) consider the potential effect of the activity on the 
     management plan; and
       (2) consult with the local coordinating entity with respect 
     to the activity to minimize the adverse effects of the 
     activity on the Heritage Area.

     SEC. 258A. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.

       (a) Notification and Consent of Property Owners Required.--
     No privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or 
     promoted by the management plan for the Heritage Area until 
     the owner of that private property has been notified in 
     writing by the management entity and has given written 
     consent for such preservation, conservation, or promotion to 
     the management entity.
       (b) Landowner Withdraw.--Any owner of private property 
     included within the boundary of the Heritage Area shall have 
     their property immediately removed from the boundary by 
     submitting a written request to the management entity.

     SEC. 258B. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

       (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this title 
     shall be construed to--
       (1) require any private property owner to allow public 
     access (including Federal, State, or local government access) 
     to such private property; or
       (2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law 
     with regard to public access to or use of private property.
       (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Area shall not 
     be considered to create any liability, or to 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.
       (c) Recognition of Authority to Control Land Use.--Nothing 
     in this title shall be construed to modify the authority of 
     Federal, State, or local governments to regulate land use.
       (d) Participation of Private Property Owners in Heritage 
     Area.--Nothing in this title shall be construed to require 
     the owner of any private property located within the 
     boundaries of the Heritage Area to participate in or be 
     associated with the Heritage Area.
       (e) Effect of Establishment.--The boundaries designated for 
     the Heritage Area represent the area within which Federal 
     funds appropriated for the purpose of this title may be 
     expended. The establishment of the Heritage Area and its 
     boundaries shall not be construed to provide any nonexisting 
     regulatory authority on land use within the Heritage Area or 
     its viewshed by the Secretary, the National Park Service, or 
     the management entity.

     SEC. 259. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this subtitle $10,000,000, to remain available 
     until expended, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be 
     authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year.
       (b) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost of any 
     activity carried out using funds made available under this 
     subtitle shall not exceed 50 percent.

     SEC. 260. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
     this subtitle terminates on the date that is 15 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

         Subtitle E--Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area

     SEC. 261. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Freedom's Frontier 
     National Heritage Area Act''.

     SEC. 262. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this subtitle is to use preservation, 
     conservation, education, interpretation, and recreation in 
     eastern Kansas and Western Missouri in heritage development 
     and sustainability of the American story recognized by the 
     American people.

     SEC. 263. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
     Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area in eastern Kansas 
     and western Missouri.
       (2) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``local 
     coordinating entity'' means Territorial Kansas Heritage 
     Alliance, recognized by the Secretary, in consultation with 
     the Governors of the States, that agrees to perform the 
     duties of a local coordinating entity under this subtitle, so 
     long as that Alliance is composed of not less than 25 percent 
     residents of Missouri.
       (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the management plan for the Heritage Area developed under 
     section 264(e).
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the States of 
     Kansas and Missouri.
       (6) Unit of local government.--The term ``unit of local 
     government'' means the government of a State, a political 
     subdivision of a State, or an Indian tribe.

     SEC. 264. FREEDOM'S FRONTIER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the States the 
     Freedom's Frontier National Heritage Area.
       (b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area may include the 
     following:
       (1) An area located in eastern Kansas and western Missouri, 
     consisting of--
       (A) Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Bourbon, Chautauqua, 
     Cherokee, Clay, Coffey, Crawford, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, 
     Jackson, Johnson, Labette, Leavenworth, Linn, Miami, Neosho, 
     Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Wilson, Woodson, 
     Jefferson, Montgomery, Osage, and Wyandotte Counties in 
     Kansas; and
       (B) Buchanan, Platte, Clay, Ray, Lafayette, Jackson, Cass, 
     Johnson, Bates, Vernon, Barton, and St. Clair Counties in 
     Missouri.
       (2) Contributing sites, buildings, and districts within the 
     area that are recommended by the management plan.
       (c) Map.--The final boundary of the Heritage Area within 
     the counties identified in subsection (b)(1) shall be 
     specified in the management plan. A map of the Heritage Area 
     shall be included in the management plan. The map shall be on 
     file in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service, 
     Department of the Interior.
       (d) Local Coordinating Entity.--
       (1) In general.--The local coordinating entity for the 
     Heritage Area shall be Territorial Kansas Heritage Alliance, 
     a nonprofit organization established in the State of Kansas, 
     recognized by the Secretary, in consultation with the 
     Governors of the States, so long as that Alliance is composed 
     of not less than 25 percent residents of Missouri and agrees 
     to perform the duties of the local coordinating entity under 
     this subtitle.
       (2) Authorities.--For purposes of developing and 
     implementing the management plan, the local coordinating 
     entity may--
       (A) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements 
     with, the States, political subdivisions of the States, and 
     private organizations;
       (B) hire and compensate staff; and
       (C) enter into contracts for goods and services.
       (e) Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this subtitle, 
     the local coordinating entity shall develop and submit to the 
     Secretary a management plan reviewed by participating units 
     of local government within the boundaries of the proposed 
     Heritage Area.
       (2) Contents.--The management plan shall--
       (A) present a comprehensive program for the conservation, 
     interpretation, funding, management, and development of the 
     Heritage Area, in a manner consistent with the existing 
     local, State, and Federal land use laws and compatible 
     economic viability of the Heritage Area;
       (B) establish criteria or standards to measure what is 
     selected for conservation, interpretation, funding, 
     management, and development;
       (C) involve residents, public agencies, and private 
     organizations working in the Heritage Area;
       (D) specify and coordinate, as of the date of the 
     management plan, existing and potential sources of technical 
     and financial assistance under this and other Federal laws to 
     protect, manage, and develop the Heritage Area; and
       (E) include--
       (i) actions to be undertaken by units of government and 
     private organizations to protect, conserve, and interpret the 
     resources of the Heritage Area;
       (ii) an inventory of the resources contained in the 
     Heritage Area, including a list of any property in the 
     Heritage Area that is related to the themes of the Heritage 
     Area and that meets the establishing criteria (such as, but 
     not exclusive to, visitor readiness) to merit preservation, 
     restoration, management, development, or maintenance because 
     of its natural, cultural, historical, or recreational 
     significance;

[[Page 21423]]

       (iii) policies for resource management including the 
     development of intergovernmental cooperative agreements, 
     private sector agreements, or any combination thereof, to 
     protect the historical, cultural, recreational, and natural 
     resources of the Heritage Area in a manner consistent with 
     supporting appropriate and compatible economic viability;
       (iv) a program for implementation of the management plan by 
     the designated local coordinating entity, in cooperation with 
     its partners and units of local government;
       (v) evidence that relevant State, county, and local plans 
     applicable to the Heritage Area have been taken into 
     consideration;
       (vi) an analysis of ways in which local, State, and Federal 
     programs may best be coordinated to promote the purposes of 
     this subtitle; and
       (vii) a business plan that--

       (I) describes in detail the role, operation, financing, and 
     functions of the local coordinating entity for each activity 
     included in the recommendations contained in the management 
     plan; and
       (II) provides, to the satisfaction of the Secretary, 
     adequate assurances that the local coordinating entity is 
     likely to have the financial resources necessary to implement 
     the management plan for the Heritage Area, including 
     resources to meet matching requirement for grants awarded 
     under this subtitle.

       (3) Considerations.--In developing and implementing the 
     management plan, the local coordinating entity shall consider 
     the interests of diverse governmental, business, and 
     nonprofit groups within the Heritage Area.
       (4) Disqualification from funding.--If a proposed 
     management plan is not submitted to the Secretary within 3 
     years after the date on which funds are made available to 
     carry out this subtitle, the local coordinating entity shall 
     be ineligible to receive additional funding under this 
     subtitle until the date on which the Secretary receives the 
     proposed management plan.
       (5) Approval and disapproval of management plan.--The 
     Secretary shall approve or disapprove the proposed management 
     plan submitted under this subtitle not later than 90 days 
     after receiving such proposed management plan.
       (6) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary 
     disapproves a proposed management plan, the Secretary shall 
     advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the 
     reasons for the disapproval and shall make recommendations 
     for revisions to the proposed management plan. The Secretary 
     shall approve or disapprove a proposed revision within 90 
     days after the date it is submitted.
       (7) Approval of amendments.--The Secretary shall review and 
     approve substantial amendments to the management plan. Funds 
     appropriated under this subtitle may not be expended to 
     implement any changes made by such amendment until the 
     Secretary approves the amendment.
       (8) Implementation.--
       (A) Priorities.--The local coordinating entity shall give 
     priority to implementing actions described in the management 
     plan, including--
       (i) assisting units of government and nonprofit 
     organizations in preserving resources within the Heritage 
     Area; and
       (ii) encouraging local governments to adopt land use 
     policies consistent with the management of the Heritage Area 
     and the goals of the management plan.
       (B) Public meetings.--The local coordinating entity shall 
     conduct public meetings at least quarterly on the 
     implementation of the management plan. Not less than 25 
     percent of the public meetings shall be conducted in 
     Missouri.
       (f) Public Notice.--The local coordinating entity shall 
     place a notice of each of its public meetings in a newspaper 
     of general circulation in the Heritage Area and shall make 
     the minutes of the meeting available to the public.
       (g) Annual Report.--For any year in which Federal funds 
     have been made available under this subtitle, the local 
     coordinating entity shall submit to the Secretary an annual 
     report that describes--
       (1) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity; 
     and
       (2) the expenses and income of the local coordinating 
     entity.
       (h) Audit.--The local coordinating entity shall--
       (1) make available to the Secretary for audit all records 
     relating to the expenditure of Federal funds and any matching 
     funds; and
       (2) require, with respect to all agreements authorizing 
     expenditure of Federal funds by other organizations, that the 
     receiving organizations make available to the Secretary for 
     audit all records concerning the expenditure of the Federal 
     funds and any matching funds.
       (i) Use of Federal Funds.--
       (1) In general.--No Federal funds made available under this 
     subtitle may be used to acquire real property or an interest 
     in real property.
       (2) Other sources.--Nothing in this subtitle precludes the 
     local coordinating entity from using Federal funds made 
     available under other Federal laws for any purpose for which 
     the funds are authorized to be used.

     SEC. 265. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; OTHER FEDERAL 
                   AGENCIES.

       (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--On the request of the local coordinating 
     entity, the Secretary may provide technical and financial 
     assistance for the development and implementation of the 
     management plan.
       (2) Priority for assistance.--In providing assistance under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to actions 
     that assist in--
       (A) conserving the significant cultural, historic, and 
     natural resources of the Heritage Area; and
       (B) providing educational, interpretive, and recreational 
     opportunities consistent with the purposes of the Heritage 
     Area.
       (3) Spending for non-federal property.--The local 
     coordinating entity may expend Federal funds made available 
     under this subtitle on non-Federal property that--
       (A) meets the criteria in the approved management plan; or
       (B) is listed or eligible for listing on the National 
     Register of Historic Places.
       (4) Other assistance.--The Secretary may enter into 
     cooperative agreements with public and private organizations 
     to carry out this subsection.
       (b) Other Federal Agencies.--Any Federal entity conducting 
     or supporting an activity that directly affects the Heritage 
     Area shall--
       (1) consider the potential effect of the activity on the 
     purposes of the Heritage Area and the management plan;
       (2) consult with the local coordinating entity regarding 
     the activity; and
       (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or support 
     the activity to avoid adverse effects on the Heritage Area.
       (c) Other Assistance Not Affected.--This subtitle does not 
     affect the authority of any Federal official to provide 
     technical or financial assistance under any other law.
       (d) Notification of Other Federal Activities.--The head of 
     each Federal agency shall provide to the Secretary and the 
     local coordinating entity, to the extent practicable, advance 
     notice of all activities that may have an impact on the 
     Heritage Area.

     SEC. 266. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

       (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this subtitle 
     shall be construed to require any private property owner to 
     permit public access (including Federal, State, or local 
     government access) to such private property. Nothing in this 
     subtitle shall be construed to modify any provision of 
     Federal, State, or local law with regard to public access to 
     or use of private lands.
       (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Area shall not 
     be considered to create any liability, or to 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.
       (c) Recognition of Authority to Control Land Use.--Nothing 
     in this subtitle shall be construed to modify any authority 
     of Federal, State, or local governments to regulate land use.
       (d) Participation of Private Property Owners in Heritage 
     Areas.--Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to 
     require the owner of any private property located within the 
     boundaries of the Heritage Area to participate in or be 
     associated with the Heritage Area.
       (e) Land Use Regulation.--
       (1) In general.--The local coordinating entity shall 
     provide assistance and encouragement to State and local 
     governments, private organizations, and persons to protect 
     and promote the resources and values of the Heritage Area.
       (2) Effect.--Nothing in this subtitle--
       (A) affects the authority of the State or local governments 
     to regulate under law any use of land; or
       (B) grants any power of zoning or land use to the local 
     coordinating entity.
       (f) Private Property.--
       (1) In general.--The local coordinating entity shall be an 
     advocate for land management practices consistent with the 
     purposes of the Heritage Area.
       (2) Effect.--Nothing in this subtitle--
       (A) abridges the rights of any person with regard to 
     private property;
       (B) affects the authority of the State or local government 
     regarding private property; or
       (C) imposes any additional burden on any property owner.
       (g) Requirements for Inclusion of Private Property.--
       (1) Notification and consent of property owners required.--
     No privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or 
     promoted by the management plan for the Heritage Area until 
     the owner of that private property has been notified in 
     writing by the management entity and has given written 
     consent for such preservation, conservation, or promotion to 
     the management entity.
       (2) Landowner withdrawal.--Any owner of private property 
     included within the boundary of the Heritage Area shall have 
     their property immediately removed from the boundary by 
     submitting a written request to the management entity

     SEC. 267. SAVINGS PROVISIONS.

       (a) Rules, Regulations, Standards, and Permit Processes.--
     Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to impose any 
     environmental, occupational, safety, or other rule, 
     regulation, standard, or permit process in the Heritage Area 
     that is different from those that would be applicable if the 
     Heritage Area had not been established.
       (b) Water and Water Rights.--Nothing in this subtitle shall 
     be construed to authorize or imply the reservation or 
     appropriation of water or water rights.
       (c) No Diminishment of State Authority.--Nothing in this 
     subtitle shall be construed to diminish the authority of the 
     State to manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation 
     of fishing and hunting within the Heritage Area.

     SEC. 268. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this subtitle

[[Page 21424]]

     $10,000,000, to remain available until expended, of which not 
     more than $1,000,000 may be authorized to be appropriated for 
     any fiscal year.
       (b) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The Federal share of the 
     total cost of any activity assisted under this subtitle shall 
     be not more than 50 percent.

     SEC. 269. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
     this subtitle terminates on the date that is 15 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

       Subtitle F--Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area

     SEC. 271. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Upper Housatonic Valley 
     National Heritage Area Act''.

     SEC. 272. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
       (1) The upper Housatonic Valley, encompassing 29 towns in 
     the hilly terrain of western Massachusetts and northwestern 
     Connecticut, is a singular geographical and cultural region 
     that has made significant national contributions through its 
     literary, artistic, musical, and architectural achievements, 
     its iron, paper, and electrical equipment industries, and its 
     scenic beautification and environmental conservation efforts.
       (2) The upper Housatonic Valley has 139 properties and 
     historic districts listed on the National Register of 
     Historic Places, including--
       (A) five National Historic Landmarks--
       (i) Edith Wharton's home, The Mount, Lenox, Massachusetts;
       (ii) Herman Melville's home, Arrowhead, Pittsfield, 
     Massachusetts;
       (iii) W.E.B. DuBois' Boyhood Homesite, Great Barrington, 
     Massachusetts;
       (iv) Mission House, Stockbridge, Massachusetts; and
       (v) Crane and Company Old Stone Mill Rag Room, Dalton, 
     Massachusetts; and
       (B) four National Natural Landmarks--
       (i) Bartholomew's Cobble, Sheffield, Massachusetts, and 
     Salisbury, Connecticut;
       (ii) Beckley Bog, Norfolk, Connecticut;
       (iii) Bingham Bog, Salisbury, Connecticut; and
       (iv) Cathedral Pines, Cornwall, Connecticut.
       (3) Writers, artists, musicians, and vacationers have 
     visited the region for more than 150 years to enjoy its 
     scenic wonders, making it one of the country's leading 
     cultural resorts.
       (4) The upper Housatonic Valley has made significant 
     national cultural contributions through such writers as 
     Herman Melville, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edith Wharton, and 
     W.E.B. DuBois, artists Daniel Chester French and Norman 
     Rockwell, and the performing arts centers of Tanglewood, 
     Music Mountain, Norfolk (Connecticut) Chamber Music Festival, 
     Jacob's Pillow, and Shakespeare & Company.
       (5) The upper Housatonic Valley is noted for its pioneering 
     achievements in the iron, paper, and electrical generation 
     industries and has cultural resources to interpret those 
     industries.
       (6) The region became a national leader in scenic 
     beautification and environmental conservation efforts 
     following the era of industrialization and deforestation and 
     maintains a fabric of significant conservation areas 
     including the meandering Housatonic River.
       (7) Important historical events related to the American 
     Revolution, Shays' Rebellion, and early civil rights took 
     place in the upper Housatonic Valley.
       (8) The region had an American Indian presence going back 
     10,000 years and Mohicans had a formative role in contact 
     with Europeans during the seventeenth and eighteenth 
     centuries.
       (9) The Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area has 
     been proposed in order to heighten appreciation of the 
     region, preserve its natural and historical resources, and 
     improve the quality of life and economy of the area.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this subtitle are as 
     follows:
       (1) To establish the Upper Housatonic Valley National 
     Heritage Area in the State of Connecticut and the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
       (2) To implement the national heritage area alternative as 
     described in the document entitled ``Upper Housatonic Valley 
     National Heritage Area Feasibility Study, 2003''.
       (3) To provide a management framework to foster a close 
     working relationship with all levels of government, the 
     private sector, and the local communities in the upper 
     Housatonic Valley region to conserve the region's heritage 
     while continuing to pursue compatible economic opportunities.
       (4) To assist communities, organizations, and citizens in 
     the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth of 
     Massachusetts in identifying, preserving, interpreting, and 
     developing the historical, cultural, scenic, and natural 
     resources of the region for the educational and inspirational 
     benefit of current and future generations.

     SEC. 273. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
     Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area, established 
     in section 274.
       (2) Management entity.--The term ``Management Entity'' 
     means the management entity for the Heritage Area designated 
     by section 274(d).
       (3) Management plan.--The term ``Management Plan'' means 
     the management plan for the Heritage Area specified in 
     section 276.
       (4) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled 
     ``Boundary Map Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage 
     Area'', numbered P17/80,000, and dated February 2003.
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of 
     Connecticut and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

     SEC. 274. UPPER HOUSATONIC VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the Upper 
     Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area.
       (b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall be comprised of--
       (1) part of the Housatonic River's watershed, which extends 
     60 miles from Lanesboro, Massachusetts to Kent, Connecticut;
       (2) the towns of Canaan, Colebrook, Cornwall, Kent, 
     Norfolk, North Canaan, Salisbury, Sharon, and Warren in 
     Connecticut; and
       (3) the towns of Alford, Becket, Dalton, Egremont, Great 
     Barrington, Hancock, Hinsdale, Lanesboro, Lee, Lenox, 
     Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlboro, Pittsfield, 
     Richmond, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, and 
     West Stockbridge in Massachusetts.
       (c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
       (d) Management Entity.--The Upper Housatonic Valley 
     National Heritage Area, Inc. shall be the management entity 
     for the Heritage Area.

     SEC. 275. AUTHORITIES, PROHIBITIONS, AND DUTIES OF THE 
                   MANAGEMENT ENTITY.

       (a) Duties of the Management Entity.--To further the 
     purposes of the Heritage Area, the management entity shall--
       (1) prepare and submit a management plan for the Heritage 
     Area to the Secretary in accordance with section 276;
       (2) assist units of local government, regional planning 
     organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing 
     the approved management plan by--
       (A) carrying out programs and projects that recognize, 
     protect and enhance important resource values within the 
     Heritage Area;
       (B) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and 
     programs within the Heritage Area;
       (C) developing recreational and educational opportunities 
     in the Heritage Area;
       (D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for 
     natural, historical, scenic, and cultural resources of the 
     Heritage Area;
       (E) protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings 
     in the Heritage Area that are consistent with heritage area 
     themes;
       (F) ensuring that signs identifying points of public access 
     and sites of interest are posted throughout the Heritage 
     Area; and
       (G) promoting a wide range of partnerships among 
     governments, organizations and individuals to further the 
     purposes of the Heritage Area;
       (3) consider the interests of diverse units of government, 
     businesses, organizations and individuals in the Heritage 
     Area in the preparation and implementation of the management 
     plan;
       (4) conduct meetings open to the public at least semi-
     annually regarding the development and implementation of the 
     management plan;
       (5) submit an annual report to the Secretary for any fiscal 
     year in which the management entity receives Federal funds 
     under this subtitle, setting forth its accomplishments, 
     expenses, and income, including grants to any other entities 
     during the year for which the report is made;
       (6) make available for audit for any fiscal year in which 
     it receives Federal funds under this subtitle, all 
     information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds and 
     any matching funds, and require in all agreements authorizing 
     expenditures of Federal funds by other organizations, that 
     the receiving organizations make available for such audit all 
     records and other information pertaining to the expenditure 
     of such funds; and
       (7) encourage by appropriate means economic development 
     that is consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area.
       (b) Authorities.--The management entity may, for the 
     purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan 
     for the Heritage Area, use Federal funds made available 
     through this subtitle to--
       (1) make grants to the State of Connecticut and the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts, their political subdivisions, 
     nonprofit organizations and other persons;
       (2) enter into cooperative agreements with or provide 
     technical assistance to the State of Connecticut and the 
     Commonwealth of Massachusetts, their subdivisions, nonprofit 
     organizations, and other interested parties;
       (3) hire and compensate staff, which shall include 
     individuals with expertise in natural, cultural, and 
     historical resources protection, and heritage programming;
       (4) obtain money or services from any source including any 
     that are provided under any other Federal law or program;
       (5) contract for goods or services; and
       (6) undertake to be a catalyst for any other activity that 
     furthers the purposes of the Heritage Area and is consistent 
     with the approved management plan.
       (c) Prohibitions on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The 
     management entity may not use Federal funds received under 
     this subtitle to acquire real property, but may use any other 
     source of funding, including other Federal funding outside 
     this authority, intended for the acquisition of real 
     property.

     SEC. 276. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

       (a) In General.--The management plan for the Heritage Area 
     shall--

[[Page 21425]]

       (1) include comprehensive policies, strategies and 
     recommendations for conservation, funding, management and 
     development of the Heritage Area;
       (2) take into consideration existing State, county, and 
     local plans in the development of the management plan and its 
     implementation;
       (3) include a description of actions that governments, 
     private organizations, and individuals have agreed to take to 
     protect the natural, historical and cultural resources of the 
     Heritage Area;
       (4) specify the existing and potential sources of funding 
     to protect, manage, and develop the Heritage Area in the 
     first 5 years of implementation;
       (5) include an inventory of the natural, historical, 
     cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of 
     the Heritage Area related to the themes of the Heritage Area 
     that should be preserved, restored, managed, developed, or 
     maintained;
       (6) describe a program of implementation for the management 
     plan including plans for resource protection, restoration, 
     construction, and specific commitments for implementation 
     that have been made by the management entity or any 
     government, organization, or individual for the first 5 years 
     of implementation; and
       (7) include an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area.
       (b) Deadline and Termination of Funding.--
       (1) Deadline.--The management entity shall submit the 
     management plan to the Secretary for approval within 3 years 
     after funds are made available for this subtitle.
       (2) Termination of funding.--If the management plan is not 
     submitted to the Secretary in accordance with this 
     subsection, the management entity shall not qualify for 
     Federal funding under this subtitle until such time as the 
     management plan is submitted to the Secretary.

     SEC. 277. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY.

       (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--The Secretary may, 
     upon the request of the management entity, provide technical 
     assistance on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis and 
     financial assistance to the Heritage Area to develop and 
     implement the approved management plan. The Secretary is 
     authorized to enter into cooperative agreements with the 
     management entity and other public or private entities for 
     this purpose. In assisting the Heritage Area, the Secretary 
     shall give priority to actions that in general assist in--
       (1) conserving the significant natural, historical, 
     cultural, and scenic resources of the Heritage Area; and
       (2) providing educational, interpretive, and recreational 
     opportunities consistent with the purposes of the Heritage 
     Area.
       (b) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall approve or disapprove 
     the management plan not later than 90 days after receiving 
     the management plan.
       (2) Criteria for approval.--In determining the approval of 
     the management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether--
       (A) the management entity is representative of the diverse 
     interests of the Heritage Area, including governments, 
     natural and historic resource protection organizations, 
     educational institutions, businesses, and recreational 
     organizations;
       (B) the management entity has afforded adequate 
     opportunity, including public hearings, for public and 
     governmental involvement in the preparation of the management 
     plan;
       (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 Heritage Area; and
       (D) the management plan is supported by the appropriate 
     State and local officials whose cooperation is needed to 
     ensure the effective implementation of the State and local 
     aspects of the management plan.
       (3) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary 
     disapproves the management plan, the Secretary shall advise 
     the management entity in writing of the reasons therefore and 
     shall make recommendations for revisions to the management 
     plan. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove a proposed 
     revision within 60 days after the date it is submitted.
       (4) Approval of amendments.--Substantial amendments to the 
     management plan shall be reviewed by the Secretary and 
     approved in the same manner as provided for the original 
     management plan. The management entity shall not use Federal 
     funds authorized by this subtitle to implement any amendments 
     until the Secretary has approved the amendments.

     SEC. 278. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.

       Any Federal agency conducting or supporting activities 
     directly affecting the Heritage Area shall--
       (1) consult with the Secretary and the management entity 
     with respect to such activities;
       (2) cooperate with the Secretary and the management entity 
     in carrying out their duties under this subtitle and, to the 
     maximum extent practicable, coordinate such activities with 
     the carrying out of such duties; and
       (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or support 
     such activities in a manner which the management entity 
     determines will not have an adverse effect on the Heritage 
     Area.

     SEC. 279. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.

       (a) Notification and Consent of Property Owners Required.--
     No privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or 
     promoted by the management plan for the Heritage Area until 
     the owner of that private property has been notified in 
     writing by the management entity and has given written 
     consent for such preservation, conservation, or promotion to 
     the management entity.
       (b) Landowner Withdraw.--Any owner of private property 
     included within the boundary of the Heritage Area shall have 
     their property immediately removed from the boundary by 
     submitting a written request to the management entity.

     SEC. 280. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

       (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this subtitle 
     shall be construed to--
       (1) require any private property owner to allow public 
     access (including Federal, State, or local government access) 
     to such private property; or
       (2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law 
     with regard to public access to or use of private property.
       (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Area shall not 
     be considered to create any liability, or to 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.
       (c) Recognition of Authority to Control Land Use.--Nothing 
     in this subtitle shall be construed to modify the authority 
     of Federal, State, or local governments to regulate land use.
       (d) Participation of Private Property Owners in Heritage 
     Area.--Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to require 
     the owner of any private property located within the 
     boundaries of the Heritage Area to participate in or be 
     associated with the Heritage Area.
       (e) Effect of Establishment.--The boundaries designated for 
     the Heritage Area represent the area within which Federal 
     funds appropriated for the purpose of this subtitle may be 
     expended. The establishment of the Heritage Area and its 
     boundaries shall not be construed to provide any nonexisting 
     regulatory authority on land use within the Heritage Area or 
     its viewshed by the Secretary, the National Park Service, or 
     the management entity.

     SEC. 280A. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated for 
     the purposes of this subtitle not more than $1,000,000 for 
     any fiscal year. Not more than a total of $10,000,000 may be 
     appropriated for the Heritage Area under this subtitle.
       (b) Matching Funds.--Federal funding provided under this 
     subtitle may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of any 
     assistance or grant provided or authorized under this 
     subtitle.

     SEC. 280B. SUNSET.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
     this subtitle shall terminate on the day occurring 15 years 
     after the date of the enactment of this subtitle.

       Subtitle G--Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership

     SEC. 281. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Champlain Valley 
     National Heritage Partnership Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 282. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the Champlain Valley and its extensive cultural and 
     natural resources have played a significant role in the 
     history of the United States and the individual States of 
     Vermont and New York;
       (2) archaeological evidence indicates that the Champlain 
     Valley has been inhabited by humans since the last retreat of 
     the glaciers, with the Native Americans living in the area at 
     the time of European discovery being primarily of Iroquois 
     and Algonquin descent;
       (3) the linked waterways of the champlain valley, including 
     the richelieu river in canada, played a unique and 
     significant role in the establishment and development of the 
     United States and canada through several distinct eras, 
     including--
       (A) the era of European exploration, during which Samuel de 
     Champlain and other explorers used the waterways as a means 
     of access through the wilderness;
       (B) the era of military campaigns, including highly 
     significant military campaigns of the French and Indian War, 
     the American Revolution, and the War of 1812; and
       (C) the era of maritime commerce, during which canal boats, 
     schooners, and steamships formed the backbone of commercial 
     transportation for the region;
       (4) those unique and significant eras are best described by 
     the theme ``The Making of Nations and Corridors of 
     Commerce'';
       (5) the artifacts and structures associated with those eras 
     are unusually well-preserved;
       (6) the Champlain Valley is recognized as having one of the 
     richest collections of historical resources in North America;
       (7) the history and cultural heritage of the Champlain 
     Valley are shared with Canada and the Province of Quebec;
       (8) there are benefits in celebrating and promoting this 
     mutual heritage;
       (9) tourism is among the most important industries in the 
     Champlain Valley, and heritage tourism in particular plays a 
     significant role in the economy of the Champlain Valley;
       (10) it is important to enhance heritage tourism in the 
     Champlain Valley while ensuring that increased visitation 
     will not impair the historical and cultural resources of the 
     region;

[[Page 21426]]

       (11) according to the 1999 report of the National Park 
     Service entitled ``Champlain Valley Heritage Corridor 
     Project'', ``the Champlain Valley contains resources and 
     represents a theme `The Making of Nations and Corridors of 
     Commerce', that is of outstanding importance in United States 
     history''; and
       (12) it is in the interest of the United States to preserve 
     and interpret the historical and cultural resources of the 
     Champlain Valley for the education and benefit of present and 
     future generations.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this subtitle are--
       (1) to establish the Champlain Valley National Heritage 
     Partnership in the States of Vermont and New York to 
     recognize the importance of the historical, cultural, and 
     recreational resources of the Champlain Valley region to the 
     United States;
       (2) to assist the States of Vermont and New York, including 
     units of local government and nongovernmental organizations 
     in the States, in preserving, protecting, and interpreting 
     those resources for the benefit of the people of the United 
     States;
       (3) to use those resources and the theme ``the making of 
     nations and corridors of commerce'' to--
       (A) revitalize the economy of communities in the Champlain 
     Valley; and
       (B) generate and sustain increased levels of tourism in the 
     Champlain Valley;
       (4) to encourage--
       (A) partnerships among State and local governments and 
     nongovernmental organizations in the United States; and
       (B) collaboration with canada and the province of quebec 
     to--
       (i) interpret and promote the history of the waterways of 
     the Champlain Valley region;
       (ii) form stronger bonds between the United States and 
     Canada; and
       (iii) promote the international aspects of the Champlain 
     Valley region; and
       (5) to provide financial and technical assistance for the 
     purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (4).

     SEC. 283. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Heritage partnership.--The term ``Heritage 
     Partnership'' means the Champlain Valley National Heritage 
     Partnership established by section 104(a).
       (2) Management entity.--The term ``management entity'' 
     means the Lake Champlain Basin Program.
       (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the management plan developed under section 284(b)(1)(B)(i).
       (4) Region.--
       (A) In general.--The term ``region'' means any area or 
     community in 1 of the States in which a physical, cultural, 
     or historical resource that represents the theme is located.
       (B) Inclusions.--The term ``region'' includes
       (i) The linked navigable waterways of.--

       (I) Lake Champlain;
       (II) Lake George;
       (III) the Champlain Canal; and
       (IV) the portion of the Upper Hudson River extending south 
     to Saratoga;

       (ii) portions of Grand Isle, Franklin, Chittenden, Addison, 
     Rutland, and Bennington Counties in the State of Vermont; and
       (iii) portions of Clinton, Essex, Warren, Saratoga and 
     Washington Counties in the State of New York.
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (6) State.--the term ``State'' means
       (A) the State of Vermont; and
       (B) the State of New York.
       (7) Theme.--The term ``theme'' means the theme ``The Making 
     of Nations and Corridors of Commerce'', as the term is used 
     in the 1999 report of the National Park Service entitled 
     ``Champlain Valley Heritage Corridor Project'', that 
     describes the periods of international conflict and maritime 
     commerce during which the region played a unique and 
     significant role in the development of the United States and 
     Canada.

     SEC. 284. HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the region the 
     Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership.
       (b) Management Entity.--
       (1) Duties.--
       (A) In general.--The management entity shall implement this 
     subtitle.
       (B) Management plan.--
       (i) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the management entity shall develop a 
     management plan for the Heritage Partnership.
       (ii) Existing plan.--Pending the completion and approval of 
     the management plan, the management entity may implement the 
     provisions of this subtitle based on its federally authorized 
     plan ``Opportunities for Action, an Evolving Plan For Lake 
     Champlain''.
       (iii) Contents.--The management plan shall include--

       (I) recommendations for funding, managing, and developing 
     the Heritage Partnership;
       (II) a description of activities to be carried out by 
     public and private organizations to protect the resources of 
     the Heritage Partnership;
       (III) a list of specific, potential sources of funding for 
     the protection, management, and development of the Heritage 
     Partnership;
       (IV) an assessment of the organizational capacity of the 
     management entity to achieve the goals for implementation; 
     and
       (V) recommendations of ways in which to encourage 
     collaboration with Canada and the Province of Quebec in 
     implementing this subtitle.

       (iv) Considerations.--In developing the management plan 
     under clause (i), the management entity shall take into 
     consideration existing Federal, State, and local plans 
     relating to the region.
       (v) Submission to secretary for approval.--

       (I) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the management entity shall submit the 
     management plan to the Secretary for approval.
       (II) Effect of failure to submit.--If a management plan is 
     not submitted to the Secretary by the date specified in 
     subclause (I), the Secretary shall not provide any additional 
     funding under this subtitle until a management plan for the 
     Heritage Partnership is submitted to the Secretary.

       (vi) Approval.--Not later than 90 days after receiving the 
     management plan submitted under clause (v)(I), the Secretary, 
     in consultation with the States, shall approve or disapprove 
     the management plan.
       (vii) Action following disapproval.--

       (I) General.--If the Secretary disapproves a management 
     plan under clause (vi), the Secretary shall--

       (aa) advise the management entity in writing of the reasons 
     for the disapproval;
       (bb) make recommendations for revisions to the management 
     plan; and
       (cc) allow the management entity to submit to the Secretary 
     revisions to the management plan.

       (II) Deadline for approval of revision.--Not later than 90 
     days after the date on which a revision is submitted under 
     subclause (I)(cc), the Secretary shall approve or disapprove 
     the revision.

       (viii) Amendment.--

       (I) In general.--After approval by the Secretary of the 
     management plan, the management entity shall periodically--

       (aa) review the management plan; and
       (bb) submit to the Secretary, for review and approval by 
     the Secretary, the recommendations of the management entity 
     for any amendments to the management plan that the management 
     entity considers to be appropriate.

       (II) Expenditure of funds.--No funds made available under 
     this subtitle shall be used to implement any amendment 
     proposed by the management entity under subclause (I) until 
     the Secretary approves the amendments.

       (2) Partnerships.--
       (A) In general.--In carrying out this subtitle, the 
     management entity may enter into partnerships with--
       (i) the States, including units of local governments in the 
     States;
       (ii) nongovernmental organizations;
       (iii) Indian Tribes; and
       (iv) other persons in the Heritage Partnership.
       (B) Grants.--Subject to the availability of funds, the 
     management entity may provide grants to partners under 
     subparagraph (A) to assist in implementing this subtitle.
       (3) Prohibition on the acquisition of real property.--The 
     management entity shall not use Federal funds made available 
     under this subtitle to acquire real property or any interest 
     in real property.
       (c) Assistance From Secretary.--To carry out the purposes 
     of this subtitle, the Secretary may provide technical and 
     financial assistance to the management entity.

     SEC. 285. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.

       (a) Notification and Consent of Property Owners Required.--
     No privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or 
     promoted by the management plan until
       (1) the management entity notifies the owner of the private 
     property in writing; and
       (2) the owner of the private property provides to the 
     management entity written consent for the preservation, 
     conservation, or promotion.
       (b) Landowner Withdrawal.--Private property included within 
     the boundary of the Heritage Partnership shall immediately be 
     withdrawn from the Heritage Partnership if the owner of the 
     property submits a written request to the management entity.

     SEC. 286. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

       (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this subtitle--
       (1) requires a private property owner to allow public 
     access (including access by the Federal Government or State 
     or local governments) to private property; or
       (2) modifies any provision of Federal, State, or local law 
     with respect to public access to, or use of, private 
     property.
       (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Partnership 
     under this subtitle does not create any liability, or have 
     any effect on liability under any other law, of a private 
     property owner with respect to any persons injured on the 
     private property.
       (c) Recognition of Authority to Control Land Use.--Nothing 
     in this subtitle modifies any authority of the Federal 
     Government or State or local governments to regulate land 
     use.
       (d) Participation of Private Property Owners.--Nothing in 
     this subtitle requires the owner of any private property 
     located within the boundaries of the Heritage Partnership to 
     participate in, or be associated with the Heritage 
     Partnership.
       (e) Effect of Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--The boundaries designated for the Heritage 
     Partnership represent the area within which Federal funds 
     appropriated for the purpose of this subtitle shall be 
     expended.
       (2) Regulatory authority.--The establishment of the 
     Heritage Partnership and the boundaries of the Heritage 
     Partnership do not

[[Page 21427]]

     provide any regulatory authority that is not in existence on 
     the date of enactment of this Act relating to land use within 
     the Heritage Partnership or the viewshed of the Heritage 
     Partnership by the Secretary, the National Park Service, or 
     the management entity.

     SEC. 287. EFFECT.

       Nothing in this subtitle--
       (1) grants powers of zoning or land use to the management 
     entity; or
       (2) obstructs or limits private business development 
     activities or resource development activities.

     SEC. 288. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this subtitle not more than a total of $10,000,000, 
     of which not more than $1,000,000 may be made available for 
     any fiscal year.
       (b) Non-Federal Share.--The non-Federal share of the cost 
     of any activities carried out using Federal funds made 
     available under subsection (a) shall be not less than 50 
     percent.

     SEC. 109. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
     this subtitle terminates on the date that is 15 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

            Subtitle H--Great Basin National Heritage Route

     SEC. 291. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Great Basin National 
     Heritage Route Act''.

     SEC. 291A. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the natural, cultural, and historic heritage of the 
     North American Great Basin is nationally significant;
       (2) communities along the Great Basin Heritage Route 
     (including the towns of Delta, Utah, Ely, Nevada, and the 
     surrounding communities) are located in a classic western 
     landscape that contains long natural vistas, isolated high 
     desert valleys, mountain ranges, ranches, mines, historic 
     railroads, archaeological sites, and tribal communities;
       (3) the Native American, pioneer, ranching, mining, timber, 
     and railroad heritages associated with the Great Basin 
     Heritage Route include the social history and living cultural 
     traditions of a rich diversity of nationalities;
       (4) the pioneer, Mormon, and other religious settlements, 
     and ranching, timber, and mining activities of the region 
     played and continue to play a significant role in the 
     development of the United States, shaped by--
       (A) the unique geography of the Great Basin;
       (B) an influx of people of Greek, Chinese, Basque, Serb, 
     Croat, Italian, and Hispanic descent; and
       (C) a Native American presence (Western Shoshone, Northern 
     and Southern Paiute, and Goshute) that continues in the Great 
     Basin today;
       (5) the Great Basin housed internment camps for Japanese-
     American citizens during World War II, 1 of which, Topaz, was 
     located along the Heritage Route;
       (6) the pioneer heritage of the Heritage Route includes the 
     Pony Express route and stations, the Overland Stage, and many 
     examples of 19th century exploration of the western United 
     States;
       (7) the Native American heritage of the Heritage Route 
     dates back thousands of years and includes--
       (A) archaeological sites;
       (B) petroglyphs and pictographs;
       (C) the westernmost village of the Fremont culture; and
       (D) communities of Western Shoshone, Paiute, and Goshute 
     tribes;
       (8) the Heritage Route contains multiple biologically 
     diverse ecological communities that are home to exceptional 
     species such as--
       (A) bristlecone pines, the oldest living trees in the 
     world;
       (B) wildlife adapted to harsh desert conditions;
       (C) unique plant communities, lakes, and streams; and
       (D) native Bonneville cutthroat trout;
       (9) the air and water quality of the Heritage Route is 
     among the best in the United States, and the clear air 
     permits outstanding viewing of the night skies;
       (10) the Heritage Route includes unique and outstanding 
     geologic features such as numerous limestone caves, classic 
     basin and range topography with playa lakes, alluvial fans, 
     volcanics, cold and hot springs, and recognizable features of 
     ancient Lake Bonneville;
       (11) the Heritage Route includes an unusual variety of open 
     space and recreational and educational opportunities because 
     of the great quantity of ranching activity and public land 
     (including city, county, and State parks, national forests, 
     Bureau of Land Management land, and a national park);
       (12) there are significant archaeological, historical, 
     cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational resources in the 
     Great Basin to merit the involvement of the Federal 
     Government in the development, in cooperation with the Great 
     Basin Heritage Route Partnership and other local and 
     governmental entities, of programs and projects to--
       (A) adequately conserve, protect, and interpret the 
     heritage of the Great Basin for present and future 
     generations; and
       (B) provide opportunities in the Great Basin for education; 
     and
       (13) the Great Basin Heritage Route Partnership shall serve 
     as the local coordinating entity for a Heritage Route 
     established in the Great Basin.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this subtitle are--
       (1) to foster a close working relationship with all levels 
     of government, the private sector, and the local communities 
     within White Pine County, Nevada, Millard County, Utah, and 
     the Duckwater Shoshone Reservation;
       (2) to enable communities referred to in paragraph (1) to 
     conserve their heritage while continuing to develop economic 
     opportunities; and
       (3) to conserve, interpret, and develop the archaeological, 
     historical, cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational 
     resources related to the unique ranching, industrial, and 
     cultural heritage of the Great Basin, in a manner that 
     promotes multiple uses permitted as of the date of enactment 
     of this Act, without managing or regulating land use.

     SEC. 291B. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Great basin.--The term ``Great Basin'' means the North 
     American Great Basin.
       (2) Heritage route.--The term ``Heritage Route'' means the 
     Great Basin National Heritage Route established by section 
     291C(a).
       (3) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``local 
     coordinating entity'' means the Great Basin Heritage Route 
     Partnership established by section 291C(c).
       (4) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the plan developed by the local coordinating entity under 
     section 291E(a).
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National 
     Park Service.

     SEC. 291C. GREAT BASIN NATIONAL HERITAGE ROUTE.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the Great Basin 
     National Heritage Route to provide the public with access to 
     certain historical, cultural, natural, scenic, and 
     recreational resources in White Pine County, Nevada, Millard 
     County, Utah, and the Duckwater Shoshone Reservation in the 
     State of Nevada, as designated by the local coordinating 
     entity.
       (b) Boundaries.--The local coordinating entity shall 
     determine the specific boundaries of the Heritage Route.
       (c) Local Coordinating Entity.--
       (1) In general.--The Great Basin Heritage Route Partnership 
     shall serve as the local coordinating entity for the Heritage 
     Route.
       (2) Board of directors.--The Great Basin Heritage Route 
     Partnership shall be governed by a board of directors that 
     consists of--
       (A) 4 members who are appointed by the Board of County 
     Commissioners for Millard County, Utah;
       (B) 4 members who are appointed by the Board of County 
     Commissioners for White Pine County, Nevada; and
       (C) a representative appointed by each Native American 
     Tribe participating in the Heritage Route.

     SEC. 291D. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.

       (a) In General.--In carrying out this subtitle, the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the Governors of the States 
     of Nevada and Utah and the tribal government of each Indian 
     tribe participating in the Heritage Route, shall enter into a 
     memorandum of understanding with the local coordinating 
     entity.
       (b) Inclusions.--The memorandum of understanding shall 
     include information relating to the objectives and management 
     of the Heritage Route, including--
       (1) a description of the resources of the Heritage Route;
       (2) a discussion of the goals and objectives of the 
     Heritage Route, including--
       (A) an explanation of the proposed approach to 
     conservation, development, and interpretation; and
       (B) a general outline of the anticipated protection and 
     development measures;
       (3) a description of the local coordinating entity;
       (4) a list and statement of the financial commitment of the 
     initial partners to be involved in developing and 
     implementing the management plan; and
       (5) a description of the role of the States of Nevada and 
     Utah in the management of the Heritage Route.
       (c) Additional Requirements.--In developing the terms of 
     the memorandum of understanding, the Secretary and the local 
     coordinating entity shall--
       (1) provide opportunities for local participation; and
       (2) include terms that ensure, to the maximum extent 
     practicable, timely implementation of all aspects of the 
     memorandum of understanding.
       (d) Amendments.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall review any amendments 
     of the memorandum of understanding proposed by the local 
     coordinating entity or the Governor of the State of Nevada or 
     Utah.
       (2) Use of funds.--Funds made available under this subtitle 
     shall not be expended to implement a change made by a 
     proposed amendment described in paragraph (1) until the 
     Secretary approves the amendment.

     SEC. 291E. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this subtitle, 
     the local coordinating entity shall develop and submit to the 
     Secretary for approval a management plan for the Heritage 
     Route that--
       (1) specifies--
       (A) any resources designated by the local coordinating 
     entity under section 291C(a); and
       (B) the specific boundaries of the Heritage Route, as 
     determined under section 291C(b); and
       (2) presents clear and comprehensive recommendations for 
     the conservation, funding,

[[Page 21428]]

     management, and development of the Heritage Route.
       (b) Considerations.--In developing the management plan, the 
     local coordinating entity shall--
       (1) provide for the participation of local residents, 
     public agencies, and private organizations located within the 
     counties of Millard County, Utah, White Pine County, Nevada, 
     and the Duckwater Shoshone Reservation in the protection and 
     development of resources of the Heritage Route, taking into 
     consideration State, tribal, county, and local land use plans 
     in existence on the date of enactment of this Act;
       (2) identify sources of funding;
       (3) include--
       (A) a program for implementation of the management plan by 
     the local coordinating entity, including--
       (i) plans for restoration, stabilization, rehabilitation, 
     and construction of public or tribal property; and
       (ii) specific commitments by the identified partners 
     referred to in section 291D(b)(4) for the first 5 years of 
     operation; and
       (B) an interpretation plan for the Heritage Route; and
       (4) develop a management plan that will not infringe on 
     private property rights without the consent of the owner of 
     the private property.
       (c) Failure to Submit.--If the local coordinating entity 
     fails to submit a management plan to the Secretary in 
     accordance with subsection (a), the Heritage Route shall no 
     longer qualify for Federal funding.
       (d) Approval and Disapproval of Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after receipt of a 
     management plan under subsection (a), the Secretary, in 
     consultation with the Governors of the States of Nevada and 
     Utah, shall approve or disapprove the management plan.
       (2) Criteria.--In determining whether to approve a 
     management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether the 
     management plan--
       (A) has strong local support from a diversity of 
     landowners, business interests, nonprofit organizations, and 
     governments associated with the Heritage Route;
       (B) is consistent with and complements continued economic 
     activity along the Heritage Route;
       (C) has a high potential for effective partnership 
     mechanisms;
       (D) avoids infringing on private property rights; and
       (E) provides methods to take appropriate action to ensure 
     that private property rights are observed.
       (3) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary 
     disapproves a management plan under paragraph (1), 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 90 days after the receipt of any 
     proposed revision of the management plan from the local 
     coordinating entity, approve or disapprove the proposed 
     revision.
       (e) Implementation.--On approval of the management plan as 
     provided in subsection (d)(1), the local coordinating entity, 
     in conjunction with the Secretary, shall take appropriate 
     steps to implement the management plan.
       (f) Amendments.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall review each amendment 
     to the management plan that the Secretary determines may make 
     a substantial change to the management plan.
       (2) Use of funds.--Funds made available under this subtitle 
     shall not be expended to implement an amendment described in 
     paragraph (1) until the Secretary approves the amendment.

     SEC. 291F. AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.

       (a) Authorities.--The local coordinating entity may, for 
     purposes of preparing and implementing the management plan, 
     use funds made available under this subtitle to--
       (1) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements 
     with, a State (including a political subdivision), an Indian 
     tribe, a private organization, or any person; and
       (2) hire and compensate staff.
       (b) Duties.--In addition to developing the management plan, 
     the local coordinating entity shall--
       (1) give priority to implementing the memorandum of 
     understanding and the management plan, including taking steps 
     to--
       (A) assist units of government, regional planning 
     organizations, and nonprofit organizations in--
       (i) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits 
     along the Heritage Route;
       (ii) developing recreational resources along the Heritage 
     Route;
       (iii) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for 
     the archaeological, historical, cultural, natural, scenic, 
     and recreational resources and sites along the Heritage 
     Route; and
       (iv) if requested by the owner, restoring, stabilizing, or 
     rehabilitating any private, public, or tribal historical 
     building relating to the themes of the Heritage Route;
       (B) encourage economic viability and diversity along the 
     Heritage Route in accordance with the objectives of the 
     management plan; and
       (C) encourage the installation of clear, consistent, and 
     environmentally appropriate signage identifying access points 
     and sites of interest along the Heritage Route;
       (2) consider the interests of diverse governmental, 
     business, and nonprofit groups associated with the Heritage 
     Route;
       (3) conduct public meetings in the region of the Heritage 
     Route at least semiannually regarding the implementation of 
     the management plan;
       (4) submit substantial amendments (including any increase 
     of more than 20 percent in the cost estimates for 
     implementation) to the management plan to the Secretary for 
     approval by the Secretary; and
       (5) for any year for which Federal funds are received under 
     this subtitle--
       (A) submit to the Secretary a report that describes, for 
     the year--
       (i) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity;
       (ii) the expenses and income of the local coordinating 
     entity; and
       (iii) each entity to which any loan or grant was made;
       (B) make available for audit all records pertaining to the 
     expenditure of the funds and any matching funds; and
       (C) require, for all agreements authorizing the expenditure 
     of Federal funds by any entity, that the receiving entity 
     make available for audit all records pertaining to the 
     expenditure of the funds.
       (c) Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real Property.--The 
     local coordinating entity shall not use Federal funds made 
     available under this subtitle to acquire real property or any 
     interest in real property.
       (d) Prohibition on the Regulation of Land Use.--The local 
     coordinating entity shall not regulate land use within the 
     Heritage Route.

     SEC. 291G. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.

       (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary may, on request of the local 
     coordinating entity, provide technical and financial 
     assistance to develop and implement the management plan and 
     memorandum of understanding.
       (2) Priority for assistance.--In providing assistance under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, on request of the local 
     coordinating entity, give priority to actions that assist 
     in--
       (A) conserving the significant archaeological, historical, 
     cultural, natural, scenic, and recreational resources of the 
     Heritage Route; and
       (B) providing education, interpretive, and recreational 
     opportunities, and other uses consistent with those 
     resources.
       (b) Application of Federal Law.--The establishment of the 
     Heritage Route shall have no effect on the application of any 
     Federal law to any property within the Heritage Route.

     SEC. 291H. LAND USE REGULATION; APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL LAW.

       (a) Land Use Regulation.--Nothing in this subtitle--
       (1) modifies, enlarges, or diminishes any authority of the 
     Federal, State, tribal, or local government to regulate by 
     law (including by regulation) any use of land; or
       (2) grants any power of zoning or land use to the local 
     coordinating entity.
       (b) Applicability of Federal Law.--Nothing in this 
     subtitle--
       (1) imposes on the Heritage Route, as a result of the 
     designation of the Heritage Route, any regulation that is not 
     applicable to the area within the Heritage Route as of the 
     date of enactment of this Act; or
       (2) authorizes any agency to promulgate a regulation that 
     applies to the Heritage Route solely as a result of the 
     designation of the Heritage Route under this subtitle.

     SEC. 291I. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this subtitle $10,000,000, of which not more than 
     $1,000,000 may be made available for any fiscal year.
       (b) Cost Sharing.--
       (1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of any 
     activity assisted under this subtitle shall not exceed 50 
     percent.
       (2) Form of non-federal share.--The non-Federal share may 
     be in the form of in-kind contributions, donations, grants, 
     and loans from individuals and State or local governments or 
     agencies.

     SEC. 291J. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
     this subtitle terminates on the date that is 15 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 291K. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.

       (a) Notification and Consent of Property Owners Required.--
     No privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or 
     promoted by the management plan for the Heritage Route until 
     the owner of that private property has been notified in 
     writing by the management entity and has given written 
     consent for such preservation, conservation, or promotion to 
     the management entity.
       (b) Landowner Withdraw.--Any owner of private property 
     included within the boundary of the Heritage Route shall have 
     their property immediately removed from the boundary by 
     submitting a written request to the management entity.

     SEC. 291L. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

       (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this title 
     shall be construed to--
       (1) require any private property owner to allow public 
     access (including Federal, State, or local government access) 
     to such private property; or
       (2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law 
     with regard to public access to or use of private property.
       (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Route shall not 
     be considered to create any liability, or to have any effect 
     on any liability

[[Page 21429]]

     under any other law, of any private property owner with 
     respect to any persons injured on such private property.
       (c) Recognition of Authority to Control Land Use.--Nothing 
     in this title shall be construed to modify the authority of 
     Federal, State, or local governments to regulate land use.
       (d) Participation of Private Property Owners in Heritage 
     Route.--Nothing in this title shall be construed to require 
     the owner of any private property located within the 
     boundaries of the Heritage Route to participate in or be 
     associated with the Heritage Route.
       (e) Effect of Establishment.--The boundaries designated for 
     the Heritage Route represent the area within which Federal 
     funds appropriated for the purpose of this title may be 
     expended. The establishment of the Heritage Route and its 
     boundaries shall not be construed to provide any nonexisting 
     regulatory authority on land use within the Heritage Route or 
     its viewshed by the Secretary, the National Park Service, or 
     the management entity.

              Subtitle I--Gullah/Geechee Heritage Corridor

     SEC. 295. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Gullah/Geechee Cultural 
     Heritage Act''.

     SEC. 295A. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this subtitle are to--
       (1) recognize the important contributions made to American 
     culture and history by African Americans known as the Gullah/
     Geechee who settled in the coastal counties of South 
     Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida;
       (2) assist State and local governments and public and 
     private entities in South Carolina, Georgia, North Carolina, 
     and Florida in interpreting the story of the Gullah/Geechee 
     and preserving Gullah/Geechee folklore, arts, crafts, and 
     music; and
       (3) assist in identifying and preserving sites, historical 
     data, artifacts, and objects associated with the Gullah/
     Geechee for the benefit and education of the public.

     SEC. 295B. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``local 
     coordinating entity'' means the Gullah/Geechee Cultural 
     Heritage Corridor Commission established by section 295D(a).
       (2) Heritage corridor.--The term ``Heritage Corridor'' 
     means the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor 
     established by section 295C(a).
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 295C. GULLAH/GEECHEE CULTURAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established the Gullah/Geechee 
     Cultural Heritage Corridor.
       (b) Boundaries.--
       (1) In general.--The Heritage Corridor shall be comprised 
     of those lands and waters generally depicted on a map 
     entitled ``Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor'' 
     numbered GGCHC 80,000 and dated September 2004. The map shall 
     be on file and available for public inspection in the 
     appropriate offices of the National Park Service and in an 
     appropriate State office in each of the States included in 
     the Heritage Corridor. The Secretary shall publish in the 
     Federal Register, as soon as practicable after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, a detailed description and map of the 
     boundaries established under this subsection.
       (2) Revisions.--The boundaries of the Heritage Corridor may 
     be revised if the revision is--
       (A) proposed in the management plan developed for the 
     Heritage Corridor;
       (B) approved by the Secretary in accordance with this 
     subtitle; and
       (C) placed on file in accordance with paragraph (1).
       (c) Administration.--The Heritage Corridor shall be 
     administered in accordance with the provisions of this 
     subtitle.

     SEC. 295D. GULLAH/GEECHEE CULTURAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR 
                   COMMISSION.

       (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a local 
     coordinating entity to be known as the ``Gullah/Geechee 
     Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission'' whose purpose shall 
     be to assist Federal, State, and local authorities in the 
     development and implementation of a management plan for those 
     land and waters specified in section 295C(b).
       (b) Membership.--The local coordinating entity shall be 
     composed of 15 members appointed by the Secretary as follows:
       (1) Four individuals nominated by the State Historic 
     Preservation Officer of South Carolina and two individuals 
     each nominated by the State Historic Preservation Officer of 
     each of Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida and appointed by 
     the Secretary.
       (2) Two individuals from South Carolina and one individual 
     from each of Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida who are 
     recognized experts in historic preservation, anthropology, 
     and folklore, appointed by the Secretary.
       (c) Terms.--Members of the local coordinating entity shall 
     be appointed to terms not to exceed 3 years. The Secretary 
     may stagger the terms of the initial appointments to the 
     local coordinating entity in order to assure continuity of 
     operation. Any member of the local coordinating entity may 
     serve after the expiration of their term until a successor is 
     appointed. A vacancy shall be filled in the same manner in 
     which the original appointment was made.
       (d) Termination.--The local coordinating entity shall 
     terminate 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 295E. OPERATION OF THE LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.

       (a) Duties of the Local Coordinating Entity.--To further 
     the purposes of the Heritage Corridor, the local coordinating 
     entity shall--
       (1) prepare and submit a management plan to the Secretary 
     in accordance with section 295F;
       (2) assist units of local government and other persons in 
     implementing the approved management plan by--
       (A) carrying out programs and projects that recognize, 
     protect, and enhance important resource values within the 
     Heritage Corridor;
       (B) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and 
     programs within the Heritage Corridor;
       (C) developing recreational and educational opportunities 
     in the Heritage Corridor;
       (D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for the 
     historical, cultural, natural, and scenic resources of the 
     Heritage Corridor;
       (E) protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings 
     in the Heritage Corridor that are consistent with Heritage 
     Corridor themes;
       (F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and appropriate signs 
     identifying points of public access and sites of interest are 
     posted throughout the Heritage Corridor; and
       (G) promoting a wide range of partnerships among 
     governments, organizations, and individuals to further the 
     purposes of the Heritage Corridor;
       (3) consider the interests of diverse units of government, 
     business, organizations, and individuals in the Heritage 
     Corridor in the preparation and implementation of the 
     management plan;
       (4) conduct meetings open to the public at least quarterly 
     regarding the development and implementation of the 
     management plan;
       (5) submit an annual report to the Secretary for any fiscal 
     year in which the local coordinating entity receives Federal 
     funds under this subtitle, setting forth its accomplishments, 
     expenses, and income, including grants made to any other 
     entities during the year for which the report is made;
       (6) make available for audit for any fiscal year in which 
     it receives Federal funds under this subtitle, all 
     information pertaining to the expenditure of such funds and 
     any matching funds, and require all agreements authorizing 
     expenditures of Federal funds by other organizations, that 
     the receiving organization make available for audit all 
     records and other information pertaining to the expenditure 
     of such funds; and
       (7) encourage by appropriate means economic viability that 
     is consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Corridor.
       (b) Authorities.--The local coordinating entity may, for 
     the purposes of preparing and implementing the management 
     plan, use funds made available under this subtitle to--
       (1) make grants to, and enter into cooperative agreements 
     with, the States of South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, 
     and Georgia, political subdivisions of those States, a 
     nonprofit organization, or any person;
       (2) hire and compensate staff;
       (3) obtain funds from any source including any that are 
     provided under any other Federal law or program; and
       (4) contract for goods and services.

     SEC. 295F. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

       (a) In General.--The management plan for the Heritage 
     Corridor shall--
       (1) include comprehensive policies, strategies, and 
     recommendations for conservation, funding, management, and 
     development of the Heritage Corridor;
       (2) take into consideration existing State, county, and 
     local plans in the development of the management plan and its 
     implementation;
       (3) include a description of actions that governments, 
     private organizations, and individuals have agreed to take to 
     protect the historical, cultural, and natural resources of 
     the Heritage Corridor;
       (4) specify the existing and potential sources of funding 
     to protect, manage, and develop the Heritage Corridor in the 
     first 5 years of implementation;
       (5) include an inventory of the historical, cultural, 
     natural, resources of the Heritage Corridor related to the 
     themes of the Heritage Corridor that should be preserved, 
     restored, managed, developed, or maintained;
       (6) 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 Heritage Corridor's 
     historical, cultural, and natural resources;
       (7) describe a program for implementation of the management 
     plan including plans for resources protection, restoration, 
     construction, and 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 implementation;
       (8) include an analysis and recommendations for the ways in 
     which Federal, State, or local programs may best be 
     coordinated to further the purposes of this subtitle; and
       (9) include an interpretive plan for the Heritage Corridor.
       (b) Submittal of Management Plan.--The local coordinating 
     entity shall submit the management plan to the Secretary for 
     approval not later than 3 years after funds are made 
     available for this subtitle.
       (c) Failure to Submit.--If the local coordinating entity 
     fails to submit the management plan to the Secretary in 
     accordance with subsection (b), the Heritage Corridor shall 
     not qualify for Federal funding until the management plan is 
     submitted.
       (d) Approval or Disapproval of Management Plan.--

[[Page 21430]]

       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall approve or disapprove 
     the management plan not later than 90 days after receiving 
     the management plan.
       (2) Criteria.--In determining whether to approve the 
     management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether--
       (A) the local coordinating entity has afforded adequate 
     opportunity, including public hearings, for public and 
     governmental involvement in the preparation of the management 
     plan;
       (B) the resource preservation and interpretation strategies 
     contained in the management plan would adequately protect the 
     cultural and historic resources of the Heritage Corridor; and
       (C) the Secretary has received adequate assurances from 
     appropriate State and local officials whose support is needed 
     to ensure the effective implementation of the State and local 
     aspects of the plan.
       (3) Action following disapproval.--If the Secretary 
     disapproves the management plan, the Secretary shall advise 
     the local coordinating entity in writing of the reasons 
     therefore and shall make recommendations for revisions to the 
     management plan. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove a 
     proposed revision not later than 60 days after the date it is 
     submitted.
       (4) Approval of amendments.--Substantial amendments to the 
     management plan shall be reviewed and approved by the 
     Secretary in the same manner as provided in the original 
     management plan. The local coordinating entity shall not use 
     Federal funds authorized by this subtitle to implement any 
     amendments until the Secretary has approved the amendments.

     SEC. 295G. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

       (a) In General.--Upon a request of the local coordinating 
     entity, the Secretary may provide technical and financial 
     assistance for the development and implementation of the 
     management plan.
       (b) Priority for Assistance.--In providing assistance under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to actions 
     that assist in--
       (1) conserving the significant cultural, historical, and 
     natural resources of the Heritage Corridor; and
       (2) providing educational and interpretive opportunities 
     consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Corridor.
       (c) Spending for Non-Federal Property.--
       (1) In general.--The local coordinating entity may expend 
     Federal funds made available under this subtitle on 
     nonfederally owned property that is--
       (A) identified in the management plan; or
       (B) listed or eligible for listing on the National Register 
     for Historic Places.
       (2) Agreements.--Any payment of Federal funds made pursuant 
     to this subtitle shall be subject to an agreement that 
     conversion, use, or disposal of a project so assisted for 
     purposes contrary to the purposes of this subtitle, as 
     determined by the Secretary, shall result in a right of the 
     United States to compensation of all funds made available to 
     that project or the proportion of the increased value of the 
     project attributable to such funds as determined at the time 
     of such conversion, use, or disposal, whichever is greater.

     SEC. 295H. DUTIES OF OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.

       Any Federal agency conducting or supporting activities 
     directly affecting the Heritage Corridor shall--
       (1) consult with the Secretary and the local coordinating 
     entity with respect to such activities;
       (2) cooperate with the Secretary and the local coordinating 
     entity in carrying out their duties under this subtitle and, 
     to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate such activities 
     with the carrying out of such duties; and
       (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or support 
     such activities in a manner in which the local coordinating 
     entity determines will not have an adverse effect on the 
     Heritage Corridor.

     SEC. 295I. COASTAL HERITAGE CENTERS.

       In furtherance of the purposes of this subtitle and using 
     the authorities made available under this subtitle, the local 
     coordinating entity shall establish one or more Coastal 
     Heritage Centers at appropriate locations within the Heritage 
     Corridor in accordance with the preferred alternative 
     identified in the Record of Decision for the Low Country 
     Gullah Culture Special Resource Study and Environmental 
     Impact Study, December 2003, and additional appropriate 
     sites.

     SEC. 295J. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

       (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this subtitle 
     shall be construed to require any private property owner to 
     permit public access (including Federal, State, or local 
     government access) to such private property. Nothing in this 
     subtitle shall be construed to modify any provision of 
     Federal, State, or local law with regard to public access to 
     or use of private lands.
       (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Corridor shall 
     not be considered to create any liability, or to 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.
       (c) Recognition of Authority to Control Land Use.--Nothing 
     in this subtitle shall be construed to modify any authority 
     of Federal, State, or local governments to regulate land use.
       (d) Participation of Private Property Owners in Heritage 
     Corridor.--Nothing in this subtitle shall be construed to 
     require the owner of any private property located within the 
     boundaries of the Heritage Corridor to participate in or be 
     associated with the Heritage Corridor.
       (e) Effect of Establishment.--The boundaries designated for 
     the Heritage Corridor represent the area within which Federal 
     funds appropriated for the purpose of this subtitle shall be 
     expended. The establishment of the Heritage Corridor and its 
     boundaries shall not be construed to provide any nonexisting 
     regulatory authority on land use within the Heritage Corridor 
     or its viewshed by the Secretary or the local coordinating 
     entity.
       (f) Notification and Consent of Property Owners Required.--
     No privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or 
     promoted by the management plan for the Heritage Corridor 
     until the owner of that private property has been notified in 
     writing by the local coordinating entity and has given 
     written consent for such preservation, conservation, or 
     promotion to the local coordinating entity.
       (g) Landowner Withdrawal.--Any owner of private property 
     included within the boundary of the Heritage Corridor shall 
     have their property immediately removed from within the 
     boundary by submitting a written request to the local 
     coordinating entity.

     SEC. 295K. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated for 
     the purposes of this subtitle not more than $1,000,000 for 
     any fiscal year. Not more than a total of $10,000,000 may be 
     appropriated for the Heritage Corridor under this subtitle.
       (b) Cost Share.--Federal funding provided under this 
     subtitle may not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of any 
     activity for which assistance is provided under this 
     subtitle.
       (c) In-Kind Contributions.--The Secretary may accept in-
     kind contributions as part of the non-Federal cost share of 
     any activity for which assistance is provided under this 
     subtitle.

     SEC. 295L. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
     this subtitle terminates on the date that is 15 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

  Subtitle J--Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage 
                                  Area

     SEC. 297. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Crossroads of the 
     American Revolution National Heritage Area Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 297A. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) the State of New Jersey was critically important during 
     the American Revolution because of the strategic location of 
     the State between the British armies headquartered in New 
     York City, New York, and the Continental Congress in the city 
     of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
       (2) General George Washington spent almost half of the 
     period of the American Revolution personally commanding 
     troops of the Continental Army in the State of New Jersey, 
     including 2 severe winters spent in encampments in the area 
     that is now Morristown National Historical Park, a unit of 
     the National Park System;
       (3) it was during the 10 crucial days of the American 
     Revolution between December 25, 1776, and January 3, 1777, 
     that General Washington, after retreating across the State of 
     New Jersey from the State of New York to the Commonwealth of 
     Pennsylvania in the face of total defeat, recrossed the 
     Delaware River on the night of December 25, 1776, and went on 
     to win crucial battles at Trenton and Princeton in the State 
     of New Jersey;
       (4) Thomas Paine, who accompanied the troops during the 
     retreat, described the events during those days as ``the 
     times that try men's souls'';
       (5) the sites of 296 military engagements are located in 
     the State of New Jersey, including--
       (A) several important battles of the American Revolution 
     that were significant to--
       (i) the outcome of the American Revolution; and
       (ii) the history of the United States; and
       (B) several national historic landmarks, including 
     Washington's Crossing, the Old Trenton Barracks, and 
     Princeton, Monmouth, and Red Bank Battlefields;
       (6) additional national historic landmarks in the State of 
     New Jersey include the homes of--
       (A) Richard Stockton, Joseph Hewes, John Witherspoon, and 
     Francis Hopkinson, signers of the Declaration of 
     Independence;
       (B) Elias Boudinout, President of the Continental Congress; 
     and
       (C) William Livingston, patriot and Governor of the State 
     of New Jersey from 1776 to 1790;
       (7) portions of the landscapes important to the strategies 
     of the British and Continental armies, including waterways, 
     mountains, farms, wetlands, villages, and roadways--
       (A) retain the integrity of the period of the American 
     Revolution; and
       (B) offer outstanding opportunities for conservation, 
     education, and recreation;
       (8) the National Register of Historic Places lists 251 
     buildings and sites in the National Park Service study area 
     for the Crossroads of the American Revolution that are 
     associated with the period of the American Revolution;
       (9) civilian populations residing in the State of New 
     Jersey during the American Revolution suffered extreme 
     hardships because of--
       (A) the continuous conflict in the State;
       (B) foraging armies; and
       (C) marauding contingents of loyalist Tories and rebel 
     sympathizers;
       (10) because of the important role that the State of New 
     Jersey played in the successful outcome of the American 
     Revolution, there is a

[[Page 21431]]

     Federal interest in developing a regional framework to assist 
     the State of New Jersey, local governments and organizations, 
     and private citizens in--
       (A) preserving and protecting cultural, historic, and 
     natural resources of the period; and
       (B) bringing recognition to those resources for the 
     educational and recreational benefit of the present and 
     future generations of citizens of the United States; and
       (11) the National Park Service has conducted a national 
     heritage area feasibility study in the State of New Jersey 
     that demonstrates that there is a sufficient assemblage of 
     nationally distinctive cultural, historic, and natural 
     resources necessary to establish the Crossroads of the 
     American Revolution National Heritage Area.
       (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this subtitle are--
       (1) to assist communities, organizations, and citizens in 
     the State of New Jersey in preserving--
       (A) the special historic identity of the State; and
       (B) the importance of the State to the United States;
       (2) to foster a close working relationship among all levels 
     of government, the private sector, and local communities in 
     the State;
       (3) to provide for the management, preservation, 
     protection, and interpretation of the cultural, historic, and 
     natural resources of the State for the educational and 
     inspirational benefit of future generations;
       (4) to strengthen the value of Morristown National 
     Historical Park as an asset to the State by--
       (A) establishing a network of related historic resources, 
     protected landscapes, educational opportunities, and events 
     depicting the landscape of the State of New Jersey during the 
     American Revolution; and
       (B) establishing partnerships between Morristown National 
     Historical Park and other public and privately owned 
     resources in the Heritage Area that represent the strategic 
     fulcrum of the American Revolution; and
       (5) to authorize Federal financial and technical assistance 
     for the purposes described in paragraphs (1) through (4).

     SEC. 297B. DEFINITIONS.

       In this subtitle:
       (1) Heritage area.--The term ``Heritage Area'' means the 
     Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area 
     established by section 297C(a).
       (2) Local coordinating entity.--The term ``local 
     coordinating entity'' means the local coordinating entity for 
     the Heritage Area designated by section 297C(d).
       (3) Management plan.--The term ``management plan'' means 
     the management plan for the Heritage Area developed under 
     section 297D.
       (4) Map.--The term ``map'' means the map entitled 
     ``Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage 
     Area'', numbered CRRE/80,000, and dated April 2002.
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.
       (6) State.--The term ``State'' means the State of New 
     Jersey.

     SEC. 297C. CROSSROADS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION NATIONAL 
                   HERITAGE AREA.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established in the State the 
     Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area.
       (b) Boundaries.--The Heritage Area shall consist of the 
     land and water within the boundaries of the Heritage Area, as 
     depicted on the map.
       (c) Availability of Map.--The map shall be on file and 
     available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of 
     the National Park Service.
       (d) Local Coordinating Entity.--The Crossroads of the 
     American Revolution Association, Inc., a nonprofit 
     corporation in the State, shall be the local coordinating 
     entity for the Heritage Area.

     SEC. 297D. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this subtitle, 
     the local coordinating entity shall develop and forward to 
     the Secretary a management plan for the Heritage Area.
       (b) Requirements.--The management plan shall--
       (1) include comprehensive policies, strategies, and 
     recommendations for conservation, funding, management, and 
     development of the Heritage Area;
       (2) take into consideration existing State, county, and 
     local plans;
       (3) describe actions that units of local government, 
     private organizations, and individuals have agreed to take to 
     protect the cultural, historic, and natural resources of the 
     Heritage Area;
       (4) identify existing and potential sources of funding for 
     the protection, management, and development of the Heritage 
     Area during the first 5 years of implementation of the 
     management plan; and
       (5) include--
       (A) an inventory of the cultural, educational, historic, 
     natural, recreational, and scenic resources of the Heritage 
     Area relating to the themes of the Heritage Area that should 
     be restored, managed, or developed;
       (B) recommendations of policies and strategies for resource 
     management that result in--
       (i) application of appropriate land and water management 
     techniques; and
       (ii) development of intergovernmental and interagency 
     cooperative agreements to protect the cultural, educational, 
     historic, natural, recreational, and scenic resources of the 
     Heritage Area;
       (C) a program of implementation of the management plan that 
     includes for the first 5 years of implementation--
       (i) plans for resource protection, restoration, 
     construction; and
       (ii) specific commitments for implementation that have been 
     made by the local coordinating entity or any government, 
     organization, or individual;
       (D) an analysis of and recommendations for ways in which 
     Federal, State, and local programs, including programs of the 
     National Park Service, may be best coordinated to promote the 
     purposes of this subtitle; and
       (E) an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area.
       (c) Approval or Disapproval of Management Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     receipt of the management plan under subsection (a), the 
     Secretary shall approve or disapprove the management plan.
       (2) Criteria.--In determining whether to approve the 
     management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether--
       (A) the Board of Directors of the local coordinating entity 
     is representative of the diverse interests of the Heritage 
     Area, including--
       (i) governments;
       (ii) natural and historic resource protection 
     organizations;
       (iii) educational institutions;
       (iv) businesses; and
       (v) recreational organizations;
       (B) the local coordinating entity provided adequate 
     opportunity for public and governmental involvement in the 
     preparation of the management plan, including public 
     hearings;
       (C) the resource protection and interpretation strategies 
     in the management plan would adequately protect the cultural, 
     historic, and natural resources of the Heritage Area; and
       (D) the Secretary has received adequate assurances from the 
     appropriate State and local officials whose support is needed 
     to ensure the effective implementation of the State and local 
     aspects of the management plan.
       (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 of the 
     reasons for the disapproval;
       (B) make recommendations for revisions to the management 
     plan; and
       (C) not later than 60 days after the receipt of any 
     proposed revision of the management plan from the local 
     coordinating entity, approve or disapprove the proposed 
     revision.
       (d) Amendments.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary shall approve or disapprove 
     each amendment to the management plan that the Secretary 
     determines may make a substantial change to the management 
     plan.
       (2) Use of funds.--Funds made available under this subtitle 
     shall not be expended by the local coordinating entity to 
     implement an amendment described in paragraph (1) until the 
     Secretary approves the amendment.
       (e) Implementation.--On completion of the 3-year period 
     described in subsection (a), any funding made available under 
     this subtitle shall be made available to the local 
     coordinating entity only for implementation of the approved 
     management plan.

     SEC. 297E. AUTHORITIES, DUTIES, AND PROHIBITIONS APPLICABLE 
                   TO THE LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.

       (a) Authorities.--For purposes of preparing and 
     implementing the management plan, the local coordinating 
     entity may use funds made available under this subtitle to--
       (1) make grants to, provide technical assistance to, and 
     enter into cooperative agreements with, the State (including 
     a political subdivision), a nonprofit organization, or any 
     other person;
       (2) hire and compensate staff, including individuals with 
     expertise in--
       (A) cultural, historic, or natural resource protection; or
       (B) heritage programming;
       (3) obtain funds or services from any source (including a 
     Federal law or program);
       (4) contract for goods or services; and
       (5) support any other activity--
       (A) that furthers the purposes of the Heritage Area; and
       (B) that is consistent with the management plan.
       (b) Duties.--In addition to developing the management plan, 
     the local coordinating entity shall--
       (1) assist units of local government, regional planning 
     organizations, and nonprofit organizations in implementing 
     the approved management plan by--
       (A) carrying out programs and projects that recognize, 
     protect, and enhance important resource values in the 
     Heritage Area;
       (B) establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits and 
     programs in the Heritage Area;
       (C) developing recreational and educational opportunities 
     in the Heritage Area;
       (D) increasing public awareness of and appreciation for 
     cultural, historic, and natural resources of the Heritage 
     Area;
       (E) protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings 
     that are--
       (i) located in the Heritage Area; and
       (ii) related to the themes of the Heritage Area;
       (F) ensuring that clear, consistent, and appropriate signs 
     identifying points of public access and sites of interest are 
     installed throughout the Heritage Area; and

[[Page 21432]]

       (G) promoting a wide range of partnerships among 
     governments, organizations, and individuals to further the 
     purposes of the Heritage Area;
       (2) in preparing and implementing the management plan, 
     consider the interests of diverse units of government, 
     businesses, organizations, and individuals in the Heritage 
     Area;
       (3) conduct public meetings at least semiannually regarding 
     the development and implementation of the management plan;
       (4) for any fiscal year for which Federal funds are 
     received under this subtitle--
       (A) submit to the Secretary a report that describes for the 
     year--
       (i) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity;
       (ii) the expenses and income of the local coordinating 
     entity; and
       (iii) each entity to which a grant was made;
       (B) make available for audit all information relating to 
     the expenditure of the funds and any matching funds; and
       (C) require, for all agreements authorizing expenditures of 
     Federal funds by any entity, that the receiving entity make 
     available for audit all records and other information 
     relating to the expenditure of the funds;
       (5) encourage, by appropriate means, economic viability 
     that is consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area; 
     and
       (6) maintain headquarters for the local coordinating entity 
     at Morristown National Historical Park and in Mercer County.
       (c) Prohibition on the Acquisition of Real Property.--
       (1) Federal funds.--The local coordinating entity shall not 
     use Federal funds made available under this subtitle to 
     acquire real property or any interest in real property.
       (2) Other funds.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the local 
     coordinating entity may acquire real property or an interest 
     in real property using any other source of funding, including 
     other Federal funding.

     SEC. 297F. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; OTHER FEDERAL 
                   AGENCIES.

       (a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--On the request of the local coordinating 
     entity, the Secretary may provide technical and financial 
     assistance to the Heritage Area for the development and 
     implementation of the management plan.
       (2) Priority for assistance.--In providing assistance under 
     paragraph (1), the Secretary shall give priority to actions 
     that assist in--
       (A) conserving the significant cultural, historic, natural, 
     and scenic resources of the Heritage Area; and
       (B) providing educational, interpretive, and recreational 
     opportunities consistent with the purposes of the Heritage 
     Area.
       (3) Operational assistance.--Subject to the availability of 
     appropriations, the Superintendent of Morristown National 
     Historical Park may, on request, provide to public and 
     private organizations in the Heritage Area, including the 
     local coordinating entity, any operational assistance that is 
     appropriate for the purpose of supporting the implementation 
     of the management plan.
       (4) Preservation of historic properties.--To carry out the 
     purposes of this subtitle, the Secretary may provide 
     assistance to a State or local government or nonprofit 
     organization to provide for the appropriate treatment of--
       (A) historic objects; or
       (B) structures that are listed or eligible for listing on 
     the National Register of Historic Places.
       (5) Cooperative agreements.--The Secretary may enter into 
     cooperative agreements with the local coordinating entity and 
     other public or private entities to carry out this 
     subsection.
       (b) Other Federal Agencies.--Any Federal agency conducting 
     or supporting an activity that directly affects the Heritage 
     Area shall--
       (1) consult with the Secretary and the local coordinating 
     entity regarding the activity;
       (2)(A) cooperate with the Secretary and the local 
     coordinating entity in carrying out the of the Federal agency 
     under this subtitle; and
       (B) to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate the 
     activity with the carrying out of those duties; and
       (3) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct the activity 
     to avoid adverse effects on the Heritage Area.

     SEC. 297G. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated to 
     carry out this subtitle $10,000,000, of which not more than 
     $1,000,000 may be authorized to be appropriated for any 
     fiscal year.
       (b) Cost-Sharing Requirement.--The Federal share of the 
     cost of any activity assisted under this subtitle shall be 
     not more than 50 percent.

     SEC. 297H. TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under 
     this subtitle terminates on the date that is 15 years after 
     the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 297I. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.

       (a) Notification and Consent of Property Owners Required.--
     No privately owned property shall be preserved, conserved, or 
     promoted by the management plan for the Heritage Area until 
     the owner of that private property has been notified in 
     writing by the management entity and has given written 
     consent for such preservation, conservation, or promotion to 
     the management entity.
       (b) Landowner Withdraw.--Any owner of private property 
     included within the boundary of the Heritage Area shall have 
     their property immediately removed from the boundary by 
     submitting a written request to the management entity.

     SEC. 297J. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

       (a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this title 
     shall be construed to--
       (1) require any private property owner to allow public 
     access (including Federal, State, or local government access) 
     to such private property; or
       (2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law 
     with regard to public access to or use of private property.
       (b) Liability.--Designation of the Heritage Area shall not 
     be considered to create any liability, or to 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.
       (c) Recognition of Authority to Control Land Use.--Nothing 
     in this title shall be construed to modify the authority of 
     Federal, State, or local governments to regulate land use.
       (d) Participation of Private Property Owners in Heritage 
     Area.--Nothing in this title shall be construed to require 
     the owner of any private property located within the 
     boundaries of the Heritage Area to participate in or be 
     associated with the Heritage Area.
       (e) Effect of Establishment.--The boundaries designated for 
     the Heritage Area represent the area within which Federal 
     funds appropriated for the purpose of this title may be 
     expended. The establishment of the Heritage Area and its 
     boundaries shall not be construed to provide any nonexisting 
     regulatory authority on land use within the Heritage Area or 
     its viewshed by the Secretary, the National Park Service, or 
     the management entity.

               TITLE III--NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA STUDIES

            Subtitle A--Western Reserve Heritage Area Study

     SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Western Reserve 
     Heritage Areas Study Act''.

     SEC. 302. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE STUDY REGARDING THE WESTERN 
                   RESERVE, OHIO.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
       (1) The area that encompasses the modern-day counties of 
     Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, 
     Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and 
     Ashland in Ohio with the rich history in what was once the 
     Western Reserve, has made a unique contribution to the 
     cultural, political, and industrial development of the United 
     States.
       (2) The Western Reserve is distinctive as the land settled 
     by the people of Connecticut after the Revolutionary War. The 
     Western Reserve holds a unique mark as the original 
     wilderness land of the West that many settlers migrated to in 
     order to begin life outside of the original 13 colonies.
       (3) The Western Reserve played a significant role in 
     providing land to the people of Connecticut whose property 
     and land was destroyed during the Revolution. These settlers 
     were descendants of the brave immigrants who came to the 
     Americas in the 17th century.
       (4) The Western Reserve offered a new destination for those 
     who moved west in search of land and prosperity. The 
     agricultural and industrial base that began in the Western 
     Reserve still lives strong in these prosperous and historical 
     counties.
       (5) The heritage of the Western Reserve remains transfixed 
     in the counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, 
     Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, 
     Ottawa, and Ashland in Ohio. The people of these counties are 
     proud of their heritage as shown through the unwavering 
     attempts to preserve agricultural land and the industrial 
     foundation that has been embedded in this region since the 
     establishment of the Western Reserve. Throughout these 
     counties, historical sites, and markers preserve the unique 
     traditions and customs of its original heritage.
       (6) The counties that encompass the Western Reserve 
     continue to maintain a strong connection to its historic past 
     as seen through its preservation of its local heritage, 
     including historic homes, buildings, and centers of public 
     gatherings.
       (7) There is a need for assistance for the preservation and 
     promotion of the significance of the Western Reserve as the 
     natural, historic and cultural heritage of the counties of 
     Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, Portage, Geagua, Lake, 
     Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa and 
     Ashland in Ohio.
       (8) The Department of the Interior is responsible for 
     protecting the Nation's cultural and historical resources. 
     There are significant examples of such resources within these 
     counties and what was once the Western Reserve to merit the 
     involvement of the Federal Government in the development of 
     programs and projects, in cooperation with the State of Ohio 
     and other local governmental entities, to adequately 
     conserve, protect, and interpret this heritage for future 
     generations, while providing opportunities for education and 
     revitalization.
       (b) Study.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the National 
     Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance 
     Program, Midwest Region, and in consultation with the State 
     of Ohio, the counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, 
     Portage, Geagua, Lake,

[[Page 21433]]

     Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and 
     Ashland, and other appropriate organizations, shall carry out 
     a study regarding the suitability and feasibility of 
     establishing the Western Reserve Heritage Area in these 
     counties in Ohio.
       (2) Contents.--The study shall include analysis and 
     documentation regarding whether the Study Area--
       (A) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural 
     resources that together represent distinctive aspects of 
     American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation, 
     interpretation, and continuing use, and are best managed 
     through partnerships among public and private entities and by 
     combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and 
     active communities;
       (B) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife 
     that are a valuable part of the national story;
       (C) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, 
     historic, cultural, or scenic features;
       (D) provides outstanding recreational and educational 
     opportunities;
       (E) contains resources important to the identified theme or 
     themes of the Study Area that retain a degree of integrity 
     capable of supporting interpretation;
       (F) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit 
     organizations, and local and State governments that are 
     involved in the planning, have developed a conceptual 
     financial plan that outlines the roles for all participants, 
     including the Federal Government, and have demonstrated 
     support for the concept of a national heritage area;
       (G) has a potential local coordinating entity to work in 
     partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit 
     organizations, and local and State governments to develop a 
     national heritage area consistent with continued local and 
     State economic activity;
       (H) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the 
     public; and
       (I) has potential or actual impact on private property 
     located within or abutting the Study Area.
       (c) Boundaries of the Study Area.--The Study Area shall be 
     comprised of the counties of Trumbull, Mahoning, Ashtabula, 
     Portage, Geagua, Lake, Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Huron, 
     Lorain, Erie, Ottawa, and Ashland in Ohio.

           Subtitle B--St. Croix National Heritage Area Study

     SEC. 311. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``St. Croix National 
     Heritage Area Study Act''.

     SEC. 312. STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior, in 
     consultation with appropriate State historic preservation 
     officers, States historical societies, and other appropriate 
     organizations, shall conduct a study regarding the 
     suitability and feasibility of designating the island of St. 
     Croix as the St. Croix National Heritage Area. The study 
     shall include analysis, documentation, and determination 
     regarding whether the island of St. Croix--
       (1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural 
     resources that together represent distinctive aspects of 
     American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation, 
     interpretation, and continuing use, and are best managed 
     through partnerships among public and private entities and by 
     combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and 
     active communities;
       (2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife 
     that are a valuable part of the national story;
       (3) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, 
     historic, cultural, or scenic features;
       (4) provides outstanding recreational and educational 
     opportunities;
       (5) contains resources important to the identified theme or 
     themes of the island of St. Croix that retain a degree of 
     integrity capable of supporting interpretation;
       (6) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit 
     organizations, and local and State governments that are 
     involved in the planning, have developed a conceptual 
     financial plan that outlines the roles of all participants 
     (including the Federal Government), and have demonstrated 
     support for the concept of a national heritage area;
       (7) has a potential local coordinating entity to work in 
     partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit 
     organizations, and local and State governments to develop a 
     national heritage area consistent with continued local and 
     State economic activity; and
       (8) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the 
     public.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date 
     on which funds are first made available for this section, the 
     Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the Committee on 
     Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
     on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the 
     findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the study.
       (c) Private Property.--In conducting the study required by 
     this section, the Secretary of the Interior shall analyze the 
     potential impact that designation of the area as a national 
     heritage area is likely to have on land within the proposed 
     area or bordering the proposed area that is privately owned 
     at the time that the study is conducted.

            Subtitle C--Southern Campaign of the Revolution

     SEC. 321. SHORT TITLE.

       This subtitle may be cited as the ``Southern Campaign of 
     the Revolution Heritage Area Study Act''.

     SEC. 322. SOUTHERN CAMPAIGN OF THE REVOLUTION HERITAGE AREA 
                   STUDY.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary of the Interior, in consultation 
     with appropriate State historic preservation officers, States 
     historical societies, the South Carolina Department of Parks, 
     Recreation, and Tourism, and other appropriate organizations, 
     shall conduct a study regarding the suitability and 
     feasibility of designating the study area described in 
     subsection (b) as the Southern Campaign of the Revolution 
     Heritage Area. The study shall include analysis, 
     documentation, and determination regarding whether the study 
     area--
       (1) has an assemblage of natural, historic, and cultural 
     resources that together represent distinctive aspects of 
     American heritage worthy of recognition, conservation, 
     interpretation, and continuing use, and are best managed 
     through partnerships among public and private entities and by 
     combining diverse and sometimes noncontiguous resources and 
     active communities;
       (2) reflects traditions, customs, beliefs, and folklife 
     that are a valuable part of the national story;
       (3) provides outstanding opportunities to conserve natural, 
     historic, cultural, or scenic features;
       (4) provides outstanding recreational and educational 
     opportunities;
       (5) contains resources important to the identified theme or 
     themes of the study area that retain a degree of integrity 
     capable of supporting interpretation;
       (6) includes residents, business interests, nonprofit 
     organizations, and local and State governments that are 
     involved in the planning, have developed a conceptual 
     financial plan that outlines the roles of all participants 
     (including the Federal Government), and have demonstrated 
     support for the concept of a national heritage area;
       (7) has a potential local coordinating entity to work in 
     partnership with residents, business interests, nonprofit 
     organizations, and local and State governments to develop a 
     national heritage area consistent with continued local and 
     State economic activity; and
       (8) has a conceptual boundary map that is supported by the 
     public.
       (b) Study Area.--
       (1) In general.--
       (A) South carolina.--The study area shall include the 
     following counties in South Carolina: Anderson, Pickens, 
     Greenville County, Spartanburg, Cherokee County, Greenwood, 
     Laurens, Union, York, Chester, Darlington, Florence, 
     Chesterfield, Marlboro, Fairfield, Richland, Lancaster, 
     Kershaw, Sumter, Orangeburg, Georgetown, Dorchester, 
     Colleton, Charleston, Beaufort, Calhoun, Clarendon, and 
     Williamsburg.
       (B) North carolina.--The study area may include sites and 
     locations in North Carolina as appropriate.
       (2) Specific sites.--The heritage area may include the 
     following sites of interest:
       (A) National park service site.--Kings Mountain National 
     Military Park, Cowpens National Battlefield, Fort Moultrie 
     National Monument, Charles Pickney National Historic Site, 
     and Ninety Six National Historic Site as well as the National 
     Park Affiliate of Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site.
       (B) State-maintained sites.--Colonial Dorchester State 
     Historic Site, Eutaw Springs Battle Site, Hampton Plantation 
     State Historic Site, Landsford Canal State Historic Site, 
     Andrew Jackson State Park, and Musgrove Mill State Park.
       (C) Communities.--Charleston, Beaufort, Georgetown, 
     Kingstree, Cheraw, Camden, Winnsboro, Orangeburg, and Cayce.
       (D) Other key sites open to the public.--Middleton Place, 
     Goose Creek Church, Hopsewee Plantation, Walnut Grove 
     Plantation, Fort Watson, and Historic Brattonsville.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 3 fiscal years after the date 
     on which funds are first made available to carry out this 
     subtitle, the Secretary of the Interior shall submit to the 
     Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 
     report on the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of 
     the study.

     SEC. 323. PRIVATE PROPERTY.

        In conducting the study required by this subtitle, the 
     Secretary of the Interior shall analyze the potential impact 
     that designation of the area as a national heritage area is 
     likely to have on land within the proposed area or bordering 
     the proposed area that is privately owned at the time that 
     the study is conducted.

 TITLE IV--ILLINOIS AND MICHIGAN CANAL NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR ACT 
                               AMENDMENTS

     SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Illinois and Michigan 
     Canal National Heritage Corridor Act Amendments of 2006''.

     SEC. 402. TRANSITION AND PROVISIONS FOR NEW LOCAL 
                   COORDINATING ENTITY.

       The Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor 
     Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-398; 16 U.S.C. 461 note) is 
     amended as follows:
       (1) In section 103--
       (A) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'';
       (B) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(10) the term `Association' means the Canal Corridor 
     Association (an organization described under section 
     501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue

[[Page 21434]]

     Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of 
     such Code).''.
       (2) By adding at the end of section 112 the following new 
     paragraph:
       ``(7) The Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of 
     understanding with the Association to help ensure appropriate 
     transition of the local coordinating entity to the 
     Association and coordination with the Association regarding 
     that role.''.
       (3) By adding at the end the following new sections:

     ``SEC. 119. ASSOCIATION AS LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.

       ``Upon the termination of the Commission, the local 
     coordinating entity for the corridor shall be the 
     Association.

     ``SEC. 120. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF ASSOCIATION.

       ``For purposes of preparing and implementing the management 
     plan developed under section 121, the Association may use 
     Federal funds made available under this title--
       ``(1) to make loans and grants to, and enter into 
     cooperative agreements with, States and their political 
     subdivisions, private organizations, or any person;
       ``(2) to hire, train, and compensate staff; and
       ``(3) to enter into contracts for goods and services.

     ``SEC. 121. DUTIES OF THE ASSOCIATION.

       ``The Association shall--
       ``(1) develop and submit to the Secretary for approval 
     under section 123 a proposed management plan for the corridor 
     not later than 2 years after Federal funds are made available 
     for this purpose;
       ``(2) give priority to implementing actions set forth in 
     the management plan, including taking steps to assist units 
     of local government, regional planning organizations, and 
     other organizations--
       ``(A) in preserving the corridor;
       ``(B) in establishing and maintaining interpretive exhibits 
     in the corridor;
       ``(C) in developing recreational resources in the corridor;
       ``(D) in increasing public awareness of and appreciation 
     for the natural, historical, and architectural resources and 
     sites in the corridor; and
       ``(E) in facilitating the restoration of any historic 
     building relating to the themes of the corridor;
       ``(3) encourage by appropriate means economic viability in 
     the corridor consistent with the goals of the management 
     plan;
       ``(4) consider the interests of diverse governmental, 
     business, and other groups within the corridor;
       ``(5) conduct public meetings at least quarterly regarding 
     the implementation of the management plan;
       ``(6) submit substantial changes (including any increase of 
     more than 20 percent in the cost estimates for 
     implementation) to the management plan to the Secretary; and
       ``(7) for any year in which Federal funds have been 
     received under this title--
       ``(A) submit an annual report to the Secretary setting 
     forth the Association's accomplishments, expenses and income, 
     and the identity of each entity to which any loans and grants 
     were made during the year for which the report is made;
       ``(B) make available for audit all records pertaining to 
     the expenditure of such funds and any matching funds; and
       ``(C) require, for all agreements authorizing expenditure 
     of Federal funds by other organizations, that the receiving 
     organizations make available for audit all records pertaining 
     to the expenditure of such funds.

     ``SEC. 122. USE OF FEDERAL FUNDS.

       ``(a) In General.--The Association shall not use Federal 
     funds received under this title to acquire real property or 
     an interest in real property.
       ``(b) Other Sources.--Nothing in this title precludes the 
     Association from using Federal funds from other sources for 
     authorized purposes.

     ``SEC. 123. MANAGEMENT PLAN.

       ``(a) Preparation of Management Plan.--Not later than 2 
     years after the date that Federal funds are made available 
     for this purpose, the Association shall submit to the 
     Secretary for approval a proposed management plan that 
     shall--
       ``(1) take into consideration State and local plans and 
     involve residents, local governments and public agencies, and 
     private organizations in the corridor;
       ``(2) present comprehensive recommendations for the 
     corridor's conservation, funding, management, and 
     development;
       ``(3) include actions proposed to be undertaken by units of 
     government and nongovernmental and private organizations to 
     protect the resources of the corridor;
       ``(4) specify the existing and potential sources of funding 
     to protect, manage, and develop the corridor; and
       ``(5) include--
       ``(A) identification of the geographic boundaries of the 
     corridor;
       ``(B) a brief description and map of the corridor's overall 
     concept or vision that show key sites, visitor facilities and 
     attractions, and physical linkages;
       ``(C) identification of overall goals and the strategies 
     and tasks intended to reach them, and a realistic schedule 
     for completing the tasks;
       ``(D) a listing of the key resources and themes of the 
     corridor;
       ``(E) identification of parties proposed to be responsible 
     for carrying out the tasks;
       ``(F) a financial plan and other information on costs and 
     sources of funds;
       ``(G) a description of the public participation process 
     used in developing the plan and a proposal for public 
     participation in the implementation of the management plan;
       ``(H) a mechanism and schedule for updating the plan based 
     on actual progress;
       ``(I) a bibliography of documents used to develop the 
     management plan; and
       ``(J) a discussion of any other relevant issues relating to 
     the management plan.
       ``(b) Disqualification From Funding.--If a proposed 
     management plan is not submitted to the Secretary within 2 
     years after the date that Federal funds are made available 
     for this purpose, the Association shall be ineligible to 
     receive additional funds under this title until the Secretary 
     receives a proposed management plan from the Association.
       ``(c) Approval of Management Plan.--The Secretary shall 
     approve or disapprove a proposed management plan submitted 
     under this title not later than 180 days after receiving such 
     proposed management plan. If action is not taken by the 
     Secretary within the time period specified in the preceding 
     sentence, the management plan shall be deemed approved. The 
     Secretary shall consult with the local entities representing 
     the diverse interests of the corridor including governments, 
     natural and historic resource protection organizations, 
     educational institutions, businesses, recreational 
     organizations, community residents, and private property 
     owners prior to approving the management plan. The 
     Association shall conduct semi-annual public meetings, 
     workshops, and hearings to provide adequate opportunity for 
     the public and local and governmental entities to review and 
     to aid in the preparation and implementation of the 
     management plan.
       ``(d) Effect of Approval.--Upon the approval of the 
     management plan as provided in subsection (c), the management 
     plan shall supersede the conceptual plan contained in the 
     National Park Service report.
       ``(e) Action Following Disapproval.--If the Secretary 
     disapproves a proposed management plan within the time period 
     specified in subsection (c), the Secretary shall advise the 
     Association in writing of the reasons for the disapproval and 
     shall make recommendations for revisions to the proposed 
     management plan.
       ``(f) Approval of Amendments.--The Secretary shall review 
     and approve all substantial amendments (including any 
     increase of more than 20 percent in the cost estimates for 
     implementation) to the management plan. Funds made available 
     under this title may not be expended to implement any changes 
     made by a substantial amendment until the Secretary approves 
     that substantial amendment.

     ``SEC. 124. TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; OTHER FEDERAL 
                   AGENCIES.

       ``(a) Technical and Financial Assistance.--Upon the request 
     of the Association, the Secretary may provide technical 
     assistance, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, and 
     financial assistance to the Association to develop and 
     implement the management plan. The Secretary is authorized to 
     enter into cooperative agreements with the Association and 
     other public or private entities for this purpose. In 
     assisting the Association, the Secretary shall give priority 
     to actions that in general assist in--
       ``(1) conserving the significant natural, historic, 
     cultural, and scenic resources of the corridor; and
       ``(2) providing educational, interpretive, and recreational 
     opportunities consistent with the purposes of the corridor.
       ``(b) Duties of Other Federal Agencies.--Any Federal agency 
     conducting or supporting activities directly affecting the 
     corridor shall--
       ``(1) consult with the Secretary and the Association with 
     respect to such activities;
       ``(2) cooperate with the Secretary and the Association in 
     carrying out their duties under this title;
       ``(3) to the maximum extent practicable, coordinate such 
     activities with the carrying out of such duties; and
       ``(4) to the maximum extent practicable, conduct or support 
     such activities in a manner which the Association determines 
     is not likely to have an adverse effect on the corridor.

     ``SEC. 125. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--To carry out this title there is 
     authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000, except that not 
     more than $1,000,000 may be appropriated to carry out this 
     title for any fiscal year.
       ``(b) 50 Percent Match.--The Federal share of the cost of 
     activities carried out using any assistance or grant under 
     this title shall not exceed 50 percent of that cost.

     ``SEC. 126. SUNSET.

       ``The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance 
     under this title terminates on the date that is 15 years 
     after the date of enactment of this section.''.

     SEC. 403. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

       The Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor 
     Act of 1984 is further amended by adding after section 126 
     (as added by section 402) the following new sections:

     ``SEC. 127. REQUIREMENTS FOR INCLUSION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.

       ``(a) Notification and Consent of Property Owners 
     Required.--No privately owned property shall be preserved, 
     conserved, or promoted by the management plan for the 
     corridor until the owner of that private property has been 
     notified in writing by the Association and has given written 
     consent for such preservation, conservation, or promotion to 
     the Association.

[[Page 21435]]

       ``(b) Landowner Withdrawal.--Any owner of private property 
     included within the boundary of the corridor, and not 
     notified under subsection (a), shall have their property 
     immediately removed from the boundary of the corridor by 
     submitting a written request to the Association.

     ``SEC. 128. PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.

       ``(a) Access to Private Property.--Nothing in this title 
     shall be construed to--
       ``(1) require any private property owner to allow public 
     access (including Federal, State, or local government access) 
     to such private property; or
       ``(2) modify any provision of Federal, State, or local law 
     with regard to public access to or use of private property.
       ``(b) Liability.--Designation of the corridor shall not be 
     considered to create any liability, or to 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.
       ``(c) Recognition of Authority to Control Land Use.--
     Nothing in this title shall be construed to modify the 
     authority of Federal, State, or local governments to regulate 
     land use.
       ``(d) Participation of Private Property Owners in 
     Corridor.--Nothing in this title shall be construed to 
     require the owner of any private property located within the 
     boundaries of the corridor to participate in or be associated 
     with the corridor.
       ``(e) Effect of Establishment.--The boundaries designated 
     for the corridor represent the area within which Federal 
     funds appropriated for the purpose of this title may be 
     expended. The establishment of the corridor and its 
     boundaries shall not be construed to provide any nonexisting 
     regulatory authority on land use within the corridor or its 
     viewshed by the Secretary, the National Park Service, or the 
     Association.''.

     SEC. 404. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

       Section 116 of Illinois and Michigan Canal National 
     Heritage Corridor Act of 1984 is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (b); and
       (2) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``(a)'' and all that follows through ``For 
     each'' and inserting ``(a) For each'';
       (B) by striking ``Commission'' and inserting 
     ``Association'';
       (C) by striking ``Commission's'' and inserting 
     ``Association's'';
       (D) by redesignating paragraph (2) as subsection (b); and
       (E) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (B) as 
     paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.

               TITLE V--MOKELUMNE RIVER FEASIBILITY STUDY

     SEC. 501. AUTHORIZATION OF MOKELUMNE RIVER REGIONAL WATER 
                   STORAGE AND CONJUNCTIVE USE PROJECT STUDY.

        Pursuant to the Reclamation Act of 1902 (32 Stat. 388) and 
     Acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, not later 
     than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of the Interior (hereafter in this title referred 
     to as the ``Secretary''), through the Bureau of Reclamation, 
     and in consultation and cooperation with the Mokelumne River 
     Water and Power Authority, shall complete and submit to the 
     Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives and 
     the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
     copies of a study to determine the feasibility of 
     constructing a project to provide additional water supply and 
     improve water management reliability through the development 
     of new water storage and conjunctive use programs.

     SEC. 502. USE OF REPORTS AND OTHER INFORMATION.

        In developing the study under section 501, the Secretary 
     shall use, as appropriate, reports and any other relevant 
     information supplied by the Mokelumne River Water and Power 
     Authority, the East Bay Municipal Utility District, and other 
     Mokelumne River Forum stakeholders.

     SEC. 503. COST SHARES.

       (a) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the costs of the 
     study conducted under this title shall not exceed 50 percent 
     of the total cost of the study.
       (b) In-Kind Contributions.--The Secretary shall accept, as 
     appropriate, such in-kind contributions of goods or services 
     from the Mokelumne River Water and Power Authority as the 
     Secretary determines will contribute to the conduct and 
     completion of the study conducted under this title. Goods and 
     services accepted under this section shall be counted as part 
     of the non-Federal cost share for that study.

     SEC. 504. WATER RIGHTS.

        Nothing in this title shall be construed to invalidate, 
     preempt, or create any exception to State water law, State 
     water rights, or Federal or State permitted activities or 
     agreements.

     SEC. 505. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

        There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
     $3,300,000 for the Federal cost share of the study conducted 
     under this title.

      TITLE VI--DELAWARE NATIONAL COASTAL SPECIAL RESOURCES STUDY

     SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Delaware National Coastal 
     Special Resources Study Act''.

     SEC. 602. STUDY.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary of the Interior (referred to 
     in this title as the ``Secretary'') shall conduct a special 
     resources study of the national significance, suitability, 
     and feasibility of including sites in the coastal region of 
     the State of Delaware in the National Park System.
       (b) Inclusion of Sites in the National Park System.--The 
     study under subsection (a) shall include an analysis and any 
     recommendations of the Secretary concerning the suitability 
     and feasibility of designating 1 or more of the sites along 
     the Delaware coast, including Fort Christina, as a unit of 
     the National Park System that relates to the themes described 
     in section 603.
       (c) Study Guidelines.--In conducting the study authorized 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall use the criteria 
     for the study of areas for potential inclusion in the 
     National Park System contained in section 8 of Public Law 91-
     383 (16 U.S.C. 1a-5).
       (d) Consultation.--In preparing and conducting the study 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with--
       (1) the State of Delaware;
       (2) the coastal region communities;
       (3) owners of private property that would likely be 
     impacted by a National Park Service designation; and
       (4) the general public.

     SEC. 603. THEMES.

       The study authorized under section 602 shall evaluate sites 
     along the coastal region of the State of Delaware that relate 
     to--
       (1) the history of indigenous peoples, which would explore 
     the history of Native American tribes of Delaware, such as 
     the Nanticoke and Lenni Lenape;
       (2) the colonization and establishment of the frontier, 
     which would chronicle the first European settlers in the 
     Delaware Valley who built fortifications for the protection 
     of settlers, such as Fort Christina;
       (3) the founding of a nation, which would document the 
     contributions of Delaware to the development of our 
     constitutional republic;
       (4) industrial development, which would investigate the 
     exploitation of water power in Delaware with the mill 
     development on the Brandywine River;
       (5) transportation, which would explore how water served as 
     the main transportation link, connecting Colonial Delaware 
     with England, Europe, and other colonies;
       (6) coastal defense, which would document the collection of 
     fortifications spaced along the river and bay from Fort 
     Delaware on Pea Patch Island to Fort Miles near Lewes;
       (7) the last stop to freedom, which would detail the role 
     Delaware has played in the history of the Underground 
     Railroad network; and
       (8) the coastal environment, which would examine natural 
     resources of Delaware that provide resource-based 
     recreational opportunities such as crabbing, fishing, 
     swimming, and boating.

     SEC. 604. REPORT.

       Not later than 2 years after funds are made available to 
     carry out this title under section 605, the Secretary shall 
     submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
     the Senate and the Committee on Resources of the House of 
     Representatives a report containing the findings, 
     conclusions, and recommendations of the study conducted under 
     section 602.

  TITLE VII--JOHN H. CHAFEE BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL HERITAGE 
                        CORRIDOR REAUTHORIZATION

     SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``John H. Chafee Blackstone 
     River Valley National Heritage Corridor Reauthorization Act 
     of 2006''.

     SEC. 702. JOHN H. CHAFEE BLACKSTONE RIVER VALLEY NATIONAL 
                   HERITAGE CORRIDOR.

       (a) Commission Membership.--Section 3(b) of Public Law 99-
     647 (16 U.S.C. 461 note) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``nineteen members'' and inserting ``25 
     members'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``six'' and inserting ``6''; and
       (B) by striking ``Department of Environmental Management 
     Directors from Rhode Island and Massachusetts'' and inserting 
     ``the Director of the Rhode Island Department of 
     Environmental Management and the Secretary of the 
     Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs'';
       (3) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by striking ``four'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``5''; and
       (B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
       (4) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) by striking ``two'' each place it appears and inserting 
     ``3''; and
       (B) by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and
       (5) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
       ``(5) 1 representative of a nongovernmental organization 
     from Massachusetts and 1 from Rhode Island, to be appointed 
     by the Secretary, which have expertise in historic 
     preservation, conservation, outdoor recreation, cultural 
     conservation, traditional arts, community development, or 
     tourism.''.
       (b) Quorum.--Section 3(f)(1) of Public Law 99-647 (16 
     U.S.C. 461 note) is amended by striking ``Ten'' and inserting 
     ``13''.
       (c) Update of Plan.--Section 6 of Public Law 99-647 (16 
     U.S.C. 461 note) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(e) Update of Plan.--(1) Not later than 2 years after the 
     date of enactment of this subsection, the Commission shall 
     update the plan under subsection (a).
       ``(2) In updating the plan under paragraph (1), the 
     Commission shall take into account the findings and 
     recommendations included in the Blackstone Sustainability 
     Study conducted by the National Park Service Conservation 
     Study Institute.''
       ``(3) The update shall include--

[[Page 21436]]

       ``(A) performance goals; and
       ``(B) an analysis of--
       ``(i) options for preserving, enhancing, and interpreting 
     the resources of the Corridor;
       ``(ii) the partnerships that sustain those resources; and
       ``(iii) the funding program for the Corridor.
       ``(4)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the 
     Secretary shall approve or disapprove any changes to the plan 
     proposed in the update in accordance with subsection (b).
       ``(B) Minor revisions to the plan shall not be subject to 
     the approval of the Secretary.''.
       (d) Extension of Commission.--Public Law 99-647 (16 U.S.C. 
     461 note) is amended by striking section 7 and inserting the 
     following:

     ``SEC. 7. TERMINATION OF COMMISSION.

       ``The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 5 
     years after the date of enactment of the John H. Chafee 
     Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor 
     Reauthorization Act of 2006.''.
       (e) Special Resource Study.--Section 8 of Public Law 99-647 
     (16 U.S.C. 461 note) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
       ``(d) Special Resource Study.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a special 
     resource study of sites and associated landscape features 
     within the boundaries of the Corridor that contribute to the 
     understanding of the Corridor as the birthplace of the 
     industrial revolution in the United States.
       ``(2) Evaluation.--Not later than 3 years after the date on 
     which funds are made available to carry out this subsection, 
     the Secretary shall complete the study under paragraph (1) to 
     evaluate the possibility of--
       ``(A) designating 1 or more site or landscape feature as a 
     unit of the National Park System; and
       ``(B) coordinating and complementing actions by the 
     Commission, local governments, and State and Federal 
     agencies, in the preservation and interpretation of 
     significant resources within the Corridor.
       ``(3) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the 
     Study with the Commission.
       ``(4) Report.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
     which the study under paragraph (1) is completed, the 
     Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 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; and
       ``(B) the conclusions and recommendations of the 
     Secretary.''.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 10 of Public 
     Law 99-647 (16 U.S.C. 461 note) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$650,000'' and 
     inserting ``$1,000,000''; and
       (2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
       ``(b) Development Funds.--There is authorized to be 
     appropriated to carry out section 8(c) not more than 
     $10,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2006 through 2016, 
     to remain available until expended.
       ``(c) Special Resource Study.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out section 
     8(d).''.

 TITLE VIII--CALIFORNIA RECLAMATION GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION INITIATIVE

     SEC. 801. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``California Reclamation 
     Groundwater Remediation Initiative''.

     SEC. 802. DEFINITIONS.

       For the purposes of this title:
       (1) Groundwater remediation.--The term ``groundwater 
     remediation'' means actions that are necessary to prevent, 
     minimize, or mitigate damage to groundwater.
       (2) Local water authority.--The term ``local water 
     authority'' means the Santa Clara Valley Water District or a 
     public water district, public water utility, public water 
     planning agency, municipality, or Indian tribe located within 
     the Santa Clara Valley; and a public water district, public 
     water utility, public water planning agency, municipality, or 
     Indian tribe located within the natural watershed of the 
     Santa Ana river in the State of California.
       (3) Remediation fund.--The term ``Remediation Fund'' means 
     the California Basins Groundwater Remediation Fund 
     established pursuant to section 803(a).
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of the Interior.

     SEC. 803. CALIFORNIA BASINS REMEDIATION.

       (a) California Basins Remediation.--
       (1) Establishment of remediation fund.--There shall be 
     established within the Treasury of the United States an 
     interest bearing account to be known as the California Basins 
     Groundwater Remediation Fund.
       (2) Administration of remediation fund.--The Remediation 
     Fund shall be administered by the Secretary of the Interior, 
     acting through the Bureau of Reclamation. The Secretary shall 
     administer the Remediation Fund in cooperation with the local 
     water authority.
       (3) Purposes of remediation fund.--
       (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the amounts 
     in the Remediation Fund, including interest accrued, shall be 
     used by the Secretary to provide grants to the local water 
     authority to reimburse the local water authority for the 
     Federal share of the costs associated with designing and 
     constructing groundwater remediation projects to be 
     administered by the local water authority.
       (B) Cost-sharing limitation.--
       (i) In general.--The Secretary may not obligate any funds 
     appropriated to the Remediation Fund in a fiscal year until 
     the Secretary has deposited into the Remediation Fund an 
     amount provided by non-Federal interests sufficient to ensure 
     that at least 35 percent of any funds obligated by the 
     Secretary for a project are from funds provided to the 
     Secretary for that project by the non-Federal interests.
       (ii) Non-federal responsibility.--Each local water 
     authority shall be responsible for providing the non-Federal 
     amount required by clause (i) for projects under that local 
     water authority. The State of California, local government 
     agencies, and private entities may provide all or any portion 
     of the non-Federal amount.
       (iii) Credits toward non-federal share.--For purposes of 
     clause (ii), the Secretary shall credit the appropriate local 
     water authority with the value of all prior expenditures by 
     non-Federal interests made after January 1, 2000, that are 
     compatible with the purposes of this section, including--

       (I) all expenditures made by non-Federal interests to 
     design and construct groundwater remediation projects, 
     including expenditures associated with environmental analyses 
     and public involvement activities that were required to 
     implement the groundwater remediation projects in compliance 
     with applicable Federal and State laws; and
       (II) all expenditures made by non-Federal interests to 
     acquire lands, easements, rights-of-way, relocations, 
     disposal areas, and water rights that were required to 
     implement a groundwater remediation project.

       (b) Compliance With Applicable Law.--In carrying out the 
     activities described in this section, the Secretary shall 
     comply with any applicable Federal and State laws.
       (c) Relationship to Other Activities.--Nothing in this 
     section shall be construed to affect other Federal or State 
     authorities that are being used or may be used to facilitate 
     remediation and protection of any groundwater subbasin 
     eligible for funding pursuant to this title. In carrying out 
     the activities described in this section, the Secretary shall 
     integrate such activities with ongoing Federal and State 
     projects and activities. None of the funds made available for 
     such activities pursuant to this section shall be counted 
     against any Federal authorization ceiling established for any 
     previously authorized Federal projects or activities.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Remediation Fund $25,000,000. 
     Subject to the limitations in section 804, such funds shall 
     remain available until expended.

     SEC. 804. SUNSET OF AUTHORITY.

       This title--
       (1) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this 
     Act; and
       (2) is repealed effective as of the date that is 10 years 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act.

                 TITLE IX--NATIONAL COAL HERITAGE AREA

     SEC. 901. NATIONAL COAL HERITAGE AREA AMENDMENTS.

       Title I of Division II of the Omnibus Parks and Public 
     Lands Management Act of 1996 is amended as follows:
       (1) In section 103(b)--
       (A) by striking ``comprised of the counties'' and inserting 
     ``shall be comprised of the following:
       ``(1) The counties; and''.
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as so designated by 
     paragraph (1) of this subsection) the following new 
     paragraphs:
       ``(2) Lincoln County, West Virginia.
       ``(3) Paint Creek and Cabin Creek within Kanawha County, 
     West Virginia.''.
       (2) In section 104, by striking ``Governor'' and all that 
     follows through ``organizations'' and inserting ``National 
     Coal Heritage Area Authority, a public corporation and 
     government instrumentality established by the State of West 
     Virginia, pursuant to which the Secretary shall assist the 
     National Coal Heritage Area Authority''.

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate concur in the House amendment and the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Thank you, Mr. President.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Texas.


                                S. 3661

  Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Vermont for being 
here so we can discuss briefly a bill that has just by unanimous 
consent been passed.
  The reason we are here is to help clarify some concerns which I know 
he has with the legislation. I appreciate his willingness to work with 
Senator Hutchison and myself in expediting this passage.
  This bill will ultimately repeal the Wright amendment, a law designed 
to reflect the compromise with respects to flights coming into and out 
of Love Field in Dallas, TX and, therefore, operating just a few miles 
down the road from Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport but

[[Page 21437]]

which has proved a hindrance to competition among airlines; and has 
resulted in increased fares to those who travel through DFW Airport.
  The legislation before us recognizes that the city of Dallas is the 
entity responsible for operating Love Field, and will reduce the gates 
there to 20 and will allocate those gates with existing commitments and 
obligations, including commitments to accommodate potential new 
entrants.
  I point out that doing so will allow the city of Dallas to maintain 
an appropriate number of gates to address the critically important 
considerations of local noise, air pollution, congestion, and safety.
  I yield to the Senator from Vermont.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I appreciate what the Senator from Texas 
has said. I appreciate the colloquy and the days we spent trying to 
work through this issue. He and I talked about this before the break in 
August. I knew working with him we would work out a solution. I believe 
we have. It is a complicated solution for competition law and obviously 
important for Texas.
  The Senate Judiciary Committee is responsible for ensuring 
competition--and thereby protecting consumers--through enactment and 
enforcement of antitrust laws. I support repeal of the Wright 
amendment, but the bill originally introduced by Senator Hutchison went 
well beyond a simple repeal. It would have explicitly insulated from 
competition review private agreements among competitors. Such 
insulation is inappropriate and unprecedented, and it is bad for 
consumers.
  I am sensitive to the hard work that the cities of Dallas and Fort 
Worth, and the airport authority there, have put in to craft a solution 
to the complicated web of problems created by the Wright amendment. It 
is more than unfortunate that Congress permitted such a clearly 
anticompetitive situation to exist in the first place, and it is 
certainly our obligation to try to rectify that problem. Doing so in a 
way that creates a new set of anticompetitive issues--and the resulting 
harm to consumers--would only be to repeat the errors of the past.
  I appreciate the changes we have been able to agree to, stripping the 
explicit antitrust exemption from the bill, and speaking only to the 
obligations of the city of Dallas, rather than blessing the agreement 
among the cities, the airport authority, and two airlines. I am still 
concerned, however, because while Congress is no longer explicitly 
deeming the contract in compliance with competition laws, an implicit 
protection from those important guardians of consumer welfare may 
remain.
  The parties to the contract, both public and private, all assure me 
that the contract is not anticompetitive, and that the statute should 
not be read to create an exemption. I would prefer to be more precise 
in the statutory language, but I trust that they are correct. Senator 
Cornyn and I share a concern about providing antitrust immunity to 
agreements involving private parties. While I would prefer greater 
clarity on this point in the bill, I am pleased that Senator Cornyn and 
I agree that this is an entirely unique situation, which should not be 
repeated. I understand that in the view of the Senators from Texas, 
this unique situation requires a unique, if inelegant solution. I 
disagree and would have preferred a solution that more clearly 
preserves the antitrust laws. I have worked hard both with the affected 
parties and Senator Cornyn, to craft such a solution.
  The similar respect Senator Cornyn and I have for preserving 
competition laws has made our conversations productive and moved the 
legislative process forward. While my concerns remain about this 
legislation, I am prepared to accept it. We have come a long way from 
where this process started with an explicit antitrust exemption.
  I expect that in the future, legislation that may have 
anticompetitive effects will be referred to, and vetted by, the Senate 
Judiciary Committee so that concerns over competition can be handled in 
regular order and addressed early.
  Mr. CORNYN. I know the Senior Senator from Vermont has genuine 
concerns about the legislation. And while I do not take a position 
about the creation of an antitrust exemption, implicit or otherwise, 
share his view that this is a unique situation. I join him in saying 
that the solution is not perfect. We do not agree on many issues, but 
on some important ones--including intellectual property legislation--we 
share a commitment to promoting free market principles--and the goal of 
any arrangement such as this should be to maximize those principles.
  The legislation contemplated here should not be a model for any 
future arrangement. In no way can I imagine a situation arising with a 
set of facts remotely similar to that created in Dallas by the passage 
of the Wright amendment. It is entirely unique and is precisely the 
reason for this legislation--legislation that moves the ball forward 
considerably with respect to increasing competition in the Dallas-Fort 
Worth area.
  In addition, the proposed legislation reflects a Congressional 
sanction for the city of Dallas to manage Love Field in a manner that 
it deems in the best interests of its citizens, and in accordance with 
a hard fought local compromise, a sanction made necessary only by the 
existence of the Wright amendment itself. By doing so, while not 
perfect by any means, I am hopeful that we will afford literally 
millions of citizens in north Texas and elsewhere the enormous benefits 
of enhanced airline competition that they have long been denied because 
of the Wright amendment.
  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I would like to talk a little bit 
about S. 3661 because I am the sponsor of the legislation and have 
worked for 12 years to try to explain the Wright amendment to every 
interested party in Congress. It is so important to North Texas, to DFW 
Airport, and Love Field that we have an agreement, a plan to move 
forward beyond the Wright amendment in a way that is going to increase 
competition immeasurably.
  Most people do not realize the history of the Wright amendment. When 
DFW Airport was forced on the cities of Dallas and Ft. Worth by a 
Federal mandate, the cities made agreements with airlines that DFW 
Airport would be the only functioning major airport in the region. It 
was to be the international airport, and Love Field was to be closed. 
After litigation, Love Field was allowed to be an intrastate airport. 
The Wright amendment later opened Love Field to serve the contiguous 
States, but that became untenable as aviation traffic continued to 
grow. The Wright amendment was very confining and was not the best 
competitive situation.
  There have been many attempts to expand the Wright amendment. There 
have also been attempts to repeal the Wright amendment. Many in 
Congress asked the mayors of the two cities to come up with a local 
solution, rather than have Congress once again pass legislation that 
may or may not take into consideration the interests of the people who 
live and work and pay taxes in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. The mayors 
did just that.
  Mayor Laura Miller and Mayor Mike Moncrief, the mayors of Dallas and 
Ft. Worth, did an incredible job. They came together and made an 
agreement. Cities can make agreements. Under State law, cities can make 
agreements and there is never an antitrust issue when cities make 
agreements.
  The antitrust issue was raised because two airlines became part of 
the agreement. The cities brought them in because lease agreements that 
were in place with those air carriers were going to have to be 
compromised, they were going to have to be changed and broken.
  Instead of pursuing condemnation, the parties were brought together 
to get a consensus of their willingness to give up some rights in order 
to settle this once and for all and open competition both at Love Field 
and at DFW Airport.
  The cities did a great job. They made an agreement and they brought 
it to Congress. I have felt since the beginning, it was Congress's 
responsibility

[[Page 21438]]

to take that agreement, ratify it and mandate that the agreement be 
kept in its entirety because it is so balanced. And if you did away 
with the Wright amendment, but you did not have the 20 gate limit and 
the implementation of the 20 gates, it could have gone out of balance.
  So this act, regardless of anything else that has been said, 
authorizes, mandates, and protects all aspects of performance of the 
legislation's terms, including that the city of Dallas reduce and 
allocate gates according to this act, its contractual obligations as 
contemplated by the act, and the local compromise and the balance it 
has achieved.
  This legislation will allow the DFW Metroplex to end decades of 
bitterness and infighting that have plagued the Wright amendment. It 
provides a solution that all parties affected have agreed to. And just 
about every party to this agreement has given something up for the good 
of the North Texas economy and the traveling public.
  We can now move forward to allow immediate benefits to consumers and 
the traveling public because airline prices are going to go down when 
this bill is passed. Actually, the bill has already passed. I am very 
pleased to say it has passed the Senate. It is going to the House now. 
And you will see, when the bill becomes law, that the prices of tickets 
from Dallas Love Field are going to go down to every destination. That 
is going to increase competition and interest in flying, which is going 
to be good for everyone.
  Mr. President, I have a letter that was sent to four of the ranking 
members and committee chairs on September 28, 2006. It is addressed to 
Senator Specter, Senator Leahy, Congressman Sensenbrenner, and 
Congressman Conyers. And it is from the mayor of Dallas and the mayor 
of Fort Worth. I ask unanimous consent it be printed in the Record. It 
tells the history of the Wright amendment and how competition will be 
increased.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                               September 28, 2006.
     Re Repeal of the Wright Amendment--S. 3661; H.R. 5830.

     Hon. Arlen Specter,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. Patrick J. Leahy,
     Ranking Member, Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, 
         Washington, DC.
     Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.,
     Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
     Hon. John Conyers, Jr.,
     Ranking Member, Committee on the Judiciary, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senators and Representatives: We are writing in 
     response to letters from various detractors of the proposed 
     legislation to repeal the Wright Amendment. As the duly-
     elected mayors and their city attorneys, and on behalf of the 
     citizens of Dallas and Fort Worth, we offer the following 
     observations for your consideration.
       1. The suggestion by critics that the proposed legislation 
     is somehow anticompetitive and would lead to higher fares and 
     reduced service for consumers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area 
     is patently incorrect. Not surprisingly, these suggestions 
     are unaccompanied by any factual foundation or economic 
     analysis. On the contrary, the proposed Agreement would 
     enhance airline competition in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and 
     benefit consumers and airlines seeking to provide service to 
     the area. As we describe more fully below, independent 
     studies confirm that, in the short term, passage of the 
     proposed legislation would (1) increase the number of 
     passengers traveling to and from North Texas by two million 
     annually, (2) result in fare savings of approximately $260 
     million per year, and (3) produce overall economic benefits 
     of $2.4 billion annually.
       2. The detractors of the proposed legislation wholly fail 
     to address the critically important considerations of 
     aircraft noise, air quality, traffic congestion in the 
     airport vicinity, and economic activity in the region. With 
     few exceptions, airport operations reflect tradeoffs between 
     economic and environmental considerations. The proposed 
     legislation concerning Love Field is no different. The 
     legislation reflects a carefully crafted balance of these 
     considerations by the local governments principally 
     responsible for managing these issues. Unlike the 
     observations offered by certain critics, the compromise 
     reflected in the proposed legislation is not confined to the 
     issues of airline competition only, but rather reflects an 
     accommodation of a full range of economic and environmental 
     considerations that are important to Dallas and Fort Worth.


   I. The Wright Amendment Compromise Was Forged By Local Government 
                   Leaders at the Urging of Congress

       As an initial matter, it bears emphasis that a number of 
     Congressional leaders have long urged the cities of Dallas 
     and Fort Worth to work towards a local compromise to resolve 
     the longstanding controversies over the 1979 Wright Amendment 
     and its restrictions on commercial air service to and from 
     Dallas Love Field. Prompted by that Congressional call for 
     action, the mayors of Dallas and Forth Worth spearheaded 
     efforts to forge a compromise among local government leaders 
     and representatives of the Dallas-Fort Worth International 
     Airport Board (``DFW Board'').
       The mayors and representatives of the DFW Board first 
     reached consensus among themselves on the propriety of a 
     local solution for repeal of the Wright Amendment. 
     Thereafter, the mayors and DFW Board persuaded Southwest 
     Airlines and American Airlines (as the principal tenants of 
     the main terminal at Love Field that would be called on to 
     give up property rights at Love Field) of the virtues of a 
     local solution, and that the solution the mayors and DFW 
     Board proposed likely would be favorably received by 
     Congress. As a consequence, Southwest and American each 
     decided to support the Wright Amendment compromise forged by 
     Dallas, Fort Worth, and the DFW Board.


II. The Wright Amendment Compromise is Good for Airline Competition and 
                             for Consumers

       After considerable study and examination, it is the view of 
     Dallas and Fort Worth that the Wright Amendment compromise 
     reflected in S. 3661 and H.R. 5830 would open the North Texas 
     market to considerably more competition in air 
     transportation.
       To begin with, congressional approval of the Wright 
     Amendment compromise would enable Southwest and other 
     airlines serving Love Field immediately to begin selling 
     ``through tickets'' for travel to and from Love Field. This 
     would allow Love Field customers to travel on a one-stop 
     basis to and from cities nationwide. By contrast, under the 
     terms of the Wright and Shelby Amendments, airlines flying 
     out of Love Field are limited to a handful of nearby states.
       Detractors maintain that the proposed legislation could be 
     anticompetitive, perhaps resulting in higher fares on many 
     routes. This is conjecture unsubstantiated by any facts. 
     Quite to the contrary, the Agreement, if implemented, would 
     result in a reduction in fares and hundreds of millions of 
     dollars in cost savings for consumers.
       Two highly respected economic consulting firms, the 
     Campbell-Hill Aviation Group and SH&E International Air 
     Transport Consultancy, recently performed an economic 
     analysis of the Wright Amendment compromise. Their joint 
     findings show that ``through ticketing'' at Love Field would 
     increase the number of passengers traveling to and from North 
     Texas by two million, produce $259 million in fare savings, 
     and generate $2.4 billion in overall economic benefits--all 
     on an annual basis.
       Equally unsupported are the arguments regarding the 
     proposed reduction of gates at Love Field. However, these 
     critics fail to acknowledge that the proposed reduction of 
     gates at Love Field from 32 to 20 would still leave more 
     gates in service than the 19 or fewer gates that airlines 
     have utilized since the inception of the Wright Amendment.
       More fundamentally, besides ignoring the economic analysis 
     of the Wright Amendment Compromise set forth in the Campbell-
     Hill and SH&E study, these commentators also fail to 
     acknowledge a study commissioned by the City of Dallas, which 
     was prepared by DMJM Aviation and released on May 31, 2006. 
     The DMJM Aviation study found that if the Wright Amendment is 
     repealed, the optimal number of gates at Love Field would be 
     20 in order to prevent excessive noise, emissions, and 
     traffic congestion in the local community. Repeal of the 
     Wright Amendment, which limits long-haul service to aircraft 
     of 56 seats or less, would result in more large aircraft 
     carrying more passengers to and from Love Field. Thus, the 
     study concluded a 20-gate limit without the Wright Amendment 
     would be equivalent in noise, pollution, and congestion to 
     the 32 gates now found at Love Field (again, only 19 of which 
     are currently utilized).
       Just as the prognostication of an increase in airfares is 
     incorrect, so, too, is the speculation that the proposed 
     elimination of twelve gates at Love Field would bar potential 
     competitors from gaining access to the market. In truth, 
     carriers would not be prevented from obtaining access to Love 
     Field in the future. As set forth in the July 31, 2001 
     Airline Competition Plan submitted by the City of Dallas for 
     Love Field, ``the operational main terminal gates at Love 
     Field are all subject to scarce resource provisions that, 
     when invoked, render those gates preferential use gates.'' 
     Thus, the ``scarce resource'' provision allows the City of 
     Dallas to require incumbent airlines to share gates that are 
     not fully used at Love Field. This provision is essentially 
     the same as the procedures used at most other major U.S. 
     airports to accommodate new entrant carriers.
       The process for accommodating an airline seeking space 
     involves three stages, as outlined in the Love Field Airline 
     Competition

[[Page 21439]]

     Plan. First, if the City of Dallas has space available to 
     lease directly, it would do so. Second, in the absence of 
     space available for direct lease, the City of Dallas would 
     refer the requesting airline to parties who are known to have 
     gates or gate capacity available. Finally, if neither of 
     these approaches proves fruitful, the ``scarce resource'' 
     provisions of the lease permit the City of Dallas to 
     unilaterally require an incumbent airline to accommodate a 
     requesting airline in its premises. Thus, the assertion that 
     accommodation of new entrants resides solely within the good 
     graces of the incumbent airlines is false.
       In fact, the City of Dallas regularly offers its support to 
     requesting carriers to assist in the negotiation of 
     reasonable sublease terms. Significantly, there have been no 
     cases in which an air carrier that was ready and willing to 
     begin or expand service to Love Field has been unable to do 
     so due to inability to secure reasonable access to needed 
     facilities.
       Moreover, as previously recognized in an unsuccessful 
     antitrust case brought by the Department of Justice against 
     American, ``there are no structural barriers to entry at DFW, 
     which can accommodate any domestic carrier that seeks to 
     establish or expand service.'' United States v. AMR Corp., 
     140 F. Supp. 2d 1141, 1210 (D. Kan. 2001), aff'd, 335 F. 3d 
     1109 (10th Cir. 2003). DFW has 15 gates that are currently 
     available to be leased, and many other gates that are 
     underutilized. In fact, DFW has one of the most aggressive 
     Air Service Incentive Programs in the country. A carrier that 
     is willing to offer new domestic air service to one of DFW's 
     top 50 domestic markets is eligible to receive up to six 
     months free landing fees, up to $100,000 in marketing 
     support, and an additional $50,000 in marketing support if 
     the carrier is new to DFW. See also United States v. AMR 
     Corp., 140 F. Supp. 2d at 1210.
       In sum, there is ready access to both Love Field and DFW, 
     and the proposed Wright Amendment compromise would ensure 
     continued access to the marketplace by carriers seeking to 
     provide service. Contrary to the suggestions of others, the 
     economic analyses conducted to date demonstrate that the 
     proposed legislation would foster competition among carriers, 
     enable consumers to save hundreds of millions of dollars in 
     air fares each year, and provide a carefully-constructed and 
     sensible solution to a decades-old problem.
       In essence, these critics apparently contend that Congress 
     should simply repeal the Wright Amendment, while ignoring the 
     other important issues resolved by the proposed legislation. 
     That suggestion ignores the genesis and history of this local 
     compromise, the practical reasons for its detailed terms, and 
     the substantial tangible benefits this legislation would 
     provide not only for the people of Dallas-Fort Worth, but for 
     air travelers nationwide. The proposed legislation is the 
     result of a local government initiative to forge a solution 
     to a series of pressing and inter-related regional 
     transportation issues. The cities of Dallas and Fort Worth 
     spearheaded this effort not only to repeal the Wright 
     Amendment and thereby improve air competition, but 
     simultaneously to improve the regional transportation 
     infrastructure serving Dallas and Fort Worth, to stimulate to 
     the greatest extent possible regional economic growth, and to 
     address community concerns about the noise, traffic, and air 
     pollution associated with increased service at these 
     airports. Balancing these interests was an enormously 
     difficult endeavor, requiring years of economic and 
     environmental study, planning, negotiation, and compromise. 
     After much study and consideration, we strongly believe the 
     result is a compromise that is good for the region and good 
     for air competition. In short, these detractors simply do not 
     recognize the complexity of the issues or the care with which 
     local officials and various constituencies have addressed 
     these important issues.
       Again, thank you for your careful continued consideration 
     of the proposed legislation concerning the repeal of the 
     Wright Amendment. We stand ready to respond to any questions 
     you or members of your staffs might have.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Laura Miller,
                                            Mayor, City of Dallas.
                                           Thomas P. Perkins, Jr.,
                                    City Attorney, City of Dallas.
                                                    Mike Moncrief,
                                                            Mayor,
                                                    David L. Yett,
                                City Attorney, City of Fort Worth.

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. A lot of people--so many people--helped put this 
agreement together and hammer out the differences and views on the 
issues. We heard today that Senator Leahy has one view. Senator Cornyn 
has a view. I have a view. Just about everybody in Congress who has 
dealt with this issue has a view.
  But I think the law we are passing speaks for itself. The law is very 
clear in what it instructs the city of Dallas to do, as well as the FAA 
and the Department of Transportation in implementing this agreement. I 
think it is a major piece of legislation that is absolutely right.
  I agree with Senator Leahy and Senator Cornyn that this is not going 
to set a precedent. It is a unique situation that was brought on by a 
Federal mandate and then a Federal law. And the local community has had 
less input into its own aviation capabilities than maybe any other two 
major cities in America with major airports. I think today we have 
clarified the Wright amendment, and I do not think it is ever going to 
set a precedent because no other airport has a Wright amendment.
  So as we phase it out gradually, in an orderly way, to protect the 
integrity of the DFW Airport, as well as increasing competition in both 
DFW and Love Field, this is, for the taxpayers and the consumers and 
the traveling public, a win all the way around.
  I want to thank a few people because no one could have passed this 
bill alone. It took so much cooperation and so many things that were 
necessary to bring everyone together.
  I thank Senator Stevens and Senator Inouye, the chairman and ranking 
member of the committee of jurisdiction, the Commerce Committee. I 
could not have asked for more help. The bill passed out of the Commerce 
Committee 21 to 1. Senator Rockefeller was the only one who voted no, 
but he could not have been more accommodating and honorable in his 
objection. Once we passed the bill out of committee, we worked with him 
to make sure he was a part of everything we did. He has been wonderful 
to work with.
  I thank Senator Specter and Senator Leahy, who had concerns on the 
Judiciary Committee. I thank Senator Burns, Senator Frist, Senator 
Reid, Senator Ensign, Senator McCain, former Speaker Jim Wright, who 
also agrees the time has come to have an orderly repeal of the 
amendment that he put in place, and, of course, Senator Cornyn. I also 
want to say Senator Sununu was just a gentleman in these last couple of 
days to help us in the ultimate solution of this bill.
  I want to say that staff people, who are pro-progress, who have 
innovation, and are willing to work so hard--which staff people in this 
Senate do on such a routine basis--I am so appreciative and so 
respectful of them. I want to mention a couple because without them we 
would never have gotten this done.
  I thank Lisa Sutherland, Christine Kurth, Ken Nahagian, Sam 
Whitehorn, Jarrod Thompson, Gael Sullivan, and James Reid on the 
Commerce Committee. Every one of them had an immense impact on this 
legislation. I thank Harold Kim, Joe Jacquot, and Ivy Johnson, from 
Senator Specter's staff; J.P. Dowd, Susan Davies, and Ed Pagano from 
Senator Leahy's staff;--all who were incredible and so helpful.
  I want to take a moment to say that Senator Durbin and Senator 
Schumer also helped in many of the negotiations on this issue. Senator 
Lott was there from the very beginning.
  But I also want to take a moment of personal privilege about my 
staff. I have never seen such dedication on such a tough issue as James 
Christoferson, Matthew Acock, Lindsey Dickinson, Dick Ribbentrop, and 
Marc Short made in contributing to this victory for my constituents in 
Texas. These five people worked on this bill, this negotiation, on a 
daily basis for the last 6 months. There was never a day when we did 
not have some item that we were trying to move forward to get this bill 
to the point that we could pass it on the Senate floor. I think the 
people of Texas owe a great deal of gratitude to these dedicated 
members of my staff for never giving up, even when it was bleak from 
time to time, and being as dedicated as I was to making sure the right 
result for all parties to this agreement became a part of the solution.
  When you work on something for so long, and you know how important it 
is, and how many people are counting on you, you just feel honorbound 
to do your best to make sure the people who have worked hard are 
rewarded. When Mayor Miller and Mayor Moncrief made this agreement, and 
when they got the support they needed from the DFW Airport, from 
American Airlines, and from Southwest Airlines--because

[[Page 21440]]

their rights were affected--everybody gave a little in order to do good 
for the populace.
  I know in the coming years the traveling public in the North Texas 
area--in and out--are going to see the benefits of a great competitive 
atmosphere. The DFW Airport gives the greatest service. They are the 
mid-country airport that really is the stopping off point for so many 
travelers going to the rest of the world. That is going to increase, 
and it is going to increase with lower fares and more convenience. It 
is going to be more convenient even with the safety antiterrorism 
measures that are being taken, which we know can inconvenience the 
traveling public.
  DFW Airport is going to be the long-haul service carrier that will be 
the window to the world for people who live in the middle part of our 
country. Love Field is going to be a dynamic, limited-use airport 
because it sits right in the middle of an area that is full of 
wonderful neighborhoods, schools, churches, and businesses. The right 
of the city of Dallas to protect the citizens who live in the area is 
well recognized in the law, and they are invoking it. The city is doing 
a great job of making sure we have more competition and better fares. 
Love Field, while a dynamic airport sitting in the middle of a 
neighborhood, also deserves the safety and the environmental 
protections of all of our citizens.
  So, Mr. President, I thank you for the time. I am very pleased this 
bill has passed. I look forward to seeing the benefits.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Thune). Under the previous order, the 
Senator from Oklahoma is recognized for 15 minutes.
  Mr. COBURN. Mr. President, hopefully, I will not take all that time. 
I think the American people need to pay attention to what we have just 
done. The Energy bill, which was actually 41 bills wrapped into one, 
that we agreed to through unanimous consent, is going to cost the 
American taxpayer $1.5 billion.
  The real question is, in light of where we find ourselves--fighting 
the war, trying to help the people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and 
Alabama, and running in excess of a $300 billion real deficit this 
year--should we be spending money on these priorities? A real problem 
in Washington is getting Congress to make tough decisions about what is 
a priority.
  I will spend a few minutes outlining what is in the bill because the 
American people have no idea what was in the bill. The first thing is 
$500,000 to study lighthouses in Michigan for tourism. Tourism is 
already a $16 billion industry in Michigan. There is nothing in the 
Constitution that would say that is a Federal responsibility. We will 
do it anyway.
  Indiana Dunes Visitor Center, $1.2 million to establish a building, 
construct a theater and a bookstore. Is that a priority right now when 
we are spending our grandkids' money? We are going to build a bookstore 
and create a visitor center now when we cannot even pay for the war 
that we are fighting and we are charging that to our children?
  There are new national heritage designations. We have a backlog of 
over $4 billion in repairs to the National Parks we have today. We 
cannot even take care of the parks we have today, and we are going to 
create 10 new national heritage centers, spending over $100 million to 
do so.
  This bothers me on several fronts. Most important, it isn't a 
priority. It isn't something we ought to be spending money on right 
now. We are getting ready to do it. We already have 30 national 
heritage centers. We are going to delete the resources that are going 
to those by adding 10 more.
  Finally, the problem with national heritage areas is they undermine 
property rights because the money is used to change zoning laws to back 
the people who have property rights around the national heritages. We 
are using Federal dollars to create national heritage areas that will 
undermine individual property rights. That is wrong.
  The other thing that is in this bill is a study to assess creating 
four more national heritages.
  The process is broken under which we bring bills such as this to the 
Senate, at a time when we cannot afford to pay what we are doing today. 
We spent a ton of our time on appropriations. After what I was told 
through all this process, after having written a letter raising 
objections, meeting with the committee, meeting with our leadership, we 
had a leadership meeting this week which basically said: If you don't 
let all of these packages of spending of low priority and no priority 
go through, the Senate will come to a standstill and we will see 
everything else blocked by the minority.
  I believe we ought to be making choices about the right priorities 
for our country. It is not that heritage areas are wrong. It is that we 
cannot afford them. We are going to spend money on things we cannot 
afford and borrow the money from our children and our grandchildren to 
pay for things that we have to do.
  It is cheating our children and our grandchildren. It also is beneath 
the dignity of this Senate.
  This process has to be fixed. We cannot continue to authorize, 
authorize, and authorize more spending without doing the hard work, 
looking at what we have authorized that is not working, is inefficient, 
or is duplicated. But we continue to do it, and I will continue to 
stand up for the next 4 years and raise this issue every time.
  This is not a Democratic or Republican issue. This is an American 
issue that this Senate does not want to address. We seem to be blinded 
by the fact that we can just spend and authorize all the money we want 
and to have no impact. We do not authorize unless we expect it to get 
spent.
  With this bill, through the chairman working with us, he agreed to 
deauthorize over $150 million. That is a start. But other bills that 
come to the Senate that have new spending in the future ought to meet a 
test; that is, have we looked at everything else in that area? Is it 
working well? Are we spending the money wisely? Are we spending it 
efficiently? Are there programs that are not working that we ought to 
deauthorize so we can afford to authorize this as a better priority?
  We are not doing that in this country. That is something the American 
people deserve to have done rather than to hang our children and 
grandchildren out to dry with debt.
  This year, 8 percent of our budget is for interest. In 2035, 29 years 
from now, 25 percent of our budget is going to be interest. That is $1 
trillion. We spent $200 billion this year on interest because we will 
not be frugal with the American taxpayers' money. There is over $200 
billion worth of fraud, waste, and abuse in the Government programs we 
have today, and we will not go and fix it. Instead, we will spend 
another $1.5 million because that is easy to do. It sounds good at 
home, but we will not do what is necessary to secure the financial 
future of this country.
  The notice I am placing today is there is a precedent established 
with this bill. If you want to authorize new programs and you want this 
Senator not to object or to debate them on the floor, there better be 
deauthorizations of programs of that committee's jurisdiction before 
they can expect my vote on a unanimous consent agreement to spend into 
the future and to undermine the future of the next generation of 
Americans.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, I rise to celebrate final passage of 
the National Heritage Areas of 2006. I am grateful that Congress 
finally has recognized the Upper Housatonic Valley in Connecticut and 
Massachusetts for its special contribution to the American experience. 
This new law designates the Upper Housatonic Valley as a National 
Heritage Area and authorizes $10 million to preserve its historic and 
cultural assets.
  Today's victory has been a long time in coming. In 2000, I sponsored 
legislation directing the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study 
of the feasibility of establishing the Upper Housatonic Valley as a 
National Heritage Area. After the Interior Department completed that 
report, Senator Dodd and I in 2003 introduced the first

[[Page 21441]]

bill to create the Upper Housatonic National Heritage Area. Last 
Congress, a bill that would have created that area and a dozen others 
passed the Senate but died in the House. In this Congress, we 
reintroduced the Senate bill, and Representative Nancy Johnson 
reintroduced its House companion. Finally, after 6 years of hard work, 
I can stand announce that legislation to create the Upper Housatonic 
National Heritage Area has passed the Senate and the House. The act now 
goes to the President, who is expected to sign it into law without 
delay.
  The Upper Housatonic Valley's history is this Nation's history in 
microcosm--spanning Native American civilization, European settlement, 
the industrial revolution, and the present day. In contrast to many 
other areas of the country, the Upper Housatonic Valley's early 
historical and natural landscape remains largely intact. What is more, 
the area presents excellent opportunities for outdoor recreation, on 
waterways and greenways or trails, and a wide range of other activities 
for visitors or residents. For example, the section of the river below 
Falls Village, Connecticut is one of the Northeast's most prized fly-
fishing centers.
  This unique 950-square-mile region encompasses 29 towns in the 
Housatonic River watershed, extending 60 miles from Lanesboro, MA, to 
Kent, CT. The valley brims with more than 100 historically important 
sites--some dating back to pre-Revolutionary times--including five 
National Historic Landmarks and four National Natural Landmarks.
  The Iron Heritage Trail celebrates the valley's distinctive role in 
iron production. During the Revolutionary War, cannons and rifles were 
forged for Gen. George Washington's Army from abundant local iron ore, 
and iron used in the USS Constitution also came from this area. More 
than 40 iron blast furnaces in the region fueled the Industrial 
Revolution.
  Within Upper Housatonic Valley, the African-American Heritage Trail 
celebrates the region's significant contributions to our Nation's 
African-American history, including the abolitionist and civil rights 
movements. For example, the valley was home to Elizabeth ``Mumbet'' 
Freeman, a pioneer in the fight against slavery, W.E.B. Du Bois, a 
father of the modern civil rights movement, NAACP leader Mary White 
Ovington, and Frank Grant of the Negro Baseball League.
  The valley has produced writers, painters, sculptors, photographers, 
and musicians, among them Herman Melville, Edith Wharton, Norman 
Rockwell, Daniel Chester French, James VanDerZee, and James Weldon 
Johnson. These artists have left the Nation a rich cultural 
inheritance. Today, the region remains a vibrant center for ongoing 
literary, artistic, musical, and architectural achievements.
  Coordinated efforts to preserve the natural and cultural resources of 
this region are already well underway. The designation of the Upper 
Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area supports and enhances these 
local efforts to interpret, preserve, and showcase the diverse 
historic, cultural, and natural resources of the valley.
  In closing, I would like to congratulate the many dedicated advocates 
in Connecticut, whose dogged efforts led to today's achievement.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from 
Georgia is recognized for 10 minutes.

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