69–010 

Calendar No. 803 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 2d Session 110–371 

BALTIMORE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA ACT 

JUNE 16, 2008.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. BINGAMAN, from the Committee on Energy and Natural 

Resources, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. 2604] 

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to which was 

referred the bill (S. 2604) to establish the Baltimore National Heritage Area in the State of Maryland, and for other purposes, having 

considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment 

and recommends that the bill, as amended, do pass. 

The amendment is as follows: 

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof 

the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Baltimore National Heritage Area Act’’. 

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

In this Act: 

(1) HERITAGE AREA.—The term ‘‘Heritage Area’’ means the Baltimore National 

Heritage Area, established by section 3(a). 

(2) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—The term ‘‘local coordinating entity’’ means 

the local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area designated by section 3(d). 

(3) MANAGEMENT PLAN.—The term ‘‘management plan’’ means the management plan for the Heritage Area required under section 4(a)(1). 

(4) MAP.—The term ‘‘map’’ means the map entitled ‘‘Baltimore National Heritage Area’’, numbered T10/80,000, and dated October 2007. 

(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior. 

(6) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means the State of Maryland. 

SEC. 3. BALTIMORE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Baltimore National Heritage Area 

in the State. 

(b) BOUNDARIES.—The Heritage Area shall be comprised of the following areas, as 

described on the map: 

(1) The area encompassing the Baltimore City Heritage Area certified by the 

Maryland Heritage Areas Authority in October 2001 as part of the Baltimore 

City Heritage Area Management Action Plan. 

(2) The Mount Auburn Cemetery. 


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(3) The Cylburn Arboretum. 

(4) The Middle Branch of the Patapsco River and surrounding shoreline, including—

(A) the Cruise Maryland Terminal; 

(B) new marina construction; 

(C) the National Aquarium Aquatic Life Center; 

(D) the Westport Redevelopment; 

(E) the Gwynns Falls Trail; 

(F) the Baltimore Rowing Club; and 

(G) the Masonville Cove Environmental Center. 

(c) AVAILABILITY OF MAP.—The map shall be on file and available for public inspection in the appropriate offices of the National Park Service and the Baltimore 

Heritage Area Association. 

(d) LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—The Baltimore Heritage Area Association shall 

be the local coordinating entity for the Heritage Area. 

SEC. 4. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY. 

(a) DUTIES OF THE LOCAL COORDINATING ENTITY.—To further the purposes of the 

Heritage Area, the local coordinating entity shall—

(1) prepare, and submit to the Secretary, in accordance with section 5, a management plan for the Heritage Area; 

(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, historic, 

scenic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; 

(E) protecting and restoring historic sites and buildings in the Heritage 

Area that are consistent with the themes of the Heritage Area; 

(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 semiannually regarding the 

development and implementation of the management plan; 

(5) submit an annual report to the Secretary for each fiscal year for which 

the local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this Act specifying—

(A) the accomplishments of the local coordinating entity; 

(B) the expenses and income of the local coordinating entity; 

(C) the amounts and sources of matching funds; 

(D) the amounts leveraged with Federal funds and sources of the leveraged funds; and 

(E) grants made to any other entities during the fiscal year; 

(6) make available for audit for each fiscal year for which the local coordinating entity receives Federal funds under this Act, all information pertaining 

to the expenditure of the funds and any matching funds; 

(7) require in all agreements authorizing expenditures of Federal funds by 

other organizations, that the receiving organizations make available for audit 

all records and other information pertaining to the expenditure of the funds; 

and 

(8) encourage, by appropriate means, economic development that is consistent 

with the purposes of the Heritage Area. 

(b) AUTHORITIES.—The local coordinating entity may, subject to the prior approval 

of the Secretary, for the purposes of preparing and implementing the management 

plan, use Federal funds made available under this Act to—

(1) make grants to the State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, and other persons; 

(2) enter into cooperative agreements with, or provide technical assistance to, 

the State, political subdivisions of the State, nonprofit organizations, Federal 

agencies, and other interested parties; 

(3) hire and compensate staff; 


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(4) obtain funds or services from any source, including funds and services provided under any other Federal law or program; 

(5) contract for goods or services; and 

(6) support activities of partners and any other activities that further the purposes of the Heritage Area and are consistent with the approved management 

plan. 

(c) PROHIBITION ON ACQUISITION OF REAL PROPERTY.—The local coordinating entity may not use Federal funds received under this Act to acquire any interest in real 

property. 

SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT PLAN. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after the date on which funds are made 

available to develop the management plan, the local coordinating entity shall submit 

to the Secretary for approval a proposed management plan for the Heritage Area. 

(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The management plan for the Heritage Area shall—

(1) describe comprehensive policies, goals, strategies, and recommendations 

for telling the story of the heritage of the region and encouraging long-term resource protection, enhancement, interpretation, funding, management, and development of the Heritage Area; 

(2) take into consideration existing State, county, and local plans in the development and implementation of the management plan; 

(3) include a description of actions and commitments that governments, private organizations, and citizens plan to take to protect, enhance, and interpret 

the natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; 

(4) specify existing and potential sources of funding or economic development 

strategies to protect, enhance, interpret, fund, manage, and develop the Heritage Area; 

(5) include an inventory of the natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, 

and recreational resources of the Heritage Area relating to the stories and 

themes of the region that should be protected, enhanced, managed, or developed; 

(6) recommend policies and strategies for resource management including, the 

development of intergovernmental and interagency agreements to protect the 

natural, historic, cultural, educational, scenic, and recreational resources of the 

Heritage Area; 

(7) describe a program for implementation of the management plan, including—

(A) performance goals; 

(B) plans for resource protection, enhancement, and interpretation; and 

(C) specific commitments for implementation that have been made by the 

local coordinating entity or any government, organization, business, or individual; 

(8) include an analysis of, and recommendations for, ways in which Federal, 

State, tribal, and local programs may best be coordinated (including the role of 

the National Park Service and other Federal agencies associated with the Heritage Area) to further the purposes of this Act; 

(9) include an interpretive plan for the Heritage Area; and 

(10) include a business plan that—

(A) describes the role, operation, financing, and functions of the local coordinating entity and of each of the major activities described in the management plan; and 

(B) provides adequate assurances that the local coordinating entity has 

the partnerships and financial and other resources necessary to implement 

the management plan for the Heritage Area. 

(c) TERMINATION OF FUNDING.—If the management plan is not submitted to the 

Secretary in accordance with this subsection, the local coordinating entity shall not 

qualify for additional financial assistance under this Act until the management plan 

is submitted to, and approved by, the Secretary. 

(d) APPROVAL OF MANAGEMENT PLAN.—

(1) REVIEW.—Not later than 180 days after the date on which the Secretary 

receives the management plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the 

management plan. 

(2) CONSULTATION REQUIRED.—The Secretary shall consult with the Governor 

of the State and any tribal government in which the Heritage Area is located 

before approving the management plan. 

(3) CRITERIA FOR APPROVAL.—In determining whether to approve the management plan, the Secretary shall consider whether—

(A) the local coordinating entity represents the diverse interests of the 

Heritage Area, including governments, natural and historic resource protecVerDate Aug 31 2005 00:39 Jun 18, 2008 Jkt 069010 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6621 E:\HR\OC\SR371.XXX SR371

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tion organizations, educational institutions, businesses, community residents, and recreational organizations; 

(B) the local coordinating entity has afforded adequate opportunity for 

public and governmental involvement (including through workshops and 

public meetings) in the preparation of the management plan; 

(C) the resource protection and interpretation strategies described in the 

management plan, if implemented, would adequately protect the natural, 

historic, and cultural resources of the Heritage Area; 

(D) the management plan would not adversely affect any activities authorized on Federal or tribal land under applicable laws or land use plans; 

(E) the Secretary has received adequate assurances from the appropriate 

State, tribal, and local officials whose support is needed to ensure the effective implementation of the State, tribal, and local aspects of the management plan; and 

(F) the local coordinating entity has demonstrated the financial capability, in partnership with others, to carry out the management plan. 

(4) ACTION FOLLOWING DISAPPROVAL.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary disapproves the management plan, the 

Secretary—

(i) shall advise the local coordinating entity in writing of the reasons 

for the disapproval; and 

(ii) may make recommendations to the local coordinating entity for 

revisions to the management plan. 

(B) DEADLINE.—Not later than 180 days after receiving a revised management plan, the Secretary shall approve or disapprove the revised management plan. 

(5) AMENDMENTS.—

(A) IN GENERAL.—An amendment to the management plan that substantially alters the purposes of the Heritage Area shall be reviewed by the Secretary and approved or disapproved in the same manner as the original 

management plan. 

(B) IMPLEMENTATION.—The local coordinating entity shall not use Federal 

funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act to implement an amendment to the management plan until the Secretary approves the amendment. 

SEC. 6. DUTIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE SECRETARY. 

(a) TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—On the request of the local coordinating entity, the Secretary may provide technical and financial assistance, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis (as determined by the Secretary), to the local coordinating 

entity to develop and implement the management plan. 

(2) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary may enter into cooperative 

agreements with the local coordinating entity and other public or private entities to provide technical or financial assistance under paragraph (1). 

(3) PRIORITY.—In assisting the Heritage Area, the Secretary shall give priority to actions that assist in—

(A) conserving the significant natural, historic, cultural, and scenic resources of the Heritage Area; and 

(B) providing educational, interpretive, and recreational opportunities 

consistent with the purposes of the Heritage Area. 

(b) EVALUATION; REPORT.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years before the date on which authority 

for Federal funding terminates for the Heritage Area under section 10, the Secretary shall—

(A) conduct an evaluation of the accomplishments of the Heritage Area; 

and 

(B) prepare a report with recommendations for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the Heritage Area, in accordance 

with paragraph (3). 

(2) EVALUATION.—An evaluation conducted under paragraph (1)(A) shall—

(A) assess the progress of the local coordinating entity with respect to—

(i) accomplishing the purposes of this Act for the Heritage Area; and 

(ii) achieving the goals and objectives of the approved management 

plan for the Heritage Area; 

(B) analyze the Federal, State, local, and private investments in the Heritage Area to determine the leverage and impact of the investments; and 


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(C) review the management structure, partnership relationships, and 

funding of the Heritage Area for purposes of identifying the critical components for sustainability of the Heritage Area. 

(3) REPORT.— (A) IN GENERAL.—Based on the evaluation conducted under paragraph 

(1)(A), the Secretary shall prepare a report that includes recommendations 

for the future role of the National Park Service, if any, with respect to the 

Heritage Area. 

(B) REQUIRED ANALYSIS.—If the report prepared under this paragraph 

recommends that Federal funding for the Heritage Area be reauthorized, 

the report shall include an analysis of—

(i) ways in which Federal funding for the Heritage Area may be reduced or eliminated; and 

(ii) the appropriate time period necessary to achieve the recommended reduction or elimination. 

(C) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—On completion of a report under this 

paragraph, the Secretary shall submit the report to—

(i) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate; 

and 

(ii) the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives. 

SEC. 7. RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Nothing in this Act affects the authority of a Federal agency 

to provide technical or financial assistance under any other law. 

(b) CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION.—To the maximum extent practicable, the 

head of any Federal agency planning to conduct activities that may have an impact 

on the Heritage Area is encouraged to consult and coordinate the activities with the 

Secretary and the local coordinating entity. 

(c) OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Nothing in this Act—

(1) modifies, alters, or amends any laws (including regulations) authorizing a 

Federal agency to manage Federal land under the jurisdiction of the Federal 

agency; 

(2) limits the discretion of a Federal land manager to implement an approved 

land use plan within the boundaries of the Heritage Area; or 

(3) modifies, alters, or amends any authorized use of Federal land under the 

jurisdiction of a Federal agency. 

SEC. 8. PROPERTY OWNERS AND REGULATORY PROTECTIONS. 

Nothing in this Act—

(1) abridges the rights of any owner of public or private property, including 

the right to refrain from participating in any plan, project, program, or activity 

conducted within the Heritage Area; 

(2) requires any property owner to—

(A) permit public access (including Federal, tribal, State, or local government access) to the property; or 

(B) modify any provisions of Federal, tribal, State, or local law with regard to public access or use of private land; 

(3) alters any duly adopted land use regulations, approved land use plan, or 

any other regulatory authority of any Federal, State, or local agency, or tribal 

government; 

(4) conveys any land use or other regulatory authority to the local coordinating entity; 

(5) authorizes or implies the reservation or appropriation of water or water 

rights; 

(6) diminishes the authority of the State to manage fish and wildlife, including the regulation of fishing and hunting within the Heritage Area; or 

(7) creates any liability, or affects any liability under any other law, of any 

private property owner with respect to any person injured on the private property. 

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 

$10,000,000, of which not more than $1,000,000 may be made available for any fiscal year. 

(b) COST-SHARING REQUIREMENT.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal share of the total cost of any activity under this 

Act shall be not more than 50 percent. 

(2) FORM.—The non-Federal contribution—

(A) shall be from non-Federal sources; and 


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(B) may be in the form of in-kind contributions of goods or services fairly 

valued. 

SEC. 10. TERMINATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. 

The authority of the Secretary to provide assistance under this Act terminates on 

the date that is 15 years after the date of enactment of this Act. 

PURPOSE

The purpose of S. 2604 is to establish the Baltimore National 

Heritage Area in the State of Maryland. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED

Within the City of Baltimore are 24 National Historic Landmarks, 52 National Register Historic Districts, 5 Maryland Scenic 

Byways, and an All-American Road. The Battle of Baltimore was 

a turning point in the War of 1812 and inspired Francis Scott Key 

to write ‘‘The Star-Spangled Banner’’. Baltimore is also home to 

Frederick Douglass and Thurgood Marshall. The City also contains 

a number of important natural, cultural, and recreational resources. 

A feasibility study prepared in 2006 found that the area met the 

National Park Service’s interim criteria for national heritage designation. Under S. 2604, the Baltimore Heritage Area Association 

will be the local coordinating entity for the heritage area. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

S. 2604 was introduced by Senators Mikulski and Cardin on February 7, 2008. The Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing 

on the bill on April 23, 2008. 

At its business meeting on May 7, 2008, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ordered S. 2604 favorably reported, 

with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, in open business session on May 7, 2008, by a voice vote of a quorum present, 

recommends that the Senate pass S. 2604, if amended as described 

herein. 

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT

During the consideration of S. 2604, the Committee adopted an 

amendment in the nature of a substitute. The amendment removes 

the findings and makes other conforming amendments so that the 

authorization for the heritage area is consistent with other heritage 

area bills reported by the Committee. The amendment is explained 

in detail in the section-by-section analysis, below. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1 provides the short title, the ‘‘Baltimore National Heritage Area Act.’’

Section 2 defines key terms used in the Act. 

Section 3(a) establishes the Baltimore National Heritage Area 

(‘‘heritage area’’) in the State of Maryland. 


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Subsection (b) describes the boundaries of the heritage area as 

depicted on the referenced map and lists the significant historic 

sites that the heritage area encompasses. 

Subsection (c) states that a map of the heritage area shall be included in the management plan and available on file in appropriate 

offices of the National Park Service. 

Subsection (d) designates the Baltimore Heritage Area Association as the local coordinating entity for the heritage area. 

Section 4(a) details the duties of the local coordinating entity. 

Subsection (b) lists the authorities of the local coordinating entity. The subsection authorizes the local coordinating entity to use 

Federal funds to prepare activities recommended in the management plan for the heritage area, pay for operational expenses, 

make grants and enter into cooperative agreements, hire staff, obtain funds or services from any source, and contract for goods or 

services. 

Subsection (c) prohibits the local coordinating entity from using 

Federal funds made available under this Act to acquire real property or an interest in real property. 

Section 5(a) requires the local coordinating entity to prepare and 

submit for review a management plan to the Secretary no later 

than three years after the date on which the funds are made available to carry out this Act. 

Subsection (b) lists the requirements for the contents of the management plan. 

Subsection (c) states that if the management plan is not submitted within the three-year period, Federal funding is suspended 

until the plan is submitted to the Secretary. 

Subsection (d) requires the Secretary to approve or disapprove 

the management plan within six months after receiving the plan 

and lists the criteria the Secretary is to consider in determining 

whether to approve or disapprove the plan. 

Section 6(a) authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to the local coordinating entity to develop and 

implement the management plan. 

Subsection (b) requires the Secretary to conduct an evaluation of 

the accomplishments of the national heritage area not later than 

three years before the date Federal funding authority terminates. 

The evaluation shall assess the progress of the management entity 

with respect to accomplishing the purposes of this Act for the heritage area and whether the management entity achieved the goals 

and objectives of the approved management plan for the heritage 

area. The evaluation is also required to analyze governmental investments in the heritage area to determine the leverage and impact of the investments. The Secretary is directed to prepare a report, based on the evaluation, that includes recommendations for 

the future role of the National Park Service, if any, for the heritage 

area. If the report recommends that Federal funding for the area 

be reauthorized, it is required to include an analysis of ways Federal funding may be reduced or eliminated. The report is to be submitted to the House and Senate authorizing committees. 

Section 7(a) clarifies that nothing in this Act affects the authority 

of a Federal agency to provide technical or financial assistance 

under any other law. 


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Subsection (b) encourages the head of a Federal agency planning 

to conduct activities that may have an impact on the heritage area 

to consult and coordinate the activities with the Secretary and the 

management entity to the maximum extent practicable. 

Subsection (c) clarifies that nothing in this Act modifies authorities of Federal agencies to manage Federal land, limits the discretion of a Federal agency to implement an approved land use plan, 

or modifies or alters any authorized use of Federal land. 

Section 8 contains several savings provisions to clarify that the 

designation of the national heritage area will not affect private 

property rights, affect governmental land use regulation, reserve or 

appropriate water rights, diminish the authority of the State to 

manage fish and wildlife, or create any liability for property owners 

within the heritage area. 

Section 9(a) authorizes total appropriations of $10 million, with 

not more than $1 million authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year. 

Subsection (b) requires Federal funding to be matched on a 50:50 

basis with funds from non-Federal sources. 

Section 10 provides that the authority of the Secretary to provide 

assistance under this Act terminates 15 years after the date of enactment. 

COST AND BUDGETARY CONSIDERATIONS

The following estimate of costs of this measure has been provided 

by the Congressional Budget Office: 

S. 2604—Baltimore National Heritage Area Act of 2008 

S. 2604 would establish the Baltimore National Heritage Area 

(NHA) in Maryland and designate the Baltimore Heritage Area Association, a local nonprofit organization, as the management entity 

for the NHA. The bill would authorize the appropriation of $10 million, not to exceed $1 million annually, for financial assistance to 

the association and other eligible entities over the next 15 years. 

Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing S. 2604 would cost $5 million over the 

2009–2013 period and an additional $5 million after 2013. Enacting 

the legislation would have no effect on direct spending or revenues. 

S. 2604 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Deborah Reis. This estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

REGULATORY IMPACT EVALUATION

In compliance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee makes the following evaluation 

of the regulatory impact which would be incurred in carrying out 

S. 2604. The bill is not a regulatory measure in the sense of imposing Government-established standards or significant economic responsibilities on private individuals and businesses. 

No personal information would be collected in administering the 

program. Therefore, there would be no impact on personal privacy. 


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Little, if any, additional paperwork would result from the enactment of S. 2604, as ordered reported. 

CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

In accordance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the following identification of congressionally directed spending items contained in the 

bill, as reported: 

Section Provision Member 

9 ............................................. Authorization of appropriations ............................................. Mikulski 

EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

The testimony provided by the National Park Service at the April 

23, 2008, hearing on S. 2604 follows: 

STATEMENT OF DANIEL N. WENK, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, 

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to appear 

before your committee to present the views of the Department of the Interior on S. 2604, a bill to establish the Baltimore National Heritage Area in the State of Maryland. 

We recommend that the committee defer action on S. 

2604 and all other proposed heritage area designations 

until program legislation is enacted that establishes guidelines and a process for the designation of national heritage 

areas. In summer 2006, the Administration sent to Congress a legislative proposal to establish such guidelines 

and a process for designation. The National Heritage 

Areas Partnership Act, S. 278, was introduced during the 

110th Congress and it incorporated the majority of the provisions of the Administration’s proposal. We look forward 

to continuing to work with Congress on this very important issue. 

With 37 national heritage areas designated across 27 

states, and more heritage area legislative proposals in the 

pipeline, the Administration believes it is critical at this 

juncture for Congress to enact national heritage area program legislation. This legislation would provide a muchneeded framework for evaluating proposed national heritage areas, offering guidelines for successful planning and 

management, clarifying the roles and responsibilities of all 

parties, and standardizing timeframes and funding for designated areas. Program legislation also would clarify the 

expectation that heritage areas would work toward selfsufficiency by outlining the necessary steps, including appropriate planning, to achieve that shared goal. 

The Baltimore Heritage Area was certified by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority in 2001 as a state heritage 

area. The Baltimore Heritage Area is managed by the Baltimore City Heritage Area Association, a 40-member board 

appointed by the Mayor. The Association has a proved 

track record as a successful coordinating entity among diverse partners in the Baltimore area. Over the past seven 


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years, the Baltimore Heritage Area has proved to be a successful effort, supporting, facilitating, and leveraging interpretive projects, historic preservation projects, and education efforts. The heritage area has strong support from 

the public and a myriad of state, local, federal, and nongovernmental partners throughout the area. 

The National Park Service reviewed both the updated 

management action plan and the feasibility study and concurs that the proposed Baltimore National Heritage Area 

meets required criteria for congressional designation. In 

2006, the Baltimore City Heritage Area Association updated the Baltimore City Heritage Area Management Action Plan that serves as a blueprint for protecting historic, 

cultural and natural resources through activities and investments within the heritage area. In addition, the Association completed a national heritage area feasibility 

study, based upon the National Park Service criteria, to 

determine whether the area met the criteria for national 

heritage area designation. The study concluded that the 

region met all of the criteria for designation including the 

existence of significant levels of public support and local 

commitments necessary for successful planning and implementation of a heritage area. 

The proposed heritage area comprises a large swath of 

the city of Baltimore, approximately 11,000 acres, and includes 24 National Historic Landmarks, 53,000 buildings 

listed in 52 National Register of Historic Places historic 

districts, 8,000 buildings in 30 local historic districts, a 

system of parks and waterways, five Maryland Scenic Byways, and an All-American Road. In addition to Baltimore’s important cultural, natural and recreational resources, the City derives its significance from several key 

historical events with many opportunities to interpret and 

provide for public understanding and appreciation of the 

City’s rich history through heritage programming. 

First and foremost amongst these is the defense of Baltimore against the British in 1814 by a populace of largely 

first-generation immigrants and free and enslaved African 

Americans. The Star-Spangled Banner, our national anthem, and a new sense of national identity were forged in 

large part out of this experience. This theme of forging a 

strong, diverse, and complex national identity is very robust in Baltimore and includes the period of the War of 

1812, the notorious domestic slave trade, the earliest organized abolition movement in the South, a vital community 

of free Blacks, and the City’s divided loyalties during the 

Civil War. All were part of the City’s national identity and 

are still represented in the cityscape, historic buildings, 

and diverse peoples of Baltimore. 

Baltimore was home to Frederick Douglass, Isaac Myers, 

and Thurgood Marshall each of whom, with their individual contributions, helped forge the identity of the nation. Douglass declared: ‘‘Going to live at Baltimore laid 

the foundation, and opened the gateway, to all my subsequent prosperity...’’ The Frederick Douglass-Isaac 


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Myers Maritime Park commemorates the story of these 

two men and the first African American shipyard. Resources associated with Thurgood Marshall, the first African American to serve as a justice on the Supreme Court 

of the United States, include Public School 103, the first 

school Thurgood Marshall attended, and his boyhood 

home. The Heritage Area has already begun to rehabilitate 

and interpret the public school. 

Other resources representing the theme of national identity include the National Road, the Nation’s first federally 

funded interstate transportation route, that begun in 1811 

in Baltimore and headed westward. Themes and resources 

that are also well-represented in the heritage area include 

maritime history, immigration, and industrialization. Baltimore was a major shipbuilding center beginning with the 

famous Baltimore clippers, a major port of entry for new 

immigrants second only to New York, and the starting 

point and industrial center of the first long distance railroad into the American frontier. 

Mr. Chairman, while the proposed Baltimore National 

Heritage Area contains nationally distinctive natural and 

cultural resources and meets the established criteria for 

congressional designation, we would again request that the 

committee defer action until national heritage area program legislation is enacted. However, if the committee 

chooses to move ahead with this bill, the Department 

would recommend that the bill be amended to include an 

additional requirement for an evaluation to be conducted 

by the Secretary, three years prior to the cessation of federal funding under this act. The evaluation would examine 

the accomplishments of the heritage area in meeting the 

goals of the management plan; analyze the leveraging and 

impact of investments to the heritage area; identify the 

critical components of the management structure and sustainability of the heritage area; and recommend what future role, if any, the National Park Service should have 

with respect to the heritage area. 

Thank you for the opportunity to comment. This concludes my prepared remarks and I would be happy to answer any questions that you or the members of the committee may have. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing 

Rules of the Senate, the Committee notes that no changes in existing law are made by the bill, S. 2604, as ordered reported. 

Æ 


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