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Legislation

Bills introduced to the 111th Congress

• S.22 (Bingaman, D-NM), a bill to designate certain land components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior and the Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. This bill includes language designating 9 new National Heritage Areas and authorizing 2 new feasibility studies. It also amends language in 5 existing National Heritage Area authorizing acts.

Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate (1/11/08)


• H.R.397 : To extend the authorization of the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor Act of 1994, and for other purposes.
  Sponsor: Rep Courtney, Joe [CT-2] (introduced 1/9/2009) Cosponsors (1)
  Committees: House Natural Resources
  Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.



• S.196 : A bill to amend the Quinebaug and Shetucket Rivers Valley National Heritage Corridor Act of 1994 to increase the authorization of appropriations and modify the date on which the authority of the Secretary of the Interior terminates under the Act.
  Sponsor: Sen Dodd, Christopher J. [CT] (introduced 1/9/2009)      Cosponsors (3)
  Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
  Latest Major Action: 1/9/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

• H.R.324 : To establish the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
  Sponsor: Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (1)
  Committees: House Natural Resources
  Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.



• S.180 : A bill to establish the Cache La Poudre River National Heritage Area, and for other purposes.
  Sponsor: Sen Salazar, Ken [CO] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (1)
  Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
  Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.



• S.185 : A bill to establish the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.
  Sponsor: Sen Salazar, Ken [CO] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (1)
  Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
  Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  
  
• S.186 : A bill to establish the South Park National Heritage Area in the State of Colorado, and for other purposes.
  Sponsor: Sen Salazar, Ken [CO] (introduced 1/8/2009)      Cosponsors (1)
  Committees: Senate Energy and Natural Resources
  Latest Major Action: 1/8/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  

110th Congress: At a Glance

During 2007 and 2008 much National Heritage Area related legislation was introduced. Some of the highlights include:

The Consolidated National Resources Act (S. 2739) of 2008 was signed into law on May 8, 2008. This Omnibus bill authorized 3 new heritage areas: The Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area and the Niagra Falls National Heritage Area. It also increased NHA authorizations from $10 to $15 million dollars and required 9 NHAs to undergo an evaulation process prior to reauthorization.

The National Heritage Partnerships Act (S. 278, S. 3213, Title VIII, Subtitle A) was introduced in September. This bill aimed to create a system of National Heritage Areas as a component of the greater National Park System. The bill stipulated that feasibility studys be conducted before designation could take place in order to demonstrate that an area meets specified criteria . It also established benchmarks for management plans and evaluations. It set standards for management planning and recognized the two-way partnership between the NHAs and thematically or adjacent park units. It also included wording to protect private property rights.

During this session feasibility study bills were introduced for 6 potential heritage areas and designation bills were introduced for 17 potential heritage areas.

Heritage Area Related Bills introduced in the 110th Congress (2007-2008) A summary in .pdf format

109th Congress: At a Glance

Feasibility study bills for 8 potential heritage areas were introduced during this session and 22 designation bills were introduced.

An amended version of the National Heritage Areas Act of 2005 (formally the Soda Ash bill) (S. 203)- was signed into law on October 12, 2006. It included 10 new heritage area designations and 3 new feasibility studies.

National Heritage Areas Partnership Act (S. 243, H.R. 760, H.R. 6287) - was introduced. It passed the Senate in July.

Heritage Area Related Bills introduced in the 109th Congress (2006-2007) A summary in .pdf format

Reports

Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report on National Heritage Areas (2004)

National Park System Advisory Board's Charting a Future for National Heritage Areas (2006)

Related Links

Legislative Citations for the 40 National Heritage Areas

The NPS Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs website provides the text of heritage area laws. You will need the heritage area's year of desigation and Pulbic Law (PL) number in order to locate the legislation.